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bekahzabel's reviews
316 reviews
Master of Salt & Bones by Keri Lake
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I ripped through this one after finishing Noticadia, I enjoyed this one almost as much, but felt the pacing was just slightly off until the end.
Dark gothic romance jam packed with triggers. I enjoyed Lucian’s character arc and the way the mystery of the Blackthorne family unfolded. Did not expect that plot twist at the end either!
Forbidden Love,
Age Gap,
BDSM,
Breath & 🔪 Play,
Slow Burn with serious spice once it hits.
3.75⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️.
Dark gothic romance jam packed with triggers. I enjoyed Lucian’s character arc and the way the mystery of the Blackthorne family unfolded. Did not expect that plot twist at the end either!
Forbidden Love,
Age Gap,
BDSM,
Breath & 🔪 Play,
Slow Burn with serious spice once it hits.
3.75⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Nocticadia by Keri Lake
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ZADDY DEVRYCK BRAMWELL 👀🤤
I ate it up. A slow burn, taboo, forbidden romance between a student and her fiiiiiine a$$ professor. Also that last 100 pages was a roller coaster tying all the ends together phew. Some minor paranormal elements but for the most part this was purely dark romance. Very engaging plot with a handful of smutty scenes.
Dark themes! Check your triggers. My first Keri Lake book, but won’t be my last.
4.5⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I ate it up. A slow burn, taboo, forbidden romance between a student and her fiiiiiine a$$ professor. Also that last 100 pages was a roller coaster tying all the ends together phew. Some minor paranormal elements but for the most part this was purely dark romance. Very engaging plot with a handful of smutty scenes.
Dark themes! Check your triggers. My first Keri Lake book, but won’t be my last.
4.5⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Jade War by Fonda Lee
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
6 gold stars.
This series is so immersive. Again, Fonda Lee had me so engaged with each character’s storyline that I was constantly needing more. This book takes place over a 3 year timeline and is just as action packed as Jade City.
I don’t know how she topped the first book, but it makes me so excited to read the finale. Addictive urban asian fantasy with a badass magic system, Green Bone Saga is not one to be overlooked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️
This series is so immersive. Again, Fonda Lee had me so engaged with each character’s storyline that I was constantly needing more. This book takes place over a 3 year timeline and is just as action packed as Jade City.
I don’t know how she topped the first book, but it makes me so excited to read the finale. Addictive urban asian fantasy with a badass magic system, Green Bone Saga is not one to be overlooked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Abortion
A Soul to Embrace by Opal Reyne
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
It is so bittersweet to see this series to it’s end! If you know me, you know how much I love the duskwalker brides series. Picked it up out of curiosity and stuck around for the amazing plot line. Another thing I love: a villain’s redemption arc, and boy oh boy was it a treat to see Jabez redeem himself.
Not only is Zylah the first and only female duskwalker we get perspective in, it was such a treat to watch her humanity and understanding grow. That slow burn really kindles in this one but once the flame ignites…. phew 🥵🥵🥵
Additionally hearing Jabez’s inner monologue, reasoning behind his actions and villainous choices in the past was huge. I really enjoyed this one and ended up loving Jabez much more than I expected. I’m so sad for this series to end, but grateful nonetheless for experiencing these books that I’ll always suggest and recommend to monster romance lovers.
4.75⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Not only is Zylah the first and only female duskwalker we get perspective in, it was such a treat to watch her humanity and understanding grow. That slow burn really kindles in this one but once the flame ignites…. phew 🥵🥵🥵
Additionally hearing Jabez’s inner monologue, reasoning behind his actions and villainous choices in the past was huge. I really enjoyed this one and ended up loving Jabez much more than I expected. I’m so sad for this series to end, but grateful nonetheless for experiencing these books that I’ll always suggest and recommend to monster romance lovers.
4.75⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Taken by the Wisps by Ali Evers
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was such a cute and cozy fast paced treat! When Yera and her foster sisters head out for their annual hiking trip, a storm hits in the forest and Yera suddenly portals to a magical land. Running into grave danger right away, she is saved by a Vaki named Arrick. They embark on a journey to find her sisters as affections quickly unfold.
I LOVED how many magical beings were sprinkled throughout this book. We have Vaki (seemingly crosses between orcs and demon?!), ogres, sprites, fairies, winged beasts called harpies, and more.
Portal Fantasy,
Monster Romance,
Voluptuous bodied & brown logical fmc who can hold her own!
Low stakes plot with a heartwarming HEA.
and yes, there is spice! I’m so excited to read the next book in this interconnected series. A beautiful debut by Ali Evers.
4.5⭐️/🌶️🌶️
I LOVED how many magical beings were sprinkled throughout this book. We have Vaki (seemingly crosses between orcs and demon?!), ogres, sprites, fairies, winged beasts called harpies, and more.
Portal Fantasy,
Monster Romance,
Voluptuous bodied & brown logical fmc who can hold her own!
Low stakes plot with a heartwarming HEA.
and yes, there is spice! I’m so excited to read the next book in this interconnected series. A beautiful debut by Ali Evers.
4.5⭐️/🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, and Kidnapping
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I ate this one up. Very dark, taboo topics, trigger heavy but wowza… I was hooked. Devoured in one sitting. Not a situation to idolize in real life but an absolutely heart wrenching plot that keeps you needing more from start to finish.
4⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️
4⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I want to preface this by saying that this book is definitely not going to be for everyone. Who it IS for is for the extremely dark romance lovers who can enjoy MMC’s that are not meant to be idolized in real life scenarios. This story contains heavy cat and mouse tropes within the first half with the FMC & MMC stalking one another.
If you’re someone who enjoyed the cat & mouse duet I think this is right up your alley. The author very clearly stated at the start that this book contains heavy triggers and the creature is not meant to be idolized as a real life love interest, this is why we read isn’t it? Ophelia is a strong headed fmc who runs an apothecary and underground poisoning operation. Tangled in societies norms as a black sheet she encounters a creature is stalking her and she becomes very intrigued by him and dives into deeper research on him.
There is stalking, non con, quite a bit of consensual smut as well, 🩸play takes, vampiric themes, graphic depictions of violent acts, so please read the triggers.
Tropes include joint cat & mouse, a slight love triangle, historical horror romance elements, reasearcher and subject, female friendship, and forbidden love.
Although I was questionable at first this ended up as a solid 4 stars for me and 🌶️🌶️🌶️, I will absolutely be reading the sequel
If you’re someone who enjoyed the cat & mouse duet I think this is right up your alley. The author very clearly stated at the start that this book contains heavy triggers and the creature is not meant to be idolized as a real life love interest, this is why we read isn’t it? Ophelia is a strong headed fmc who runs an apothecary and underground poisoning operation. Tangled in societies norms as a black sheet she encounters a creature is stalking her and she becomes very intrigued by him and dives into deeper research on him.
There is stalking, non con, quite a bit of consensual smut as well, 🩸play takes, vampiric themes, graphic depictions of violent acts, so please read the triggers.
Tropes include joint cat & mouse, a slight love triangle, historical horror romance elements, reasearcher and subject, female friendship, and forbidden love.
Although I was questionable at first this ended up as a solid 4 stars for me and 🌶️🌶️🌶️, I will absolutely be reading the sequel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Goldfinch by Raven Kennedy
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
6 shining gold stars for this final installment of the Plated Prisoner series.
The way every single character arc came full circle was an absolute delight. This ending was everything I wanted and more, with surprises that (I should have) I didn’t see coming. Auren’s journey from damsel to Lyäri was so beautiful, and her and Slade’s relationship is one that stays in a corner of my heart forever, rent free.
My all time favorite dark fantasy romance. Raven Kennedy’s unique King Midas retelling is a masterpiece in full. I cherish this final book.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️.5
The way every single character arc came full circle was an absolute delight. This ending was everything I wanted and more, with surprises that (I should have) I didn’t see coming. Auren’s journey from damsel to Lyäri was so beautiful, and her and Slade’s relationship is one that stays in a corner of my heart forever, rent free.
My all time favorite dark fantasy romance. Raven Kennedy’s unique King Midas retelling is a masterpiece in full. I cherish this final book.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Bow Before the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
3.75 🌟 rounded up!
It took me a bit to get into this one but the last half of the book was amazing. I loved the dark broody prince aspect, the rejected mates/arranged marriage, and slow burn that bow before the elf queen contained. Aspects of dark magic, witty banter, and an immersive setting were also great. I listened on audio so I can’t comment on grammatical errors but the audio was fun and I’m happy I stopped putting this one off. I’ll definitely continue the series!
It took me a bit to get into this one but the last half of the book was amazing. I loved the dark broody prince aspect, the rejected mates/arranged marriage, and slow burn that bow before the elf queen contained. Aspects of dark magic, witty banter, and an immersive setting were also great. I listened on audio so I can’t comment on grammatical errors but the audio was fun and I’m happy I stopped putting this one off. I’ll definitely continue the series!
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Prison Healer is a dark YA fantasy about a girl named Kiva who was locked away at 7 years old into a prison called Zalindov. Guilty by association, her and her father are convicted against treason to the crown.
Now 10 years later, Kiva uses the healing skills her father taught her as the head Prison Healer. When the Rebel Queen arrives at the prison extremely sick, Kiva is tasked with keeping her alive. The rebel queen is sentenced to elemental trials, and when she’s too sick to participate, Kiva volunteers to take her place in the trials. Trials that no one has ever survived before, to earn her freedom.
I really enjoyed this one and it did intrigue and hook me within the first 100 pages. Some very solid plot twists although at times things felt slightly repetitive in the middle, I realized by the end how all of it was tying factors and plot points together. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys magical trials, dark fantasy settings, a touch of romance along the way, and found family.
4 solid stars 🌟
Now 10 years later, Kiva uses the healing skills her father taught her as the head Prison Healer. When the Rebel Queen arrives at the prison extremely sick, Kiva is tasked with keeping her alive. The rebel queen is sentenced to elemental trials, and when she’s too sick to participate, Kiva volunteers to take her place in the trials. Trials that no one has ever survived before, to earn her freedom.
I really enjoyed this one and it did intrigue and hook me within the first 100 pages. Some very solid plot twists although at times things felt slightly repetitive in the middle, I realized by the end how all of it was tying factors and plot points together. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys magical trials, dark fantasy settings, a touch of romance along the way, and found family.
4 solid stars 🌟
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Self harm