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litwitchcore's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Chronic illness, Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Gore, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Animal death, Death of parent, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
kbairbooks's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love it. I love it. I freaking love it!! Lizzie is a master of all things chaos, sexy, spooky but not scary, and delicious characters. I LOVED every single character and I loved the friendships and the sexy scenes and ughhhhhhhhh everything! So much freakin fun. I’m mad its over. But I also love how the author ropes in characters from all over Kings Fall so you never truly feel like you won’t be without them as you finish her books. So fun :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Dementia, Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, and Animal death
noriboo's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
If you're looking for a fluffy monster romance with gothic, steampunk vibes and a suspenseful subplot: this is the one.
Our mmc Sebastian, the Lich, was such an incredible sweetheart, and the flirty banter between him and Dahlia was funny and cute.
Dahlia's a bit naive at the start of the story, but she's also headstrong, caring, and creative.
Due to Sebastian being a necromancer, there is a bit of on page blood and gore and experimentation on corpses. Personally, I thought that the author had done a good job at describing the nature of the Lich's work and simultaneously keeping the story light and humorous.
Smut level:
🌶🌶🌶🌶
•••
I received an ARC from the author. My opinions are my own.
Our mmc Sebastian, the Lich, was such an incredible sweetheart, and the flirty banter between him and Dahlia was funny and cute.
Dahlia's a bit naive at the start of the story, but she's also headstrong, caring, and creative.
Due to Sebastian being a necromancer, there is a bit of on page blood and gore and experimentation on corpses. Personally, I thought that the author had done a good job at describing the nature of the Lich's work and simultaneously keeping the story light and humorous.
Smut level:
🌶🌶🌶🌶
•••
I received an ARC from the author. My opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Child death, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Animal death, Death, Toxic friendship, and Grief
melissat's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Dahlia is a an outcast in the city of King's Fall. After her mother's death, her stepfather forcibly tries to gain control of the family legacy by pushing Dahlia into marriages she doesn't want. She flees, right into the arms of the necromancer (lich) lord who, unbeknownst to her, has been nursing an obsession with her from afar. He immediately welcomes her into the protection of his household, and they quickly realize that more nightmarish forces are at play. As they fall in love, they have to figure out how to defeat the monstrous forces together, along with the eclectic inhabitants of the Manor.
This book was overall such a fun romp! I read the synopsis and was immediately drawn into the concept of gothic horror romance with Eldritch monsters.
I love monster romance, so if you've never read any, be prepared for tentacles and extra limbs in places where you might not normally think to find them. This book has explicit sex scenes, which are very spicy and a little zany.
The found family element was my absolute favourite part. The secondary characters were so loveable and provided a much needed sense of humour to the story because the horror moments were genuinely scary, so if that's your jam, get excited about a truly villainous antagonist.
The timeline felt slightly chaotic, and the prologue really throws you into the world without much exposition but I was really just along for the ride. Lizzie writes with a lot of joy and I'll be digging into her backlist. So excited for this one to release and see what the author does next!
This book was overall such a fun romp! I read the synopsis and was immediately drawn into the concept of gothic horror romance with Eldritch monsters.
I love monster romance, so if you've never read any, be prepared for tentacles and extra limbs in places where you might not normally think to find them. This book has explicit sex scenes, which are very spicy and a little zany.
The found family element was my absolute favourite part. The secondary characters were so loveable and provided a much needed sense of humour to the story because the horror moments were genuinely scary, so if that's your jam, get excited about a truly villainous antagonist.
The timeline felt slightly chaotic, and the prologue really throws you into the world without much exposition but I was really just along for the ride. Lizzie writes with a lot of joy and I'll be digging into her backlist. So excited for this one to release and see what the author does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Sexual content, Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny
Sexual content CWs: knotting, tentacle play, power playthiscryptidreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This was such a cute read. It had Addams family meets Howls Moving Castle vibes.
I really enjoyed this haunted house full of lovable creatures. Sebastion's infatuation and adoration of his bride is so very sweet, he says he'd die for her and means it despite being an undead Lich. All the side characters have their own stories how they came to the manor, and it was fun getting little tidbits of information about them as we follow our FMC Dahlia through the story.
The author put their trigger warnings at the beginning of the chapter it was going to happen in which was so very helpful, I appreciated that a ton. So thoughtful.
Pros - Really loved that they had the FMC figure things out and win, she wasn't very damsel in distress though she does get saved in the beginning from a difficult situation she never backs down and does all she can to fight and win to save her family.
Cons - The sprinkling of modern details in the story like having phones and cars alongside magic orbs and portals felt a little distracting for me. This world is described as very magical with monsters very widely accepted in society and gowns and top hats aren't out of place. They weren't mentioned much at all so really, I feel they could have been left out altogether. Dahlia is also the only one to mention missing these modern conveniences like leggings and tech for the most part, so it almost gave her a "from another world" feel which isn't the case. This is a very minor issue and did not ruin the book for me at all.
3 chili peppers 🌶️ on the spice scale.
Genre: romantasy/monster romance
POV: Dual
Ending: HEA
I think this wins fanciest peen award for the month. Sebastion's equipment had so many details and features it was almost hard to wrap my mind around at times and that is saying something.
sexy tropes - knotting? tentacles, suction, size difference, roleplay, begging, power exchange, exhibitionism, punishment, "buckets of cum"
My Spice Rating - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
1 🌶️- May include hands, more kissing, "fade to black" scenes. No open door spice.
2 🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens, but it isn't often. May include open door scenes but they're infrequent or rare.
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens more often and it is more detailed, Spice is part of the plot, or the book is 50/50 spice to plot.
4 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - More spice than plot, may contain kinky themes.
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Absolute smut. Very little plot, sex heavy. The spicy scenes are very explicit, may contain triggering or dangerous themes, Dark romances and erotica.
I really enjoyed this haunted house full of lovable creatures. Sebastion's infatuation and adoration of his bride is so very sweet, he says he'd die for her and means it despite being an undead Lich. All the side characters have their own stories how they came to the manor, and it was fun getting little tidbits of information about them as we follow our FMC Dahlia through the story.
The author put their trigger warnings at the beginning of the chapter it was going to happen in which was so very helpful, I appreciated that a ton. So thoughtful.
Pros - Really loved that they had the FMC figure things out and win, she wasn't very damsel in distress though she does get saved in the beginning from a difficult situation she never backs down and does all she can to fight and win to save her family.
Cons - The sprinkling of modern details in the story like having phones and cars alongside magic orbs and portals felt a little distracting for me. This world is described as very magical with monsters very widely accepted in society and gowns and top hats aren't out of place. They weren't mentioned much at all so really, I feel they could have been left out altogether. Dahlia is also the only one to mention missing these modern conveniences like leggings and tech for the most part, so it almost gave her a "from another world" feel which isn't the case. This is a very minor issue and did not ruin the book for me at all.
3 chili peppers 🌶️ on the spice scale.
Genre: romantasy/monster romance
POV: Dual
Ending: HEA
I think this wins fanciest peen award for the month. Sebastion's equipment had so many details and features it was almost hard to wrap my mind around at times and that is saying something.
sexy tropes - knotting? tentacles, suction, size difference, roleplay, begging, power exchange, exhibitionism, punishment, "buckets of cum"
My Spice Rating - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
1 🌶️- May include hands, more kissing, "fade to black" scenes. No open door spice.
2 🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens, but it isn't often. May include open door scenes but they're infrequent or rare.
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Spice happens more often and it is more detailed, Spice is part of the plot, or the book is 50/50 spice to plot.
4 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - More spice than plot, may contain kinky themes.
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - Absolute smut. Very little plot, sex heavy. The spicy scenes are very explicit, may contain triggering or dangerous themes, Dark romances and erotica.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, Bullying, Death, and Grief
wyntrrose's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
To me, this came off as a great romantic comedy with monsters and the macabre story. I was smiling to myself a whole bunch. Just happy giddy smiling through most of it. I loved all the characters in the house in the home and how they all work together. Definitely had a slight d&d feel to it with a characters and in the storytelling. It definitely kept me on my toes and I could not put it down. Felt like I wanted more from the side characters, facts, stories. I just didn't want it to end. I loved it. Sebastian and Dahlia's love story is definitely there. I love their chemistry. Love to their friendship. Spice was definitely there with some monster spice to it. Definitely highly recommend this was an advanced reader copy that I read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, and Blood
Minor: Blood and Animal death
krisreads_'s review
5.0
A beautiful gothic macabre of a story... While the book has graphic and dark scenes it offers a wonderful color of comedic relief - and one of the most beautiful fucking love stories ive ever read.
Sebastian Rosemont was many things... A brilliant scientist. An accomplished bookworm. A powerful sorcerer, and a possessive motherfucker that monologues far too often (though I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them), from page one he knows what he wants and he goes out to get it. Soft and tender but a powerful Lich, and protector of Kings Fall for a reason.
Dahlia is stubborn, loud and proud of it. Her loyalty and fierce protectiveness of the ones she loves is inspiring. Her character is loveable and kind, as the reader I found myself rooting for her from the minute we meet her.
When Dahlia all but falls into Sebastian's lap, he does the one thing he does with all lost things that find their way to him. Keeps her. But Dahlia's past is more than her estranged step father - intent on her inheritance or the weird journal that's been passed down her family for generations.
Sebastian Rosemont was many things... A brilliant scientist. An accomplished bookworm. A powerful sorcerer, and a possessive motherfucker that monologues far too often (though I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them), from page one he knows what he wants and he goes out to get it. Soft and tender but a powerful Lich, and protector of Kings Fall for a reason.
Dahlia is stubborn, loud and proud of it. Her loyalty and fierce protectiveness of the ones she loves is inspiring. Her character is loveable and kind, as the reader I found myself rooting for her from the minute we meet her.
When Dahlia all but falls into Sebastian's lap, he does the one thing he does with all lost things that find their way to him. Keeps her. But Dahlia's past is more than her estranged step father - intent on her inheritance or the weird journal that's been passed down her family for generations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Death
Minor: Vomit
rowan_reviews's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
This is not your average fantasy monster smut. I received an ARC from the author for a review.
Dahlia Grayskull has been grieving her mother for 5 years, taking solace in a haunted manor in the midst of the forbidden forest, reading stories to the gravestones, tending the overgrown garden and swimming in an enchanted cave. On her way home one day, a suitor approaches her in the forest with a proposal - which doesn't go well. She laughs in his face, he tries to murder her. In her desperate flight to survive, she heads to the only refuge she has: the manor. Which.... It turns out is owned by a lich who has watched her and fallen for her through his windows these past 5 years.
And thus, Dahlia and Sebastian meet and things get even more interesting.
This is a CHONK of a book at almost 550 pages. Some authors/publishers would have split it into two, so imagine my surprise halfway through at what would have been a natural break for that to notice that I still had half the book left! Best. Moment.
There's plenty of plot in here with the romance ramping up between Dahlia and Sebastian, who is extremely shy about his body so things take a while to build (but paces well, IMO). Turns out Dahlia's family is cursed - surprise! - and her stepfather desperately wants her inheritance, locked away in a vault at the bank with strict orders to only open upon her marriage (and to be burned in its entirety if she were to die).
It does have a slow lull around 75% or so in & then picks back up in the last 10% or so.
The author went above & beyond with TWs, which is greatly appreciated!
The juxtaposition of a haunted, low-tech manor with a high-tech, essentially modern city was very jarring at first, I think because the city wasn't set up first. This could probably benefit from a short prologue in the city to set that up - maybe a scene with Dahlia and her mom? This also would help set up a bit more context for Dahlia's grief. Given how long the book already is I understand the choice not to set that up beforehand, but it did affect my enjoyment in the beginning.
Some of the world building is also strange - references to golden retrievers and doberman dog breeds; W-2 forms; rock, paper, scissors; prickly pear cactus and raccoons. It doesn't feel very elf/magic/lich/fantasy world at times. Oh and she gets compared to putty... Like a LOT. That did get old.
There's a bit of formatting weirdness with italics that sometimes seem like thoughts and sometimes not.
Overall very enjoyable, could use a bit more editing IMO but a very solid fantasy monster romance.
Dahlia Grayskull has been grieving her mother for 5 years, taking solace in a haunted manor in the midst of the forbidden forest, reading stories to the gravestones, tending the overgrown garden and swimming in an enchanted cave. On her way home one day, a suitor approaches her in the forest with a proposal - which doesn't go well. She laughs in his face, he tries to murder her. In her desperate flight to survive, she heads to the only refuge she has: the manor. Which.... It turns out is owned by a lich who has watched her and fallen for her through his windows these past 5 years.
And thus, Dahlia and Sebastian meet and things get even more interesting.
This is a CHONK of a book at almost 550 pages. Some authors/publishers would have split it into two, so imagine my surprise halfway through at what would have been a natural break for that to notice that I still had half the book left! Best. Moment.
There's plenty of plot in here with the romance ramping up between Dahlia and Sebastian, who is extremely shy about his body so things take a while to build (but paces well, IMO). Turns out Dahlia's family is cursed - surprise! - and her stepfather desperately wants her inheritance, locked away in a vault at the bank with strict orders to only open upon her marriage (and to be burned in its entirety if she were to die).
It does have a slow lull around 75% or so in & then picks back up in the last 10% or so.
The author went above & beyond with TWs, which is greatly appreciated!
The juxtaposition of a haunted, low-tech manor with a high-tech, essentially modern city was very jarring at first, I think because the city wasn't set up first. This could probably benefit from a short prologue in the city to set that up - maybe a scene with Dahlia and her mom? This also would help set up a bit more context for Dahlia's grief. Given how long the book already is I understand the choice not to set that up beforehand, but it did affect my enjoyment in the beginning.
Some of the world building is also strange - references to golden retrievers and doberman dog breeds; W-2 forms; rock, paper, scissors; prickly pear cactus and raccoons. It doesn't feel very elf/magic/lich/fantasy world at times. Oh and she gets compared to putty... Like a LOT. That did get old.
There's a bit of formatting weirdness with italics that sometimes seem like thoughts and sometimes not.
Overall very enjoyable, could use a bit more editing IMO but a very solid fantasy monster romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
katvou's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Gothic & dark fantasy romance
Monsters
Death
Mystery & mayhem
Spice
Found family
Touch her and die
“For the last five years, Dahlia Grayskull has sought solace in the shadows of the decrepit, and supposedly abandoned, Rosemont Manor.”
“Unbeknownst to her, Lord Sebastian Rosemont has been watching her traipse through his deadly garden and read books to the graves in his yard. The Lich Lord is very protective over what he considers his, and Dahlia is his now...whether she knows it or not.”
How to Marry a Lich is a dark, gothic
monster romance with interesting, diverse characters and mysterious plot. The book had some really funny moments but also dark themes. I really liked both the FMC & MMC and how they interacted. The supporting characters were funny and lovable.
The storyline was mysterious and full of surprises that I didn’t expect or see coming. Quirky and bizarre story in a interesting way.
Definitely 18+ read because of the spicy scenes.
Overall a fun and fast read. Not for you if you’re looking for a super serious story, but a fun read for those who want to laugh and have a good time. Perfect if you like Addam’s family with spice.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder