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tomeaftertome's Reviews (107)

Bound By Blood and Shadows

4.75

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

First of all—huge fanged thank you to BookSirens for shoving this sinful little gem into my claws. If this is this author’s debut? Babe… she’s lying. No way a first book has any right to be this polished, this seductive, this ready to sink its teeth in and drink you dry.

With prose as a harp as a dagger kissed in moonlight and worldbuilding the likes of Ravenloft meets Songbird and the Wings of Night— Pettinato delivers us a highly addictive storyline sprinkled with just enough D&D campaign chaos vibes that I half expected someone to shout, “Roll for initiative!” at any moment. And yes, my dice were ready. 🎲

We’re talking dark. Deliciously so. The kind of morally gray where you’re constantly side-eyeing everyone like— wait… are YOU the villain? Or are we all just pretending to be heroes in the shadows? Our MMC? Straight-up giving Astarion-from-BG3 energy. Broody, dangerous, and infuriatingly seductive. We are also blessed with an FMC fierce and fearless. Added to this are side characters that are so real, you will grieve and yearn alongside them.

Now, full disclosure— there were a few tiny hiccups (mostly grammatical) that a good beta reader could have smoothed out. But did it pull me out of the story? Not even for a heartbeat. The spice? Chef’s kiss— decadent, intentional, and wrapped in shadows.

My final verdict is this: Run. Don’t walk. Let this book take you by the throat and drag you into its world. And when you finish, you can thank me… preferably with offerings fit for a dark goddess from my Amazon wishlist in my IG/TikTok bio. 🤭

In all seriousness— thank you again to BookSirens for the making this connection possible, and to the author for trusting me with an e-ARC. Every thought here is mine, given willingly, and I’ll just be over here waiting for book two like it’s my next blood meal. No pressure… but also, hurry.

Content Warnings

A Game Cursed and Deadly

Ella Laurenti

5.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Oh, my wicked little stars… this book devoured me, and I didn’t even fight it.

I said this in my unboxing, but seriously, how the hell is no one screaming about this masterpiece of dark, filthy delight? My vibe check? Immaculate. My rating? Five sinful, soul-stealing stars.

Laurenti didn’t just write a book—she cast a spell and set it on fire. The writing? Sharp and seductive. The world-building? Deliciously enveloping. And the chemistry between the Teizel and the Esmeralda? Babe, it’s not just sparks— it’s the kind of inferno that burns down realms. Absolute cinders.

The emotional depth? Brutal in the best way. You feel their pain, their longing, their hunger. And when the spice hits? Let’s just say, toe-curling doesn’t even begin to cover it. Two chapters, specifically, need to come with a warning label and maybe a fire extinguisher. “Drop Your Glamour” and “Something a Little Monstrous”… whew. That wasn’t spice, that was the entire damn Scoville scale on demon mode. Read those with headphones on and maybe wrap your furniture in plastic like your grandamama’s couch. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 😈🔥

If I had one teeny gripe, it’s that I wanted just a bit more clarity on the magic system—but honestly? I’m convinced Laurenti is saving the real witchcraft for book two, and I am feral for it.

I can’t believe this is a debut. Like, excuse me? Laurenti came out swinging like she sold her soul for this. And honestly, if that’s true, I’d like to thank the demon personally.

Who needs to read this delicious monster feast?

Demon daddies that know how to ruin you but would burn the world for you? Check.

Size difference that’ll make you question your moral compass? Oh, baby, the shifts are shifting.

A witchy FMC who doesn’t take anyone’s crap? Yes.

A monster who would submit just to save her? Hold me.

Realm-jumping chaos? Book two is already whispering promises.

A smartass ghost side character? She deserves her own spinoff.

Need a Summerween read? This is it. It’s dark, it’s dangerous, and it’s hotter than Hell’s seventh circle.

Monster lovers, paranormal romance ddicts, and every witchy soul out there… you need this book yesterday.

Thank you for the author for a copy of this amazing book. All thoughts and opinions are mine and are given ferally— I mean voluntarily. 😬

Content Warnings

His Perfect Darkness

Lee Savino

5.0

adventurous dark 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

Oh babygirl… buckle up, because this book didn’t just take me on a ride—it slammed me into the backseat of a blacked-out luxury car with tinted morals and a man behind the wheel who doesn’t believe in brakes. 😮‍💨🖤

When the author said “morally grey,” she wasn’t playing. This man isn’t fifty shades—he’s one shade, whatever the color is just before black. Like “watching Gotham burn while he smirks from the shadows” black. It would be easy to make a comparison to Batman on this one… But I feel I would be remiss in noting that Inara was giving Dr. Harley Quinn and Rex was giving The Joker if he was morally grey and obsessed with HQ…

Yeah. That it’s that dark. And I was feral for it. 👏

The storytelling? Sharp. Twisted. Deliciously layered. Even the side characters had flavor. But our dark darling? He’s always ten steps ahead. Calculated, unhinged, devastatingly in control, and the FMC? Sweet thing never stood a chance. She knows he's dangerous. She knows he's a walking red flag in designer armor. But guess what? So do we. And we still melt for him!

As for the ending… when their pasts snap together like a lock clicking shut? I felt something. Warm. Human. And I’m not sure what that says about me. 🙃

Highly recommend if you're into shadow-drenched vigilantes, emotional damage, and a man who calls the shots and makes you thank him for it. Check your trigger warnings and brace yourself, love. Book 2 Darkest Before Dawn drops July 24th and I’m already sharpening my claws. 😈📚

Content Warnings

Beneath the Hood

Emily McIntire

4.25

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

4.25 ⭐️

Ohhh babes, guess what? I finally did it. I stepped out of my morally grey, dagger-wielding comfort zone and cracked open *gasp* a contemporary romance. And you know what? It ate. Let’s talk.

I would like to open this, with the performances of both narrators was flawless! Brooke, Bloomingdale and DiCosimo giving wonderful performances that had me hanging onto every word and feeling all the feelings! Sound quality on point, keeping this listen clean, crisp and skip free. Shout out to Blackstone for an epically produced listen!

So, this was an ARC I got my hands (and ears) on, and I dove into the audiobook version of this author’s latest modern love tale—and damn, was it a surprisingly good time. Like, I expected a fluffy lil read and got emotional damage, tension, and a cheeky dash of forbidden love. Yeah, I wasn’t ready either.

We’re talkin’ two beautifully flawed characters, and if you know me, you know I eat that right up like it’s my Roman Empire. I am a flawed heroine in my own villain origin story, so naturally I was hooked. Add in a juicy HEA, some spicy slow burn tension, and that forbidden “we probably shouldn’t, but oh we absolutely will” energy? Chef’s kiss.

Now I already knew Emily McIntire could write (Hooked, scarred, Wrecked… hello!) her other books (in a totally different vibe) had me feral— but this contemporary? Different beast. I will admit: I did struggle a little at first with the FMC being a full-blown social media personality. Not because it wasn’t written well, but because it was written TOO well. You know the type: polished, shallow, a little chaotic, kinda self-obsessed… but baby, THAT WAS THE POINT 👏. Watching her call her own 🐂💩 and evolve? Yeah, that had me clapping like I was in the front row of her redemption arc.

This was a yearn-burn-slow-burn-angst-fest, and I devoured every damn minute. These two wanted each other, sure… but they also had some deep, messy, real flaws to face. And I loved that the author didn’t gloss over it. Ok, so maybe one of them definitely needed a few more therapy sessions than the other— no names, just vibes— but the way they were both forced to reflect? Mmm, yes. 🙌 Growth and tension? Inject it.

So here’s my verdict: if you’re one of my contemporary romance girlies? READ. THIS. BOOK. And if you’re like me— dark romance trash hesitant to cross genre borders? This one’s a perfect gateway drug. No, I’m not a full convert yet, but this book definitely cracked the door open and waved a little pink neon “hello.” 👋

And that cliffhanger? RUDE. So yes, I’ll be continuing the series. Obviously. 🙄

Oh, and one last thing before I go: Jackson? Sweet, wounded, swoony Jackson? Yeah. I need one. We all need one. 😮‍💨

Go read it. Thank me later.

Thank you so much to the author, Blackstone publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are given voluntarily..

Content Warnings

A Bargain So Bloody

Vasilisa Drake

5.0

adventurous dark inspiring 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: Yes

OK, I’m only saying this once, so listen up, bloodsuckers: On June 30, when this hardcover book and audiobook drop—

DO. NOT. WALK. RUN.

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Just sprint into the night like the feral little bat you are and one-click this immediately. 🩸🖤

Before I lose my mind screaming about this absolutely fang-tastic story, I need to shine a whole-ass spotlight on the author. As a neurospicy reader, I often need both ebook and audiobook formats to stay focused—and when I mentioned this? She didn’t just nod politely. She delivered both formats, like the literary angel she is. THAT is how you show up for your neurodivergent readers. I will protect her at all costs. 👏👑🥹

Now… deep breath

Cecily Foster? Bestie, your voice acting had me questioning reality. The range? The delivery? The character switching so clean I had to double check there wasn’t a whole cast behind the mic? 10/10. And my first CTR Audio production? Crystal-clear quality. No glitches, no weird volume jumps—just pure, immersive deliciousness. I was in this world like I had a front-row seat to the vampire drama.

And now... the story. Oh. My. Goth.

I am OBSESSED. This author took everything I love—vampires, blood-drenched enemies-to-lovers tension, morally gray characters I want to slap and then kiss—and gave me a book I devoured in one sitting. (Yes, it’s a 12+ hour audiobook. No, I didn’t come up for air. Yes, I’m unwell. Thanks for asking.)

This book is not heavy on the spice—but don’t let that fool you. The tension?? You could string it on a violin and play a murder ballad while the MMC broods in a corner and the FMC threatens to stab him (romantically). The slow burn will have you clenching your Kindle and dramatically sighing like a Victorian lady.

What do we get?

🖤 Murdery court intrigue

🗡️ Villains you love to hate

🩷 An FMC with backbone, bite, and beautifully bad decisions

🧛‍♂️ An MMC who is mysterious-but-not-too-mysterious, aka perfect

📖 Worldbuilding that makes you want to live there (and possibly die there too)

⚔️ Enemies to Allies to….🤭

🕵🏽‍♀️ Secrets/Hidden Identities

I’m not spoiling a damn thing because this is one of those stories you need to go into blind— no spoilers, just vibes. But trust me: if you love Crown of Nyaxia, The Serpent & the Wings of Night, Crescent City, The Bridge Kingdom, or anything with a hot guy who probably bites—you’re gonna eat this up.

I am in this book’s THRALL (and yes, you’ll understand that pun later, don’t worry 😏). 10 out of 5 stars. Already counting down the days ‘til book two. RIP to whatever book follows this one, because the bar is now six feet deep and made of obsidian.

Major thanks to the author and CTR Audio for the eARC and audiobook. I am ferally grateful. Let’s go, vamps. 🩸

Content Warnings

Terror at the Gates

Scarlett St. Clair

5.0

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Hell. 🦆ing. Yes.

This book didn’t just grab me—it dragged me into a dark alley in six-inch stilettos and whispered, “You belong to me now.” And baby, I went willingly.

I thought I was ride-or-die for Scarlett St. Clair… until this blood-slicked, holy-hell-of-a-book strutted into my life like a storm in red lipstick and bad intentions. I’m not just obsessed— I’m offering my soul as tribute at the altar of this story.

Let’s talk audio, because sheeesh, this performance? Oscar-worthy with a switchblade under its tongue. Laura Horowitz, my queen of vocal carnage (you know her from Phantasma), devoured this role. Every syllable hit like shattered glass in velvet gloves. And then there’s Tristan Warden, his voice? Sin wrapped in silk. I wanted more of him, just a taste wasn’t enough, but I’ll be a good girl and wait for book two. (No, I won’t. Give him more lines.)

RB Media and Tantor Audio? They don’t just produce audiobooks— they weaponize them. Clean, crisp, and deadly precise. Like a bullet dipped in honey.

Now, I’m not here to dissect plot. I’m here to dare you. This story doesn’t beg for analysis, it dares you to feel something. To bleed a little. To burn.

Here’s your vibe check, babe:

💥 If you crave female rage like it’s a fine wine— aged, volatile, and ready to burn kingdoms down

💪🏽 If you know a woman doesn’t need to be saved… she is the reckoning

🧙🏽‍♀️ If you’re a witch in any form: practical, primal, metaphorical, or just emotionally unavailable with a good skincare routine

💁🏽‍♀️ If you’ve got Lilith energy and think Eve should’ve handed the apple back and said, “Try harder.”

📖 If the idea of biblical mythology spun into a Sin City-style Mafia adjacent fever dream with a heroine who stabs first and asks questions never makes your mouth water

🫡 If you get that submission is not weakness— it’s earned. It’s trust. And that the right partner worships your autonomy, not tries to own it. (Shoutout to the MMC— he knew the assignment and turned it into scripture.)

If you liked A Touch of Darkness or Game of Fate but wished the FMC had more bite, more teeth, more I will light this place on fire and walk away in heels— then buckle the fuck up.

Massive thanks to the author, Forever Publishing, and RB Media/Tantor Audio for letting me borrow this slice of literary chaos. I didn’t just listen— I descended. And darling, I’m not climbing back out.

🖤 All thoughts and unhinged rants are my own.

Content Warnings

Deadly Nightshade

Billie Jade Kermack, Billie Jade Kermack

4.5

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-paced

4.5⭐️ 🥀 🖤🔪🥷
Narrated by
Alyssa Avery & James Joseph
Prod. By Blue Nose Audio

The inner weird kid in me is SCREAMING.

Like, how did this author take my favorite childhood movie—yes, that one—and twist it into a grown-up, unhinged, sinfully delicious dark romance? I feel emotionally attacked in way that has me thanking the author asking for more.

But before I go full feral fangirl mode, can we take a moment to bow down to the narrators? Joseph and Avery? They ATE. Their duet narration was so vivid, it felt like they reached through my headphones, slapped my mind's eye awake, and whispered, “Buckle up, babe.” Shoutout to Blue Nose Audio for consistently delivering productions so crisp and immersive, I forget I’m not in a gothic fever dream.

Now let’s talk about this book. When I picked it up, I had no idea what I was walking into. Zero expectations, full vibes. And then… boom. Suddenly I’m picking up on hints—like why does this feel so familiar? Oh, I don’t know, maybe because it’s loosely inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas... except there’s no Disney filter, just blood, vengeance, masked madness, and a dash of vigilante justice that made my dark little heart sing. Not a retelling, but baby, the aesthetic is THERE.

Enter Jax: a masked, justice-dishing, totally unhinged psycho golden retriever MMC with possessive energy so strong it had me side-eyeing my thermostat. Joseph’s delivery of every growled “good girl” and darkly tender “mine” had me questioning my biological functions. Was I ovulating? Who’s to say.

And then there’s Suzy. Sweet, sharp, savage Susie. Avery’s performance gave her so much depth—every snarky inner monologue, every badass moment of quiet strength, every revenge plot hatched with eyeliner precision? I was in her corner with pom-poms and a knife.

This book is gritty, atmospheric, and so full of heat it needs its own fire warning. It’s dark romance with a twist of gothic noir, a sprinkle of vigilante justice, and a hero who’s basically what happens when a golden retriever grows fangs and goes feral in the name of love.

So if you're into:

🖤 Morally gray mayhem

🦴 Protective psychos with soft spots (only for her)

🎭 Masked mystery men serving justice and spice

💋 Broken girls finding their bite again

…then why are you still reading this review and not one-clicking it?

Big thanks to the author and Blue Nose Audio for the complimentary chaos—I mean, audiobook. I devoured this and I’ll be thinking about Jax’s hand necklace kink until further notice.

Deadly Nightshade: A twisted dark romance novella

Billie Jade Kermack

4.5

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

4.5⭐️ 🥀 🖤🔪🥷
Narrated by
Alyssa Avery & James Joseph
Prod. By Blue Nose Audio

The inner weird kid in me is SCREAMING.

Now let’s talk about this book. When I picked it up, I had no idea what I was walking into. Zero expectations, full vibes. And then… boom. Suddenly I’m picking up on hints—like why does this feel so familiar? Oh, I don’t know, maybe because it’s loosely inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas... except there’s no Disney filter, just blood, vengeance, masked madness, and a dash of vigilante justice that made my dark little heart sing. Not a retelling, but baby, the aesthetic is THERE.

So if you're into:

🖤 Morally gray mayhem

🦴 Protective psychos with soft spots (only for her)

🎭 Masked mystery men serving justice and spice

💋 Broken girls finding their bite again

…then why are you still reading this review and not one-clicking it?

Big thanks to the author and Blue Nose Audio for the complimentary chaos—I mean, audiobook. I devoured this and I’ll be thinking about Jax’s hand necklace kink until further notice.

Content Warnings

One Dark Kiss: Deluxe Special Edition

Rebecca Zanetti

4.0

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What do you get when you slam a tech billionaire romance into a Bratva mafia fever dream, then hand the whole mess over to a sharp-tongued, high-powered lawyer FMC who doesn’t know the meaning of “back down”? Oh, and did I mention their meet-cute happens in prison—and by cute, I mean full-on, eye-lock, claim-you-on-sight, ruin-you-in-every-way-that-counts kinda energy? You get this fucking book. 🔥

This was my first time hearing this narrator duo, and let me tell you—they delivered. The female narrator? She was the FMC. I’m talking attitude, cadence, every spicy internal monologue laced with so much damn realism I kept yelling, “BABE, I WAS THINKING THAT TOO” while kicking my little feet like a lovesick criminal in solitary. 👏

The male narrator? Sexy. Gritty. Dangerous. Mostly consistent with the accent (though I clocked a few slips—could be my misophonia acting up, so your mileage may vary). But let’s be real: the man could’ve read off Russian mob tax returns and I still would’ve been swooning.

And can we talk production? RBmedia and Tantor did not play. Clean, crisp, flawless sound from start to finish. No skips, no muffles—just pure mafia madness in surround sound, baby.

Now onto the plot—because whew. This isn’t your cookie-cutter mafia romance, no sir. Zanetti throws some bold-ass twists into this thing and spices it like a five-alarm fire. The MMC? Possessive to the point of obliteration. The FMC? Firecracker wrapped in stilettos and sarcasm. Their chemistry? Violent. Unrelenting. Obscene in the best way.

I had so much fun with this listen. And if you like your billionaires a little unhinged, your mafia boys morally gray and deadly, and your heroines armed with sharp wit and sharper legal comebacks? Run, don’t walk.

Huge thanks to the author, RBmedia, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the complimentary audiobook. Y’all… I was not ready, but I’m so damn glad I went to prison with these two.

Content Warnings

Graveyard Shift

Melanie Davies

4.25

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was my first book by Melanie Davies book… and I am officially a fan!

Maxine Mitchell Okay, first of all… SHE ATE. This narrator brought this dark, bloody, banter-filled world to life so vividly, I swear I could smell the leather and danger. And don’t even get me started on the MMC’s voice 😮‍💨. I was clutching my figurative pearls like an unprepared Victorian widow. Then there’s her portrayal of the FMC, her inner monologue had me nodding along like, “Felt that, queen 👏 say it again for the monsters in the back.” As far as overall sound and quality goes… this is a Blue Nose Audio production, need I say more? 👏

Book one: Graveyard Shift of the Midnight Stakes series, had me fighting off full-body Buffy the Vampire Slayer flashbacks in the best possible way. I’m talking WB-era, green dancing frog nostalgia. Remember staying up too late to catch those vampire brawls and broody stares? Yeah, now imagine that— but grown-up, grittier, steam-on-full-blast-powering-an-entire-railroad-line, and with a romance that will make your soul and your underwear combust (I recommend laying down some newspaper before starting this journey). We’re serving Spike & Buffy vibes on a silver (not wooden) platter, with eternal-life-level angst and tension you could cut with a dagger (preferably dipped in venom or something equally dramatic).

Enemies to allies to lovers? ✅

Deliciously forbidden? ✅✅

Banter so sharp it could kill a lesser vampire? ✅✅✅

And yes, my new vamp boyfriend Darius has officially joined the ranks of fictional obsessions I am emotionally unavailable because of. 😮‍💨🔥

No high school drama here; this is full-grown, full-throttle, full-body heat. The romantic scenes? Definitely NOT WB-approved. Let’s just say if Buffy had scenes like this, the FCC would’ve had a meltdown. You’ll be blushing, gasping, and maybe barking “no way” to yourself at 2AM. It’s that kind of read.

If you’re a fan of Van Helsing, Underworld, or anything where monsters look like models and talk like sin, you need this book.

Book rec-wise, if you’re into:

*Deals with Demons by Stacia Stark? Yep, this one.

*Crescent City but want less fluff (sweetness) and more fangs? It’s here.

*Kel Carpenter’s morally gray chaos and cryptid hotties? Grab this book now.

I’m ready for book 2 of the Midnight Stakes series, Taken to the Grave, like a vampire at sunrise: dramatic, desperate, and a little dangerous. Because Darius? That man has officially earned his place in my vampire boyfriend hall of fame. 😮‍💨🖤🩸

Thank you so much to the author and Blue Nose Audio for a copy of this audiobook, which allowed me to post this honest review of my experience.

Content Warnings

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