Full Review by marzz
ARC Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book through Pen Pinery. This is my honest review and reflects my own thoughts and opinions.
I finished this book in under 15 hours, and honestly, I could not put it down. From the beginning, I was completely pulled into Eliza and Adrian’s story, and every time I thought things might finally calm down, something else happened that kept me turning the pages.
Eliza was easily one of my favorite parts of this story. She is NOT a helpless damsel waiting for someone to save her. She is smart, determined, capable, and more than willing to stand her ground. Watching her deal with her family, navigate difficult situations, and slowly find her own strength made her incredibly satisfying to root for. I loved watching her go from suppressing herself and her abilities to learning to embrace her own power.
And then there’s Adrian. 😏 I will always have a soft spot for a morally black MMC, and Adrian absolutely delivered. He is ruthless, intimidating, and definitely not someone I would want to cross, but there is so much more to him than his darker side. He has his own code, and seeing the moments where his softer, protective side comes through. Especially when it comes to Eliza, made his character even more interesting.
I especially loved watching their relationship evolve. What starts as a very business like arrangement with rules and boundaries slowly turns into something neither of them can control. Adrian trying so hard to remain detached while very obviously becoming completely obsessed with Eliza was one of my favorite parts.
I also really enjoyed how the story gradually expanded beyond the initial romance. It starts with business, family problems, and power struggles, but slowly introduces darker threats and supernatural elements. I liked that the fantasy side of the story unfolded gradually instead of being thrown at you all at once. It made the world feel more developed and kept me curious about what was coming next.
There are some spicy scenes, but what really kept me invested was everything happening around the characters–the relationship, the secrets, the danger, and the constant feeling that there was something bigger happening beneath the surface.
And that ending?! 😭 I was NOT ready for it! It left me with so many questions, but honestly, in the best way because now I absolutely need to know what happens next. I’m genuinely excited to see where Eliza and Adrian’s story goes from here and what all the secrets and revelations will lead to. Needless to say, I’ll be looking forward to the next book!
Overall, this was a very well written, addictive read with a strong FMC, a morally black MMC, plenty of tension, spice, secrets, danger, and a romance that kept getting more intense. If you enjoy a powerful heroine, an obsessive and protective MMC, and a story that keeps revealing another layer just when you think you've figured things out, this is definitely one to check out.