Take a photo of a barcode or cover
theartsybookwitch's Reviews (393)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Stalking, Murder
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"I’m pretty sure there’s permanent, substantial damage to my heart. But everything that’s left of it is yours. I promise.”
Survival picks up right where Broken ends and Keelan Storm does not disappoint.
We follow Annie and Jet, along with Izzy and Tucker. All recovering on very different paths from the end of Broken, we follow their healing journeys, and my god, will they tear your heartstrings. They are all struggling with their grief, in one way, shape, or form. Their stories made me cry, and it will keep you feeling punched in the gut, the way it's broken for them all.
I don't think I have a favorite couple, but Izzy and Tucker might win out right now. The way that they will fight tooth and nail for each other, protect each other in ways that might hurt themselves, gets me every time. They're truly soulmates, and the end scene on the beach? Truly a emotional and powerful moment.
Keelan Storm writes such a power story, and the way these characters will stay with you rent-free. There are so many topics touched in this series and it's so endearing and heart-wrenching to see come to life.
If you're a fan of sports romance, angst, and spice, this is definitely the series for you.
AND NIC. Where do I even start for Nic. I fell in love with him, and I felt like he was a much needed outsider perspective. And the way he's like a lost puppy? You can feel all the hurt he's going through and I can't wait to get his backstory.
tropes //
🧡 Friends to Lover
🧡 Spicy Sports Romance
🧡 Angst & Drama
tw // grief, death, talk of miscarriage,
#keelanstorm #survival #breakerridgeseries #newadultromance #newadult #bookshelf #romancebooks
Survival picks up right where Broken ends and Keelan Storm does not disappoint.
We follow Annie and Jet, along with Izzy and Tucker. All recovering on very different paths from the end of Broken, we follow their healing journeys, and my god, will they tear your heartstrings. They are all struggling with their grief, in one way, shape, or form. Their stories made me cry, and it will keep you feeling punched in the gut, the way it's broken for them all.
I don't think I have a favorite couple, but Izzy and Tucker might win out right now. The way that they will fight tooth and nail for each other, protect each other in ways that might hurt themselves, gets me every time. They're truly soulmates, and the end scene on the beach? Truly a emotional and powerful moment.
Keelan Storm writes such a power story, and the way these characters will stay with you rent-free. There are so many topics touched in this series and it's so endearing and heart-wrenching to see come to life.
If you're a fan of sports romance, angst, and spice, this is definitely the series for you.
tropes //
🧡 Friends to Lover
🧡 Spicy Sports Romance
🧡 Angst & Drama
tw // grief, death, talk of miscarriage,
#keelanstorm #survival #breakerridgeseries #newadultromance #newadult #bookshelf #romancebooks
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Miscarriage
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"The streets can flow with the blood of our enemies for all I care, and I’ll be right there, bathing in it."
Des Sweet's newest novella in the Night to Remember Auction multi-author series comes The Birthday Buy.
Every time I thought I knew where this was headed, I was wrong.
The Birthday Buy comes the story of Demi and Jay. Demi plans a surprise birthday gift for Jay, and serves him up revenge on a platter. They were deliciously dark and twisted, and there was so many things I did not see coming. I loved their relationship and how well they fit with each other, <s>matching each others freak</s>. I really hope we can see more of them in the future.
Like others, Demi and Jay remind me of an even crazier Harley and Joker.
<img style="width: 500px; height: 206px; display: block;" alt="Pinterest" class="detail__media__img-highres js-detail-img js-detail-img-high" src="//external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fd5%2F71%2Fab%2Fd571ab6015875305636dea56c4013747.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=b9fa41f3286f120f2184db54250d0b5c96b7e65a4cd7ee5eba854a578f9f69b8&ipo=images">
<s>ignore that it's before she turns mad</s>
Please head the trigger warnings going into this.
tropes // baking, mafia, birthday party, revenge, serial killers
tw // cannibalism, sexual content, exhibitionism, public auction, blood, gore, serial killers
Des Sweet's newest novella in the Night to Remember Auction multi-author series comes The Birthday Buy.
Every time I thought I knew where this was headed, I was wrong.
The Birthday Buy comes the story of Demi and Jay. Demi plans a surprise birthday gift for Jay, and serves him up revenge on a platter. They were deliciously dark and twisted, and there was so many things I did not see coming. I loved their relationship and how well they fit with each other, <s>matching each others freak</s>. I really hope we can see more of them in the future.
Like others, Demi and Jay remind me of an even crazier Harley and Joker.
<img style="width: 500px; height: 206px; display: block;" alt="Pinterest" class="detail__media__img-highres js-detail-img js-detail-img-high" src="//external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fd5%2F71%2Fab%2Fd571ab6015875305636dea56c4013747.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=b9fa41f3286f120f2184db54250d0b5c96b7e65a4cd7ee5eba854a578f9f69b8&ipo=images">
<s>ignore that it's before she turns mad</s>
Please head the trigger warnings going into this.
tropes // baking, mafia, birthday party, revenge, serial killers
tw // cannibalism, sexual content, exhibitionism, public auction, blood, gore, serial killers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
“I want to be your first art.”
When Bridget becomes a witness to a murder in the coffee shop she frequents, she gets kidnapped by the hot guy from the counter and gets more than what she asks for. Offering anything for her freedom, what she gets instead is something neither one of them were in for. Near instant turn to pure smut. If they didn't reference it frequently, I would've forgotten she was kidnapped in the first place. I feel like stockholm was definitely in play, but felt more than that, considering how well they cared for each other; how Marco doted on her, cared for her, from the very beginning.
I do wish we got more of a backstory, more details. I wish we got to see a bit of Bridget's life before that day. Even just to see Marco's pov during any part of the story.
If you want a short novella including stockholm and kidnapping, this is the story for you.
When Bridget becomes a witness to a murder in the coffee shop she frequents, she gets kidnapped by the hot guy from the counter and gets more than what she asks for. Offering anything for her freedom, what she gets instead is something neither one of them were in for. Near instant turn to pure smut. If they didn't reference it frequently, I would've forgotten she was kidnapped in the first place. I feel like stockholm was definitely in play, but felt more than that, considering how well they cared for each other; how Marco doted on her, cared for her, from the very beginning.
I do wish we got more of a backstory, more details. I wish we got to see a bit of Bridget's life before that day. Even just to see Marco's pov during any part of the story.
If you want a short novella including stockholm and kidnapping, this is the story for you.
“Wicked girl.”
‘There was something so empowering, having this man-this brutal killer-under my control.”
“I’ll always come for you.”
tw // breath play, gun play, forced body-modification, dubcon, slave play, kidnapping, blood play, porn no plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
"Everything about this man was dark, and if I had to guess, his soul was black."
The newest in Brittany Ann's universe Catch Me When I Fall, shows us the story of Grayson and Carrie.
Carrie Hale, a true badass who has to fight for her freedom, is such a powerful character. Seeing her confidence grow in herself after battling everything with those she had trusted gets me all emotional. Escaping a reality that she had to face, and still keeping up her optimism and spirits is something that not a lot of people could do, and I am in awe of how well Carrie is able to.
Now Joseph Grayson. The bounty hunter who gets obsessed with his latest mark. He'll do anything to protect her, even if it's not what the others want. And when he goes through hell and leaves her for months, he always find his way back to her, saving her in the process. You can feel how hurt he is when he hears the heartbreaking news, and you can't help but love him that much more.
Brittany does such a good job at not just creating this world of hers, but making all the characters feel real and relatable.
While CMWIF is a stand alone duology, all of Brittany's books are set in the same universe and characters do cross. However, it's not needed to read them prior to CMWIF.
”To the women who've been told their worth is determined by the number on the scale. Fuck the scale and fuck anyone who has ever told you that. You're beautiful. Every single inch of you.”
🖤 Morally Gray MMC
🩷 Plus Size FMC
🖤 Bounty Hunter x Runaway Widow
🩷 Instalove
🖤 Touch Her and Die
🩷 Found family
🖤 He falls first
🩷 Small Town
tw // sexual assualt, graphic sexual content, mental, physical and emotional abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, body shaming, human trafficking, attempted suicide, torture, murder
The newest in Brittany Ann's universe Catch Me When I Fall, shows us the story of Grayson and Carrie.
Carrie Hale, a true badass who has to fight for her freedom, is such a powerful character. Seeing her confidence grow in herself after battling everything with those she had trusted gets me all emotional. Escaping a reality that she had to face, and still keeping up her optimism and spirits is something that not a lot of people could do, and I am in awe of how well Carrie is able to.
Now Joseph Grayson. The bounty hunter who gets obsessed with his latest mark. He'll do anything to protect her, even if it's not what the others want. And when he goes through hell and leaves her for months, he always find his way back to her, saving her in the process. You can feel how hurt he is when he hears the heartbreaking news, and you can't help but love him that much more.
Brittany does such a good job at not just creating this world of hers, but making all the characters feel real and relatable.
While CMWIF is a stand alone duology, all of Brittany's books are set in the same universe and characters do cross. However, it's not needed to read them prior to CMWIF.
”To the women who've been told their worth is determined by the number on the scale. Fuck the scale and fuck anyone who has ever told you that. You're beautiful. Every single inch of you.”
🖤 Morally Gray MMC
🩷 Plus Size FMC
🖤 Bounty Hunter x Runaway Widow
🩷 Instalove
🖤 Touch Her and Die
🩷 Found family
🖤 He falls first
🩷 Small Town
tw // sexual assualt, graphic sexual content, mental, physical and emotional abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, body shaming, human trafficking, attempted suicide, torture, murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kell Frillman's newest novella Gingerbread brings a dark and sickeningly sweet retelling to Hansel and Gretel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Death of parent
dark
emotional
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
"I was drunk on her and never wanted to sober up again."
Cruel Lies, the first in Heleva's newest series, Killers of Port Wylde, is a dark romance tale you don't want to miss.
Seven years after a brush with death, Harper comes back face-to-face with her stepbrothers, Angel, Nash, and Rowan. AKA the Skeleton Crew.
Harper, already a badass, down on her luck, get thrown a curveball, and comes out the other side strong as hell. She's so powerful in her own right, and is even a mechanic? GIRLBOSS.
And the boys? All three boys are dealing with trauma in their own ways, and seeing how well they protect each other? I love them all so much.
It's refreshing at how Heleva deals with mental health and trauma, and how it's represented throughout Harper and the boys.
Highly recommended for any dark romance reader, but please head the TWs before delving into Cruel Lies and the prequel, Cruel Vows.
tropes // MMMF, stepbrothers (plural), mental health rep, assassins
tw //sexual content, death, blood, torture, panic attacks, cutting,
Cruel Lies, the first in Heleva's newest series, Killers of Port Wylde, is a dark romance tale you don't want to miss.
Seven years after a brush with death, Harper comes back face-to-face with her stepbrothers, Angel, Nash, and Rowan. AKA the Skeleton Crew.
Harper, already a badass, down on her luck, get thrown a curveball, and comes out the other side strong as hell. She's so powerful in her own right, and is even a mechanic? GIRLBOSS.
And the boys? All three boys are dealing with trauma in their own ways, and seeing how well they protect each other? I love them all so much.
It's refreshing at how Heleva deals with mental health and trauma, and how it's represented throughout Harper and the boys.
Highly recommended for any dark romance reader, but please head the TWs before delving into Cruel Lies and the prequel, Cruel Vows.
tropes // MMMF, stepbrothers (plural), mental health rep, assassins
tw //
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
" 'Summer, you're going to be the death of me here.' "
A.J. Merlin's newest summer camp slasher is HERE with Dead of Summer.
Summer, a camp counselor at Camp Crestview for three years, can deal with rowdy kids. But when faced with a serial killer? Making a deal with the devil, the week Summer had planned takes a dark turn when his demands start escalating.
Kayde and Summer's story was absolutely AMAZING, and the way he took care of her FROM THE BEGINNING, despite knowing that she was still scared of him? *chefs kiss*
A.J. Merlin's newest summer camp slasher is HERE with Dead of Summer.
Summer, a camp counselor at Camp Crestview for three years, can deal with rowdy kids. But when faced with a serial killer? Making a deal with the devil, the week Summer had planned takes a dark turn when his demands start escalating.
Kayde and Summer's story was absolutely AMAZING, and the way he took care of her FROM THE BEGINNING, despite knowing that she was still scared of him? *chefs kiss*
“All mine, for the rest of your life. I don’t really believe in an afterlife, by the way. But if there is one, you’re mine there as well.”
“What if we go to separate places in the afterlife?” I ask, scoffing a low laugh “Last I checked, heaven isn’t for murderers.”
“Then I’ll just have to drag you down to hell with me.”
Dead of Summer has everything you could want; enemies to lovers, dark romance, summer camp, teen slasher, serial killer, and more. This definitely makes it into my top reads for the year.
Please note of the TWs before heading into this, and enjoy your stay at Camp Crestview.
tropes // enemies to lovers, dark romance, takes care of her, touch her and die, summer camp, possessive hero, smut, LGBT+ rep, final girl rep
tw // blood, death, gore, alcohol,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder
