Trapped in the Shadows

by Georgia Wells, Cora Masters

In the nightmarish confines of the Puppet Master's Playhouse, a place of unrelenting horror, I am a prisoner, haunted by unspeakable childhood torments. This house, under the control of the Puppet Master, a sadistic architect of suffering, subjects me to a relentless barrage of psychological and physical trials, echoing the darkness of my past.

Here, in this grotesque theater of despair, I am forced to confront my deepest fears and traumas. The Puppet Master's twisted games are a perverse reflection of my childhood nightmares, pushing me to the brink of sanity. The only escape is through participation in these cruel games, a path that demands an unthinkable descent into the abyss of my own soul.

I am offered a chance for revenge, a way to confront the demons of my past, but this opportunity comes at a harrowing cost. The tasks set before me by the Puppet Master stir a revulsion deep within, challenging the very essence of my morality and humanity. Each decision, each action, takes me further down a path of moral ambiguity, blurring the lines between justice and vengeance, right and wrong.

As I navigate this labyrinth of terror, I grapple with the horror of what I am asked to do, the potential to become the very monster I seek to destroy. In this game of retribution and survival, the ultimate question looms: Will my quest for vengeance lead to liberation, or will it consume me, leaving me lost in the darkness of my own making? The Puppet Master's Playhouse is not just a test of physical endurance, but a crucible for the soul, where the cost of revenge may be more terrifying than the horrors of the past.

Genres: Dark Romance, Horror, Dark, Romance, Thriller, Ebooks, Smut

486 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2023

Reviews

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

TW - all of them

This book sucks you in fast and never lets up.

This is described as a horror traumance and that’s apt. It’s not romantic, it’s trauma bonding.

The end was a perfect cliff hanger.

I couldn’t give it 4⭐️ because the authors dipped a little heavy into over explaining obvious things. It’s ok to assume your readers are clever enough to grasp what’s going on without it happening and then being explained.

I’m off to read something sweet, light and fluffy before jumping into the next book 🤣

[•mikaela• :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good!

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was like if Saw had a baby with I Spit On Your Grave while everyone was hopped up on viagra and aphrodisiacs 😂

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trapped in the Shadows by Cora Masters and Georgia Wells is a dark horror romance. This is the first book in The Playhouse Horrors series.

This is the first book of Cora and Georgia's that I have read, and it definitely won't be my last. I was pulled in from the very beginning and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.

This is definitely one of those books I don't want to give any spoilers away. So, I will just say I loved it and that ending left me begging for more. I can't wait for the next book in the series Escaping The Darkness to be released on October 18, 2023.

I would highly recommend this book if you like dark romances, horror romances, slow burn romances, or romantic suspense.

[Kaylie Helfrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I expected with this, but I really enjoyed it.

This was my first true horror romance (I've read a ton of dark romances). I loved this idea and concept and I feel like it was really well executed. The only thing that I wish was stronger was the developing relationship between Drake and Dahlia. I enjoyed both of them, but there were so few scenes with them to really build that relationship to the level it needed to be at.

This book kept me on my toes and I really had a great time reading it (even if I did almost throw up a couple times).

Great start to a series and I can't wait to see where this series goes from here.

[Wyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars
Well this was interesting to say the least 🙃 This book was weird, and definitely not a romance in my opinion. It was just a bunch of random sexual scenes thrown in between all the torture. The "romance" part was weird and made me feel gross lol. But the book did keep me interested in what was going to happen and the plot overall was interesting. I honestly had no interest in reading the second book until the ending. I may give it a try sometime in the future

[Amanda Eskelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure about listing this as romance. It’s definitely a dark horror book. There’s some shall we say heated scenes but I found it more on the horror side for sure. If you are not into dark horror this won’t be the book for you.

It was well written and the story fast paced it kept me interested and tiring pages.

[Krista Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[lacy white · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Trapped in the Shadows
Author: Georgia Wells and Cora Masters
Genre: Dark Romance
Format: ebook
Series: Playhouse of Horrors (#1)
Star Rating: 4 stars

tw: domestic violence, drugging, human trafficking, child rape, drugs, stabbing, kidnapping, blood, torture, gun violence, gang rape, child death, homophobia, electric shock

I have some feelings about this book that I need to talk about before I get into the thick of this review. In the blurb that I read for Stuff Your Kindle Day, it says to read the trigger warnings, but when I got the book, the trigger warning page just said the trigger warnings were everything. If you tell people to read the trigger warnings, you should have them listed. Having the broad word “everything” doesn’t define it. I’m pretty sure this book wouldn’t have Holocaust horrors but that could be classified under everything.

Another problem that I had with this book is that it’s classified as a dark romance, but the book didn’t have a happily ever after or even a happy for now. It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. From what I can tell, by reading the synopsis of the other books, the couple featured in this book does seem to stay together. But with romance, you have to have a happily ever after or at least a happy for now. This one certainly did not. It ended in such a way that you aren’t sure what is going to happen. I would certainly classify it as horror for sure, but I think dark romance is a bit of a stretch.

Other than that, I truly enjoyed the book. This book reminded me a lot of the movie I Spit on Your Grave. While Dahlia is kidnapped, she gets her revenge on every person who has harmed her. She grows and finds courage, despite living in an extremely messed-up place. In some weird way, I think getting kidnapped was helpful to Dahlia. It sucks getting kidnapped. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a little messed up.

I enjoyed the romance between Drake and Dahlia. It gave very much Stockholm Syndrome vibes and trauma bonding, but I didn’t mind that. They didn’t have that much chemistry, but I think that’ll come with the rest of the series.

Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I have some misgivings about what specifically the genre is, but I’m not saying it’s a bad book; I certainly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the main character quite a bit. I especially loved how she took her life back, given the conditions. I’m excited to continue with the series.

[caroline 🔖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

tw: literally everything, the author wasn’t lying
(rape, blood, torture, violence, death, detailed serial murders, attempted murder, stalking, drugging, emesis, kidnapping, hostages, starvation, branding, amputation, decapitation, poisoning, anxiety, depression, addiction, drug use, self harm, suicidal ideation, prostitution, pedophelia, physical/emotional/mental/sexual/child abuse, abusive relationship, homophobia, misogyny)

WHAT. THE. FUCK. did i just read… this is one of those books that hooks you in from the first chapter and demands all of your attention.

it’s a strange psychological horror/forbidden romance mixture but i didn’t hate it. i wish the authors had taken more time to develop a romantic basis for the main relationship. ALSO i have to say the torture/violence scenes were incredibly well written, i was properly squirming while reading them because they felt so real..

brb getting the next book now

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️.5

I absolutely loved this book. It’s weird to say, but this book was so fun 😅

**this is a horror romance so please check all triggers before deciding to read**

Dahlia has a significant trauma history. She’s been abused by all of the people who were supposed to protect her starting from a young age. Now, in her 20s, Dahlia works at a diner as a waitress. She barely makes ends meet, often having to decided what groceries to sacrifice in order to purchase other necessities.

Dahlia is kidnapped outside of her apartment. She wakes up in a strange room with a nice bed, a closet full of grey sweat suit clothes, and a locked door. There’s a voice that comes over the speaker and tells her to proceed to the dining room.

Upon entry, she sees other house members. After a rocky introduction, Dahlia soon realizes she is trapped in a house of horrors. Dahlia and the other house mates are forced to wear a watch. This watch is where orders/instructions are sent. Disobey orders, and an electric shock is sent to the watch in varying strengths.

There’s only 1 rule she knows she must follow: Do whatever Sam tells you to do or suffer punishment.

The punishment? Outside of electric shock to the bracelet, your punishment comes at the hands of your housemates. If your housemate disobeys, they get punished.

Dahlia meets Drake, who is the longest standing member of the “dollhouse”. They hit it off well and she may start to feel things for him.

Following the rules may seem simple. However, Dahlia is also tasked with torturing others (not housemates) in the “playroom”. If she disobeys, she gets punished (picking up on the drift here?)

But what Dahlia starts to realize is…..

The people Sam brings her to punish aren’t strangers. They are people from her own past. People who hurt her.


I LOVED THIS BOOK. The plot had me so enthralled I didn’t want to even put it down. I cannot wait for book 2!!!

[Thornback · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did enjoy aspects of the story, I'm not sure I feel compelled enough to read on. The author's are not fans of subtlety or subtext, hitting you straight over the head with every point as though we need to be spoon fed information or told how to feel at certain parts of the story. For instance, a character offers an abrupt change of subject at dinner and afterward the narrator states, "she was changing the subject because what we were discussing would get us into trouble." Yes. We got it, thanks. Then later a male character launches unprovoked into an in depth speech about why he did not report a crime to the police instead of letting the information flow naturally through conversation or even just implying his fear.
Drake at some point is conversing with dahlia and is quite obviously passing information to her under the guise of explaining the plot of a book. Then, again, dahlia says, "he was using the book to tell me about the house we were in." And even after that she says " was right he was trying to pass clues to me." The book could have been 40% shorter without all the over explanations.
I liked that a woman did not take the high road and absolve her ab0sers. She's coming into her own and while I think the transition into the chaos could've been handled somewhat better, I like what they were going for. I also like her take charge attitude in the bedroom. I'd like to see more female characters take and do what they want when they want.
Also worth mentioning that at one point a new character makes extremely homophobic comments and uses slurs. This is not addressed by dahlia, even in her thoughts and I did not like how that was handled, as if the narrative was using it for shock value but was indifferent. At another point Dahlia has some fat phobic thoughts about people who HAVE to exercise because they are overweight as if weight is the only indicator of health and the only reason people would exercise. She clearly doesn't need to because she's already thin, even though she I malnourished and not "healthy."

I will say, tw for anyone who has lived in poverty or with food insecurity. Parts of the story were difficult for me to read and trudged up some past issues. I think the authors themselves have been where Dahlia was to describe it so accurately. And that part of the story was well written and hit hard in my opinion, if again not over explained at times.
As for the Katherine characters, they're just sort of...there. they di something if the story needs then to but don't seem to have much personality. At one point there's literally a round Robin discussion where everyone just states their trauma. The character's motivations or behaviors don't necessarily reflect that or allude to it in any way so they authors felt the need to just dump it all out there.
The story is interesting enough. I think discovering who Sam is and his motivations could be interesting and I was curious as next to nothing was revealed about him. The meta concept of dahlia taking charge of her past and coming into her own all while being under the thumb of yet another controlling man was not lost on me. Hopefully true freedom is on the books for her!

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trapped in the Shadows is the first book in The Playhouse Horrors series by Cora Masters and Georgia Wells. It is a bone-chilling masterpiece that deserves nothing less than five stars. From the very first page, I was hooked by the raw intensity of this dark horror, and I couldn't put it down until I had read every word.

Dahlia Belrose is a young woman who has endured pain and abuse. But her life takes a horrifying turn when she's kidnapped and thrust into the twisted playhouse. The puppet master, known as Sam, subjects Dahlia and her fellow captives to a twisted game of torture, madness, and retribution. As they navigate this nightmarish ordeal, Dahlia discovers an unexpected ally in Drake, the original housemate.

The following players are also involved in the game: Elise, Bri, Jeffery, Liam, Drake, and the manipulative Sam. Each character possesses a hidden secret and a desire to participate in the game. The unique traits of each character bring depth and complexity to the story. Their interactions are filled with tension and fear, highlighting the importance of survival within the playhouse.
This book stands out for its fearless examination of the most unsettling aspects of the human mind and its determination to overcome any obstacle. Dahlia's transformation from a victim to a survivor is dare I say empowering. The authors’ writing style immerses the reader in a twisted and unsettling realm with vivid imagery and a gripping pace. The constant sense of dread and tension leaves one unable to look away from the story.

Finally, the authors’ use of trigger warnings is a responsible and considerate touch, as this book delves into deeply disturbing and triggering themes.
I eagerly await the next installment in The Playhouse Horrors series, and I recommend this book to anyone who dares to venture into the darkest corners of the human soul. Kudos to Cora Masters and Georgia Wells for delivering a dark masterpiece that will haunt readers long after the final page.

Quotes:
“It had been like a self-fulfilling prophecy. No matter what I did, I tended to attract evil people. It's been my curse since birth.”
"Like I said, we'll get hurt. That part is non-negotiable, but as long as we do what Sam says, it's never too serious."

"Every day. It's usually not us. It's the other ones."
“Sam said we needed new dolls. That's what he calls us, if you haven't heard it yet. We're his dolls and this is his dollhouse. He decided that one of us needed to die to make room for a new plaything. One guy was chosen, and he was killed, both as punishment for our disobedience and to make room for you. It was that or we'd all be killed and Sam would start over with a new group."
“Apparently, in the dollhouse when someone looked dead, they were dead.”

Next in the Series:
Escaping the Darkness: A Dark Horror Romance (The Playhouse Horrors Book 2)
Book 2 of 2: The Playhouse Horrors
Available September 30, 2023

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG!! That was one hell of a gruesome, violent and utterly titillating story. It was not only dark but definitely ranges from pitch-black to oblivion. Right from the very beginning I was hooked, could not look away, and wanted this story to keep going even after I turned the last page. It took me on a dark and twisted rollercoaster ride into a rabbit hole of utter depravity, violence, and bloodiness; and left me there to claw my way out. But I wanted to stay deep down in the darkness where all of the madness was!

I must say that this story was very creative, unique and filled with so much descriptive imagery and world building that it really brought the story to life. It kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails with anxiety over what was going to happen next, and gasping at all of the shocking turn of events transpiring right before my eyes. There were a few really shocking moments that had my jaw dropping to the floor. It was shocking, thrilling and so freaking exciting from start to finish.

The beginning of Dahlia’s story really pulled on my heartstrings. This poor girl has been through a lot of traumatic moments in her life, which at the start we only get little snippets of. As we delve deeper into the story, more layers of what Dahlia’s life was like growing up start to seep out.

"For the first time in my life, ever, I had the power. I was in charge of something. This man was at my mercy. It. Was. Intoxicating. If I hadn't been so drunk from the sensation, I would've been terrified by my feelings."- Dahlia

Drake is a bit of an enigma. We don’t know too much about him, only the little bits that he is willing to share with Dahlia. The instant connection that he forges with Dahlia, had him wanting to protect her from what was happening to them all. Drake and Dahlia share the same kind of personality. They crave the dark, the depraved, the violence, the blood, and the vengeance that is offered to them. They also share an intense lust, desire and sexual craving after delivering such bloody retribution! I was definitely down for that!!

This story was brilliantly written for a dark psychological horror romance. The characters were all unique, slightly unhinged, and intriguing, with their own dark demons in their pasts. And the storyline was suspenseful, captivating, twisted, debauched, gory and a little steamy. But then that evil ending – WTF!!! I never wanted to throw a book so hard at the wall as I did when I got to the last page. I have been left with my adrenaline pumping and my heart racing waiting for the next part of the story to come out. UGH!

This is one of those stories that is not for the faint of heart and all those pearl clutchers out there – stay away! But if you are a true horror romance fan, this is definitely the book for you!

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trapped in the Shadows is book one of The Playhouse of Horrors trilogy. Dahlia is our MC and she is one tough bad bitch. From a very tender young age she has faced the worst possible horrors you could possibly imagine. Once she’s older she escapes her family trauma and establishes a life of her own. She’s struggling to get by to make ends meet. She works at a diner to pay the bills and the owners are pretty much the only “family” and friends she has. One night, Dahlia gets caught off guard outside her apartment and is drugged and knocked out by a mysterious person in black.

When Dahlia wakes up, she has no recollection of what’s happened but quickly realizes she’s in a really bad situation. She makes her way out of the room she wakes up in to find other people that have also been kidnapped. They refer to this place as “the dollhouse.” The housemates are all forced to commit extremely violent acts upon their captor’s command. They refer to him as “Sam.” If they disobey, they get shocked through their arm bands. These arm bands were distributed upon them when they all arrived at the dollhouse. Sometimes the punishments are more extreme than the shock waves depending on the situation. Dahlia soon finds an ally within the dollhouse named, Drake. They quickly form a bond and help comfort one another in order to stay sane in this sick twisted game they’re stuck in.

The authors did a wonderful job writing this story and it had me captivated from the very first page. The story was well-paced and the character development for our MC and her antagonists throughout her upbringing was very well executed. I’m excited to see how the rest of the series turns out and to hopefully get more insight to Drake’s character as well as Sam’s. Extreme horror, Splatterpunk and Dark Romance fans will absolutely devour this book! It’s not for the faint of heart and the authors made that very clear from the beginning.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Carrie W · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book kept me going just to see what comes next, it's not one I would read again or continue on to the sequels. I'm just not THAT interested to see what fresh hell comes next because there WILL be another.

The FMC is living a tired life. Abused all her life by her parents, the system, and boyfriends, working to earn a meager living, and eating minimal nutrients just to keep her body moving. She's kidnapped on her doorstep and brought to a house of horrors. But is it really? Her room is more lavish than anywhere she's ever lived, fed high quality meals, and physically strengthened through physical activity. She's forced to do all of this or face punishment. The others who live in the house were all kidnapped similarly and forced to enrich their lives with music, literature, physical endurance, and most of all, retribution against their abusers and each other. If someone gets out of line or helps another resident, they are forced to punish each other. If they refuse, they are electrically shocked by a wrist unit that can emit great pain. It also acts like a smartwatch to receive messages and instructions from the puppet master.

The abusers are brought in and the residents of the house are forced to torture them. In a sense, giving back their power that their abusers took away. What is the end game? I don't know. Since these people are held against their will, I don't know what the puppet master's goal is but it seems like he's giving all of these people a chance to get themselves back. At the end of book 1, it ends on a cliff-hanger where the residents think they are escaping, only to find they've once again been played by the puppet master.

Although the story was different and the plot was interesting...there's only so much you can read about people torturing their abusers before it starts to get boring. However, the curiosity as to how it all ends is there...just not enough to keep going.

[Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

run little dolls run

Overall: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖 ignoring reading breaks with something fluffy to lighten stuff up
Gore: 🫀 🫀 🫀 🫀 🫀 🫀 (not for the faint hearted)
Dark: ‪‪❤︎‬‪‪❤︎‬ ❤︎‬‪‪ ❤︎‬‪‪︎‬ ❤︎
︎‬Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Smut: 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛.5
READ TRIGGER WARNINGS
️

⎛⎝ ≽ > ⩊ < ≼ ⎠⎞

First of all this is not a romance or at least this first book is not. The relationships built are created by trauma bonding. Between the love interest, between their housemates, and even their relationship with Sam. Interestingly enough to me at least, what will Dahlia become by the end of this trilogy...
Definitions
Romance: a love story especially in the form of a novel
Love: : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties maternal love for a child
: attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers
: affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests

Trauma bonding is when a person who is or has been abused feels a connection to their abuser. And this connection is based on the abuse that the person has or is enduring — whether emotional or physical.
It involves a cycle of abuse, manipulation, and positive reinforcement (like declarations of love or regret), creating a powerful but damaging connection.
It can occur in abusive romantic relationships, family dynamics, or other situations involving a power imbalance. While it can lead to a deep sense of empathy, understanding, and mutual support as survivors navigate their experiences.

tw: domestic violence, drugging, human trafficking, child rape, drugs, stabbing, kidnapping, blood, torture, gun violence, gang rape, child death, homophobia, electric shock

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ouffffff, this is the DARKEST book I have ever read. Holy hell. This is the pure definition of dark horror romance. As much as it was gory and intense, it was also steaming hot, if that even makes sense. This is not for the faint of heart, take my word on this. Horror lovers you will love it, it has squid games and saw vibes all over it.

I was so engaged from the first page to the very last. I really enjoyed the writer's writing style, which was very engaging, detailed and flowed easily. Dahlia's character really grows throughout all the horrible things that happen, that is something I really enjoyed in this book.

I was holding my breath and squirming during some scenes, because it gets hard-core. The plot was honestly really good, the concept was executed perfectly, and let me say the bad people THEY DESERVED every single thing they got !!!

I would've loved to have more between Dahlia and Drake as I really loved both characters and I think the story would've benefited seeing a deeper connection between them. I cannot wait for book 2 to see where it all goes and how their relationship evolves. This book does end on a major cliffhanger.

Check trigger warnings, content warnings, this book has pretty much ALL of them, it's dark dark dark, gory, intense, there are torture scenes, so be vigilant.

If you're looking for a dark horror romance that will make you squirm and hold your breath, you're the perfect audience for this one!

✨️Thank you to @authorcoramasters & @authorgeorgiawells for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[undeadtears · Rating 5 out of 5]

horror lovers need to read this!!
read tw/cw!!
this book was given to me as an ARC copy on book sprout 🌱 in exchange for an honest review🩵
not me getting a Fitbit right before reading this. definitely not for those who may be easily triggered when the author said trigger warnings all of them they weren’t kidding.
it’s like if squid game, blue lock, and 1984 had a baby
(if you watched any of these it makes sense i promise) being trapped in a unknown place where your basic needs for living are met but theres someone always watching and you have to listen to them and do task also there’s a chance you might be tortured and killed or have to be the one to torture and kill. stayed up all night reading couldn’t put it down (or get a proper sleep thinking about what i would do if i was ever stuck there) definitely a book that makes you question your morality is it okay to punish terrible people? what kind of crimes deserve what kind of punishment? how far are you willing to go for your own survival our heroine Dahlia and hero Drake deal with this on a daily basis as well as other side characters who kind of make it hard to like while also can’t help to pity as well. my jaw was on the floor almost the whole time. so many twist and turns i could not predict what was gonna happen next at all.

[Joni (livebythemoon7) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩷 Mental Health Representation
🖤 Horror and Gore
🩷 Kidnapping
🖤 Slight Saw vibes with a human dollhouse
🩷 Forced Proximity
🖤 Torture
🩷 Trauma
🖤 A side of romance

This is the first book in a long time that I read a book in one sitting. It was even over 400 pages long! I can't stress it enough to check content warnings as this book is dark dark DARK. I am still just in absolute awe over this read. I was fully immersed in the story from beginning to end. The detail used was perfect, and I often found myself clutching my face during the graphic torturing on page. It was fantastic!! I love a book that can pull such a visceral reaction from me. The book is from the POV of the FMC Dahlia, who becomes a kidnapping victim and is forced to be a living doll among a group of other living dolls where they are forced to torture and kill others. As I said above, it is super dark and super graphic. It does contain on page abuse of several different types. That cliffhanger got me good. I'm a sucker for a good cliffhanger, and this cliffhanger got me good, but we don't have to wait long for the next book! It is expected to be released in October 2023.

My heat rating is based on the amount of occurrence, length of scenes, and how filthy/unconventional the scenes are. Trapped in the Shadows rates about a 2/5 🌶 overall with all these considerations.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

So damn if your looking for a DARK book look no further!!!

Definitely read the trigger warnings -- This book is not for everyone, but if your into the dark world of reading PICK THIS BOOK UP!!!

Dahlia is our FMC whom has had one HELL of a life up to this point. This poor girl just keeps getting knocked down since she was a 6 years old. Everything seems to go wrong for Dahlia. One night she is kidnapped and wakes up in a "dollhouse" with five other housemates. Within this dollhouse the housemates are forced to do things that normal people could not even think about doing, but to them its daily life now. Along the way Dahlia learns more about herself and gets a taste of the darkness that has been under her skin since she was little. However, she has been letting her fear of past trauma hurt her -- fully understandable!!!! While in the dollhouse Dahlia gets more in-touch with herself and whom she really is deep down.

We as readers get to follow along Dahlia as she grows and makes an unorthodox relationship along the way.

Definitely left on one HELL of a cliffhanger!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTF! WTF! WTF! There are no other words or phrase that will do this book justice! It is by far one of the darkest books I have ever read! When it says all the triggers it means all the triggers. This book sucked me in from the first page and even in the moments I had to put it down and walk away for a minute - I still needed to know what exactly was happening to these people.

The best way I can describe it is Saw with a sprinkle of dark romance mixed in. It is weird to say it by I liked this book and I really want to read the next book in the series - YES IT ENDS IN A CLIFFHANGER! I highly recommend, but please understand it is beyond dark and has all the triggers plus some that you can imagine and possibly even some you can’t.

💙💙💙💙

Funny add on story (slight plot point given away): The characters have to wears bracelets that send messages, warnings and shocks when they disobey. While reading just as one of the character’s bracelet went off with a vibration - so did my own watch and scared the (beep) out of me!! That is how engrossed I was in this book!

[Heather Feather · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 ᴛʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡꜱ by Cora Matthew’s and Georgia Wells

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

▪️”For the first time in my life, ever, I had the power. I was in charge of something. This man was at my mercy.”▪️

💭 𝑀𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 💭

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!!!

It’s rare when a book grabs me and won’t let me go. Trapped in the Shadows, the first book in the Playhouse of Horrors series did just that. I couldn’t put it down! I’m so thankful that the next book is on KU so I can dive in again! I absolutely loved this very dark traumance.

This is the type of book where I struggle to write a review in fear of giving anything away. Just trust me on this, if you enjoy dark romance. If you look at a trigger warning list with lust in your eyes, you’ll love this.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
* Psychological Horror
* Trauma Bonding
* Forbidden Romance
* Kidnapping
* Human Dollhouse

✔️ Be prepared for the cliff hanger at the end. It’s a doozy!

🏷️ #darkromance #fallreads #bookstagrammer #booklover #taboolove #fyp #bookrecommendations #smuttyreads #bookreview #traumance

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was darker than dark, it was pitch black and I couldn't put it down! This was not for the faint of heart and got extremely graphic. Beware all the trigger warnings and read this psychological, horror, with the added dark romance at your own risk.

The story is told in 1st person POV by Dahlia the FMC. When she's introduced she suffers from extreme anxiety and panic attacks. She has a horrible past and was abused in many ways as a child. She is stalked, followed, and taken.

This is when the madness really begins. She wakes in what seems to be a mansion, rooms are all locked, and she meets some housemates. There are six people at a time. The person or persons call it a "dollhouse" and they are the "dolls". They are made to do the most awful things.
In all this horror Dahlia finds solace in Drake.

I did not know which way was up on this crazy rollercoaster of a book and I was thoroughly entertained.
The cliffhanger left me wanting the rest of this intense story!!
I'm running toward book two in this intense series!!

[Courtney &#x1f5a4; · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book via TikTok, just looking for something not solely dark romance but not solely horror. It takes a lot for me to comfortably dive into a new series and author.

This is Horror with a sub plot of dark romance so please protect your mental health first. Know that the main form of abuse the main character went through was sexual abuse that started at age 5 and memories are described.

I could not put this down, holy FUCK. What a wild ride. I love this concept of a dollhouse. In the most sick and twisted way. Sweet sweet revenge, gory, bloody, and terrifying and it brought me joy while I was also cringing and gagging a little.

Character development was awesome, and with this book only being from the POV of Dahlia, I felt like we got to grow with her. Being inside her mind throughout the whole book was done so well and the attachment I have to her and how hard I am rooting for her just continued to grow.

The cliff hanger wasn't even a hanger, these bitches catapulted us into pure mayhem sprinkled with desperation.

[Hopelessromantic_kesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells you about the life story of Dahlia, a young girl who is trying to make it out in the world after a rough start at life. Finally living on her own and working endless hours at a diner to pay for her small apartment and therapy for her mental health, she thinks this is the repetitive cycle that her life will consist of. One day she begins to feel like she is being watched and after that everything changes. She wakes up in a random bedroom with no recollection of how she got there. Following the instructions of a voice over COM system she discovers that she is not the only one living in these conditions. While gaining information from others in the house as well as experiencing them first hand she realizes that she is now in a house of horrors. Dahlia discovers many things about herself as well as the others she is living with. The real question is will she die at the hand of someone in this house of horrors, or will she be able to escape and begin living a “normal” life?

This book kept me very engaged from start to finish. It does end in a cliffhanger so be aware. There are many graphic torture scenes and this book is not for the faint of heart. It honestly brought me back to the time in my life that I enjoyed watching horror movies such as “Saw”. It makes you realize that when people are under pressure they are capable of doing unpredictable things. Dahlia’s character development through the story was empowering. She grew from looking at herself as a victim to being a capable survivor. I will definitely be reading the next book!

Forced Proximity
Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Mention of Drug Use
Mention of SA
Graphic Violence

This book is horror romance and is intended for audiences 18+. Make sure to read the trigger warnings prior to starting.

[CassieSmuttyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For the first time in my life, ever, I had the power. I was in charge of something. This man was at my mercy. It. Was. Intoxicating. If I hadn't been so drunk from the sensation, I would've been terrified by my feelings."

⚠️ Check Trigger Warnings ⚠️

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️.5

This was my first read from these 2 authors and I don't regret it. I flew through this and couldn't put it down. The storyline was suspenseful, captivating, and twisted my only. Thing is I wish. It had more torture 🤷🏼‍♀️but other then that it was very well done so I'll be jumping head first into the next book. And if you like dark/erotic/horror romance book. I definitely recommend this book but it does end in a cliffhanger so be aware.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst I enjoyed this book I wonder, Where was the horror?
There was barely any torture or gore ect...
From a series name playhouse of horrors I expected something like 'red light green light' but more darker and creepier.
There was alot of telling and not showing, so even when they were tortured I didn't feel it. We were just told that this and this happened to them. We didn't feel the agony and fear that they went through.
I loved how Dahlia was in the playroom. I loved the darker side of her
But...
For someone who had a terrible background, extreme fear and anxiety and trust issue, she was very very stupid

And is it just me who guessed about Drake? I mean everything about him was suspicious from the beginning. Especially his background.

It was a good book, but not great enough to hook me and for me to carry on the series.

[whisperedsigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

at first all I can say was WHAT THE ACTUAL FVCK? This books was absolute DARK and idk what to say that I did enjoy it and binged read it. It's like a twisted dark version of BigBrother House and torture playhouses, oh I love how unreliable the narrator is. I liked how we can also not see things coming. Written well! It was fast paced and engaging, I was enthralled with the need for revenge more than the power to urge the characters for escape. For a dark book, I expected more spice/smut on it but it happened in likt 75% of the book so this was a more PLOT driven book, more emotionally invested characters bore=dering to psychotic for the readers. It was actually one of the most fvcked up books I read and I'm thankful that I got it blindly during the stuffyourkindle day. Now I think I need the next books to know what'll happen.

[Sydnie Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true horror romance fashion, this was a dark, psychological romance that told a unique story about a group of captives living life under the watchful eye of their captor while he torments them. I found the story to be well-paced and and hard to put down. It was definitely dark and some of the things our main characters had to do were harsh or disgusting but it was interesting to watch them psychologically break in captivity. There was almost a found family aspect to this story, but there was some rivalry in there that was rooted in individual survival. I will definitely be reading more of this series, not only to find out what happens with the Dahlia/Drake romance, but to see if they make it out.