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Rot
Grandmother always said I had the rot in me, something dark and vicious, waiting to come out and play. That I got it from my father, a serial killer who attacked my mother. It runs in my blood. She said I can't escape it, no matter how hard I try.
She was right.
My mother and I are out of options, so we had to run. Leave behind the life we both knew without looking back. We move in with my estranged aunt, her sister, and her handsome son, Elias. She's happy to take us in, thinking we can make up for lost time.
But the rot is always there, waiting.
I don't expect much. Life is so boring when you're trying to be good. Elias doesn't hesitate to make it known I'm not welcome in his life or his house, and he'll do anything he can to put me in my place and get us to leave.
Rot attracts rot to make something new.
Cold, cruel, calculating; there's more to Elias than meets the eye, and I find myself wanting things I've never wanted before. I'm not the only one keeping secrets. Elias is, too, and I'll do whatever I can to discover the truth.
The rot demands it, just as it hungers for us.
*Rot is a darker, standalone romance, suitable for 18+. Please see author's note for deeper TWs.*
She was right.
My mother and I are out of options, so we had to run. Leave behind the life we both knew without looking back. We move in with my estranged aunt, her sister, and her handsome son, Elias. She's happy to take us in, thinking we can make up for lost time.
But the rot is always there, waiting.
I don't expect much. Life is so boring when you're trying to be good. Elias doesn't hesitate to make it known I'm not welcome in his life or his house, and he'll do anything he can to put me in my place and get us to leave.
Rot attracts rot to make something new.
Cold, cruel, calculating; there's more to Elias than meets the eye, and I find myself wanting things I've never wanted before. I'm not the only one keeping secrets. Elias is, too, and I'll do whatever I can to discover the truth.
The rot demands it, just as it hungers for us.
*Rot is a darker, standalone romance, suitable for 18+. Please see author's note for deeper TWs.*
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2023
248 people are currently reading
1823 people want to read
About the author
Candace Wondrak
116 books1,847 followersHey guys! I'm a writer, an office worker, a wife, a mother to two dogs and two cats, and half of a strange pair of young adults who flip the houses they're living in with the goal of having no mortgage (so that I can eventually focus on my writing career!). Needless to say, I'm busy.
Still, I somehow find time to write, to read, and to enjoy life. Wish there were more hours in the day, really!
If you're active on Goodreads and have similar interests, friend me. I don't bite. Or if you'd rather follow my reviews, you can do that, too.
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Still, I somehow find time to write, to read, and to enjoy life. Wish there were more hours in the day, really!
If you're active on Goodreads and have similar interests, friend me. I don't bite. Or if you'd rather follow my reviews, you can do that, too.
Happy reading!
Link to newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dppf_v
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 1, 2023
Psychopaths? Taboo? Sign me up!
In the mood for something taboo and dark? Like psychopaths? Look no further!
-Tab00 (🩸-related cousins)
- Psychopathic main characters
- 🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸
- possessive alpha vibes
- enemies to lovers
- domestic abu$e
-good plot
-steamy s3xy times
In the mood for something taboo and dark? Like psychopaths? Look no further!
-Tab00 (🩸-related cousins)
- Psychopathic main characters
- 🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸
- possessive alpha vibes
- enemies to lovers
- domestic abu$e
-good plot
-steamy s3xy times
August 23, 2023
TW: Extreme taboo (Blood related cousins)
#psycho h & H
#psychos in love
#dark romance
#murderous h & H
#ow drama
#om drama
#high school
#possessive H
#h abused mentally & emotionally by family since childhood
#HEA
#psycho h & H
#psychos in love
#dark romance
#murderous h & H
#ow drama
#om drama
#high school
#possessive H
#h abused mentally & emotionally by family since childhood
#HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
To sum it up: Sloane and Elias are both psychopaths that deserve each other. At least, that's what the author wants us to think. Dark calls to dark, and all that. But, more than that, they are rather boring psychopaths. The book was spent on petty high school drama, the fmc trying (and succeeding) to make the mmc jealous to get a reaction, and a dash of killing people. Oh, and rot. So, so many mentions of "the rot"—over 100 times, actually. Didn't take long to grow tired of it being brought up on almost every damn page. Anyways, you would think the dash of killing people would add some spice/action to the book, but there is such a lack of tension in the story that my eyes were glazed over for most of it. The actual spicy scenes weren't terrible, but not even that could save the book for me.
Spoilers belowwww.
So, we have Sloane: eighteen, psycho, and the result of a serial killer sexually assaulting her mother. Even as a child, she had what her grandmother called "the rot" in her. To be honest, I think the grandparents were mostly to blame for how Sloane turned out. They constantly fed her young, impressionable, still developing brain so much shit about how everything her father did was somehow her fault, that she was just like him, that she had "the rot" in her, etc. So, of course, she ended up a murderous, little psycho even as a child—she was never told she could be anything but exactly that. Though, as a whole, even coming to that conclusion, I still didn't really care for Sloane. But, to be fair, I found it hard to like, or even connect with, any character in this book. Because of that, I think it was a story-telling/character-building issue for me.
Elias was as flat as a character can get, imo. Text book "mysterious and broody" teen mmc, who instantly hates the fmc, and only thinks with his dick. Boring. The whole him killing his dad thing was the only interesting thing about him, but we barely learn anything about it. So, why he turned out a murderous psychopath is completely unknown due to it not being delved into in the slightest.
On to the book as a whole, since there's really nothing more I can say about the mc's beyond what I already said.
It's been a while since I've read a book that only had one pov through the entire thing. I stray away from them because they usually fail to keep my interest. In this case, not being able to see inside the mmc's head made him seem way too underdeveloped. Hell, we don't even learn why he killed his own father. The most we are told is that Elias did it because he claimed he "could", "wanted to", that he "hated him", and that his father "deserved it". That's it. No more backstory on it, aside from it being a "hunting accident". Surprising? Not really. Considering we hardly learn anything about the mmc other than the fact that the fmc is obsessed with him and thinks he's sexy, the lack of backstory is pretty much on point with the rest of the book.
Not only did Elias's character seem underdeveloped, but the story as a whole felt lacking to me. And too messy; too unbelievable. The biggest issue I had was the murder/framing of Sloane's mom. Sloane and Elias staged it as a suicide, then cleaned everything and came up with a reasonable story behind it all, but I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that Sloane had left that voicemail on her mom's phone about a man being there for money—which completely destroys the story she had spun to police—yet, during the investigation into everything, the police didn't check the mom's phone at all? Very hard to believe. Maybe it was a slip up of the author where she forgot that Sloane had made that incriminating call, idk. I don't expect fiction to be completely believable, but that bugged me.
Sidenote: I'm an idiot lol. Sometimes I go into standalone's mostly blind because I like not knowing what to expect. I don't have many triggers when reading, so it usually never backfires like this book did. I saw a few videos on TikTok about this book (that just included a scene or two from the book) and it interested me. So, I jumped into it without reading the blurb and realized I'd fucked up when it quickly became clear Elias was, not only the love interest (which I knew bc of the scenes in the videos I saw), but also her cousin. It was totally on me for going in blind, so I'm not holding that aspect against the book. Even without the cousin thing, I would've given it this rating. Though, I did spend most of the book trying to convince myself they weren't real cousins until I got like 80% in and my hope of getting to some part about them not actually being related completely dissipated and reluctant acceptance sunk in lmao. Plus, it was set in high school. I stay away from books set in high school mainly because of most of the problems I encountered with this book: the characters are too juvenile, there's inevitably always typical high school drama that I'm just not interested in even trying to care about, high school setting=boring, and, simply, it usually makes me uncomfortable to read any kind of romance book focused around high schoolers.
With all that said, the writing wasn't atrocious. Just, imo, and like I already said, the story and the mc's needed better developing, I think.
Oh, but I love the cover. Just wanted to add that bit of positivity lol.
Spoilers belowwww.
So, we have Sloane: eighteen, psycho, and the result of a serial killer sexually assaulting her mother. Even as a child, she had what her grandmother called "the rot" in her. To be honest, I think the grandparents were mostly to blame for how Sloane turned out. They constantly fed her young, impressionable, still developing brain so much shit about how everything her father did was somehow her fault, that she was just like him, that she had "the rot" in her, etc. So, of course, she ended up a murderous, little psycho even as a child—she was never told she could be anything but exactly that. Though, as a whole, even coming to that conclusion, I still didn't really care for Sloane. But, to be fair, I found it hard to like, or even connect with, any character in this book. Because of that, I think it was a story-telling/character-building issue for me.
Elias was as flat as a character can get, imo. Text book "mysterious and broody" teen mmc, who instantly hates the fmc, and only thinks with his dick. Boring. The whole him killing his dad thing was the only interesting thing about him, but we barely learn anything about it. So, why he turned out a murderous psychopath is completely unknown due to it not being delved into in the slightest.
On to the book as a whole, since there's really nothing more I can say about the mc's beyond what I already said.
It's been a while since I've read a book that only had one pov through the entire thing. I stray away from them because they usually fail to keep my interest. In this case, not being able to see inside the mmc's head made him seem way too underdeveloped. Hell, we don't even learn why he killed his own father. The most we are told is that Elias did it because he claimed he "could", "wanted to", that he "hated him", and that his father "deserved it". That's it. No more backstory on it, aside from it being a "hunting accident". Surprising? Not really. Considering we hardly learn anything about the mmc other than the fact that the fmc is obsessed with him and thinks he's sexy, the lack of backstory is pretty much on point with the rest of the book.
Not only did Elias's character seem underdeveloped, but the story as a whole felt lacking to me. And too messy; too unbelievable. The biggest issue I had was the murder/framing of Sloane's mom. Sloane and Elias staged it as a suicide, then cleaned everything and came up with a reasonable story behind it all, but I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that Sloane had left that voicemail on her mom's phone about a man being there for money—which completely destroys the story she had spun to police—yet, during the investigation into everything, the police didn't check the mom's phone at all? Very hard to believe. Maybe it was a slip up of the author where she forgot that Sloane had made that incriminating call, idk. I don't expect fiction to be completely believable, but that bugged me.
Sidenote: I'm an idiot lol. Sometimes I go into standalone's mostly blind because I like not knowing what to expect. I don't have many triggers when reading, so it usually never backfires like this book did. I saw a few videos on TikTok about this book (that just included a scene or two from the book) and it interested me. So, I jumped into it without reading the blurb and realized I'd fucked up when it quickly became clear Elias was, not only the love interest (which I knew bc of the scenes in the videos I saw), but also her cousin. It was totally on me for going in blind, so I'm not holding that aspect against the book. Even without the cousin thing, I would've given it this rating. Though, I did spend most of the book trying to convince myself they weren't real cousins until I got like 80% in and my hope of getting to some part about them not actually being related completely dissipated and reluctant acceptance sunk in lmao. Plus, it was set in high school. I stay away from books set in high school mainly because of most of the problems I encountered with this book: the characters are too juvenile, there's inevitably always typical high school drama that I'm just not interested in even trying to care about, high school setting=boring, and, simply, it usually makes me uncomfortable to read any kind of romance book focused around high schoolers.
With all that said, the writing wasn't atrocious. Just, imo, and like I already said, the story and the mc's needed better developing, I think.
Oh, but I love the cover. Just wanted to add that bit of positivity lol.
November 27, 2024
They are blood related cousins. That’s not taboo, that’s incest. Hope this helps ✨
Also, I was sick of the word rot by page 11 and it didn’t get any better.
Also, I was sick of the word rot by page 11 and it didn’t get any better.
June 1, 2023
If you liked the movie “Bones and all” you’d probably really enjoy this book, it has the same type of vibe.
I wanted to like it, but honestly it was a little to messed up for me. That’s a me problem, not the authors problem. You could probably love the book, I just found it hard to get over the murderous FMC. She’s definitely 1000% a psychopath.
I don’t really think her dad has anything to do with her mindset, if her grandparents raised her better I think she probably wouldn’t be as fucked in the head.
I just reeeeally couldn’t get over the FMC I didn’t like her at all but I still made it through 90% of the book before I called it quits.
I wanted to like it, but honestly it was a little to messed up for me. That’s a me problem, not the authors problem. You could probably love the book, I just found it hard to get over the murderous FMC. She’s definitely 1000% a psychopath.
I don’t really think her dad has anything to do with her mindset, if her grandparents raised her better I think she probably wouldn’t be as fucked in the head.
I just reeeeally couldn’t get over the FMC I didn’t like her at all but I still made it through 90% of the book before I called it quits.
August 3, 2023
Somehow despite the FMC being a serial killer and her love interest/cousin having killed his dad… this book was so boring? Like sure things happened to move the plot along, but at the same time it felt like nothing was actually happening? The lack of character development paired with the taboo romance that also didn’t develop lead this book to be a flop imo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2023
The Rot
I feel like there must be some rot deep inside me for enjoying this book. Candace Wondrak has a way with these dark types of romances and she nailed it, as usual.
I feel like there must be some rot deep inside me for enjoying this book. Candace Wondrak has a way with these dark types of romances and she nailed it, as usual.
August 30, 2023
I love a dark romance but this was too much, I do not recommend 🙅🏻♀️
April 6, 2024
I don't want ANYONE else to ever recommend me a "Taboo Dark romance book" ever tf again. Wtf was this?
March 22, 2025
My soul had been born black, and it had only served to taint everything around it.
Around 2 1/2 stars. Candace Wondrak "Rot" is a painfully slow-paced read that I would classify somehow as horror mixed with young adult smut (I tried to find this specific genre here on goodreads and didn't see anything). It's based on a simple enough premise - our main character Sloane having been conceived as her serial killer "father" (read: sperm donor) raped her mother, who somehow during the process stopped him from killing her (the mom, I mean) long enough so the cops could finally catch him. Naturally, our young… pro?tagonist grows up rejected by her family, any potential friends, and basically everyone she meets throughout the first 18 years of her life because of, you know, the whole Dad thing. That also includes being raised by her rich grandparents who show her not even the merest trace of love after her mother is committed for nearly two decades after going understandably insane after her ordeal, which included of course most of her friends being slaughtered by the man who would eventually be executed for his heinous crimes. So the set up? Not bad.
Others hated me for who my father was, but my grandmother had hated me for me.
I'm tempted to say it all worked somehow, but really it was like a meal of potato chips, foie gras, and uncooked broccoli (no, sorry, I'm not sure what kind of wine best pairs with all that). Yes, each of the components themselves are digestible if maybe questionably edible. But served together like that? Well, maybe with lots and lots ketchup… No, this rapidly turns into a trainwreck that no amount of condiments could fix, all of which was made only more painful with the "High School Musical"-esque antics we see during our time spent in the presence of Sloane's peers at her new, um, educational setting and beyond. Which also includes then her sulky yet dashing cousin Elias, who just luckily had most of the same kinks as she did and to be honest came across as extremely fvckable. So yeah, sure, if you want to mix in some "Basic Instinct" and "Heathers" into all of this for good measure, knock yourselves out. Again though, you're going to be staring at the menu like it came from Mars or something. Or even worse, you know, from somewhere like France…
I didn’t play children’s games. No, my games were strictly life and death.
Honestly, nothing really happens once we get to this stage that elicits any kind of shock or other emotions as all that transpires - or has transpired, noting the past tense. You see, the author chooses to let us see behind more and more of the curtain covering the past as we progress - but it all seems far too obvious for comfort. No, don't misunderstand me: the weird incestuous sex - which to be fair was actually pretty hot - didn't bother me but the teenage hormones around the ol' campfire keg parties had me yawning uncontrollably. And the worst of that was naturally the aforementioned HSM-worthy twin set of Jordan and Dana, who sadly, weren't immediately loaded up on a trebuchet and shot into the sky. Honestly, I should have chalked this up as a DNF once the second party in the woods started, but didn't want to end my current reading challenge on such a sour note.
I’d never wanted to cry. Crying meant you felt pain or guilt or remorse.
Besides the emotionless snobs that are Sloane's grandparents, the other adults in this book seem to be all on some kind of heavy sedation. Maybe literally, definitely figuratively. Their reactions to even the most obvious deviations of things from the "norm" is almost laughable. Sure, Penelope - dear Mother to some - was obviously a severe trainwreck albeit understandably so. Why she ever got let out of the asylum in the first place is beyond me. But the fact that Aunt Maggie was just so lost in her own version of brain fog was a little weird to me. I mean, the minute she doesn't just stop and sniff the air and exclaim "damn, it smells like hot sex in here!", well, you can tell she was enjoying going through life with blinders on. Either that or we were never told she worked in the morgue at the hospital and had essentially lost her sense of smell owing to all the formaldehyde…
Such vitriol. Such hate. I really did love it.
However, the final "oi vey" for me was the unbelievably high amount of repetition (even worse than when the car "breaked" vs. "braked"). For example: "You have the rot in you, just like him." Or how about: "The rot was so thick in me my soul was black." Still not enough? Then here, try this: "The rot made sure I lacked any sense of right and wrong." Arrrgh, the rot, the rot, the rot. Ye gods, if I never see those words together again, it will have been a good life. Look: We. Get. IT!!! Trust your readers to have gotten the message and then move on, please!
To me, death was nothing short of beautiful.
Even variations on "I didn't know even know my cousin existed until recently" just appeared in one form or another so, so many times. Or gods forbid the descriptions of sex and orgasms and tight vaginas and throbbing man parts and the taste of semen and on and on and on. Painful. But I'll stop here because every minute I spend on this review has me wanting to drop my rating even lower. Oh and before I go: what the hell was up with that cover? Nice and artsy, sure - and available in two eye-catching color schemes he shouted! - but what the hell did it have to do with the book? Anyone?
Around 2 1/2 stars. Candace Wondrak "Rot" is a painfully slow-paced read that I would classify somehow as horror mixed with young adult smut (I tried to find this specific genre here on goodreads and didn't see anything). It's based on a simple enough premise - our main character Sloane having been conceived as her serial killer "father" (read: sperm donor) raped her mother, who somehow during the process stopped him from killing her (the mom, I mean) long enough so the cops could finally catch him. Naturally, our young… pro?tagonist grows up rejected by her family, any potential friends, and basically everyone she meets throughout the first 18 years of her life because of, you know, the whole Dad thing. That also includes being raised by her rich grandparents who show her not even the merest trace of love after her mother is committed for nearly two decades after going understandably insane after her ordeal, which included of course most of her friends being slaughtered by the man who would eventually be executed for his heinous crimes. So the set up? Not bad.
Others hated me for who my father was, but my grandmother had hated me for me.
I'm tempted to say it all worked somehow, but really it was like a meal of potato chips, foie gras, and uncooked broccoli (no, sorry, I'm not sure what kind of wine best pairs with all that). Yes, each of the components themselves are digestible if maybe questionably edible. But served together like that? Well, maybe with lots and lots ketchup… No, this rapidly turns into a trainwreck that no amount of condiments could fix, all of which was made only more painful with the "High School Musical"-esque antics we see during our time spent in the presence of Sloane's peers at her new, um, educational setting and beyond. Which also includes then her sulky yet dashing cousin Elias, who just luckily had most of the same kinks as she did and to be honest came across as extremely fvckable. So yeah, sure, if you want to mix in some "Basic Instinct" and "Heathers" into all of this for good measure, knock yourselves out. Again though, you're going to be staring at the menu like it came from Mars or something. Or even worse, you know, from somewhere like France…
I didn’t play children’s games. No, my games were strictly life and death.
Honestly, nothing really happens once we get to this stage that elicits any kind of shock or other emotions as all that transpires - or has transpired, noting the past tense. You see, the author chooses to let us see behind more and more of the curtain covering the past as we progress - but it all seems far too obvious for comfort. No, don't misunderstand me: the weird incestuous sex - which to be fair was actually pretty hot - didn't bother me but the teenage hormones around the ol' campfire keg parties had me yawning uncontrollably. And the worst of that was naturally the aforementioned HSM-worthy twin set of Jordan and Dana, who sadly, weren't immediately loaded up on a trebuchet and shot into the sky. Honestly, I should have chalked this up as a DNF once the second party in the woods started, but didn't want to end my current reading challenge on such a sour note.
I’d never wanted to cry. Crying meant you felt pain or guilt or remorse.
Besides the emotionless snobs that are Sloane's grandparents, the other adults in this book seem to be all on some kind of heavy sedation. Maybe literally, definitely figuratively. Their reactions to even the most obvious deviations of things from the "norm" is almost laughable. Sure, Penelope - dear Mother to some - was obviously a severe trainwreck albeit understandably so. Why she ever got let out of the asylum in the first place is beyond me. But the fact that Aunt Maggie was just so lost in her own version of brain fog was a little weird to me. I mean, the minute she doesn't just stop and sniff the air and exclaim "damn, it smells like hot sex in here!", well, you can tell she was enjoying going through life with blinders on. Either that or we were never told she worked in the morgue at the hospital and had essentially lost her sense of smell owing to all the formaldehyde…
Such vitriol. Such hate. I really did love it.
However, the final "oi vey" for me was the unbelievably high amount of repetition (even worse than when the car "breaked" vs. "braked"). For example: "You have the rot in you, just like him." Or how about: "The rot was so thick in me my soul was black." Still not enough? Then here, try this: "The rot made sure I lacked any sense of right and wrong." Arrrgh, the rot, the rot, the rot. Ye gods, if I never see those words together again, it will have been a good life. Look: We. Get. IT!!! Trust your readers to have gotten the message and then move on, please!
To me, death was nothing short of beautiful.
Even variations on "I didn't know even know my cousin existed until recently" just appeared in one form or another so, so many times. Or gods forbid the descriptions of sex and orgasms and tight vaginas and throbbing man parts and the taste of semen and on and on and on. Painful. But I'll stop here because every minute I spend on this review has me wanting to drop my rating even lower. Oh and before I go: what the hell was up with that cover? Nice and artsy, sure - and available in two eye-catching color schemes he shouted! - but what the hell did it have to do with the book? Anyone?
Read
May 29, 2025Dull writing and a flat story, so..not for me. Barely made it into this before being bombarded with the word ‘rot’, which gave me the impression it would be overused a lot in this book to somehow reinforce the ‘dark’ psychopathic nature of the fmc and the ml
August 6, 2023
Not a fan. At all. Cousins that are psychopaths and are sleeping together was not a hit for me. I’m all for dark romance but this felt like an angsty teenager wrote this. I breezed thru it but toward the end it was harder to read.
July 21, 2025
I DNF’d this once I realized the love interests were cousins by blood??
“rot” will stop feeling like a real word from how often it is used.
characters are 18+ but the entire story is based in an American high school.
“rot” will stop feeling like a real word from how often it is used.
characters are 18+ but the entire story is based in an American high school.
September 17, 2023
This is my first book by Candance Wondrak, but it definitely will not be my last.
The book is 10000% very taboo, but the storyline itself is very enticing. I loved the way Candace writes. It's super easy to read and flows very well. It is intricately designed to not give you all the details upfront but keep you just enough hooked to want to know more.
The ONLY two things I didn't care for, but they didn't really make big impacts of the overall book, were 1. How many times the author used the word "Rot" -- I understand it was to prove the same point Sloanes grandmother had, that the rot was the root of Sloanes problems...but at times it just seemed excessive. Regardless, it didn't change the story, though. The other thing being the incest, I knew it was in the book from the beginning, but I just had to think of them as not being blood related. I feel it didn't really add or take away anything from the story if they were blood related or not. It was still a forbidden and "wrong" romance, and the author didn't necessarily shove it in your face they were blood related.
Even with those two things, I still read the book in one sitting. Sloane was the perfect psychopath and in truth, she was a monster in plain sight. I loved that. I absolutely loved how she did not give a crap what anyone thought of her, and I loved she was comfortable in her own skin, even if she was a murderer. I do wish we would have gotten to see Elias POV, though! I'd have loved to see how his brain ticked and if it was, in fact, the same as Sloanes.
Cannot wait to read another book from Candace!
The book is 10000% very taboo, but the storyline itself is very enticing. I loved the way Candace writes. It's super easy to read and flows very well. It is intricately designed to not give you all the details upfront but keep you just enough hooked to want to know more.
The ONLY two things I didn't care for, but they didn't really make big impacts of the overall book, were 1. How many times the author used the word "Rot" -- I understand it was to prove the same point Sloanes grandmother had, that the rot was the root of Sloanes problems...but at times it just seemed excessive. Regardless, it didn't change the story, though. The other thing being the incest, I knew it was in the book from the beginning, but I just had to think of them as not being blood related. I feel it didn't really add or take away anything from the story if they were blood related or not. It was still a forbidden and "wrong" romance, and the author didn't necessarily shove it in your face they were blood related.
Even with those two things, I still read the book in one sitting. Sloane was the perfect psychopath and in truth, she was a monster in plain sight. I loved that. I absolutely loved how she did not give a crap what anyone thought of her, and I loved she was comfortable in her own skin, even if she was a murderer. I do wish we would have gotten to see Elias POV, though! I'd have loved to see how his brain ticked and if it was, in fact, the same as Sloanes.
Cannot wait to read another book from Candace!
November 4, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I forgot how much I loved Wondrak's writing, she was one of the many authors I binge read during lockdown.
"There was nothing more natural, nothing more magnificently beautiful than the cold, unflinching embrace of death itself."
Gory, nutty, and spicy. A bittersweet indulgence for those who crave stories that explore forbidden love with daring and dark elegance. Rot is a paragon. It just stole the crown and it's currently my favourite book. Now, I understand that this breed of taboo isn't for everyone, and it's a pretty thorny subject, but at the end of the day Rot is just a book, it ain't hurting anyone. If you get pricked and offended by it, I'm sorry. I still feel like it was a beautifully written, lurid and somber tale. It kind of reminds me of "Heathers", with a taste of "Cruel Intentions" just slightly more aberrant.
Sloane and Elias are not attracted to the darkness, they are the darkness. A sinful devotion. A blasphemous love. Two murderous black hearts. Sloane is the product of a rotten night. Her father Charles Bovine, was the Bedlam Butcher, a serial killer. Her mother, his only surviving victim. She's the perfect little psychopath. Elias is cold, cruel, calculating. He's her tall, dark and handsome match made in hell. I wish Wondrak would write a book through Elias POV, I would love to see how his brain ticked.
I happened to like Jordan, he seemed sweet. Oh well...
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I forgot how much I loved Wondrak's writing, she was one of the many authors I binge read during lockdown.
"There was nothing more natural, nothing more magnificently beautiful than the cold, unflinching embrace of death itself."
Gory, nutty, and spicy. A bittersweet indulgence for those who crave stories that explore forbidden love with daring and dark elegance. Rot is a paragon. It just stole the crown and it's currently my favourite book. Now, I understand that this breed of taboo isn't for everyone, and it's a pretty thorny subject, but at the end of the day Rot is just a book, it ain't hurting anyone. If you get pricked and offended by it, I'm sorry. I still feel like it was a beautifully written, lurid and somber tale. It kind of reminds me of "Heathers", with a taste of "Cruel Intentions" just slightly more aberrant.
Sloane and Elias are not attracted to the darkness, they are the darkness. A sinful devotion. A blasphemous love. Two murderous black hearts. Sloane is the product of a rotten night. Her father Charles Bovine, was the Bedlam Butcher, a serial killer. Her mother, his only surviving victim. She's the perfect little psychopath. Elias is cold, cruel, calculating. He's her tall, dark and handsome match made in hell. I wish Wondrak would write a book through Elias POV, I would love to see how his brain ticked.
I happened to like Jordan, he seemed sweet. Oh well...
August 16, 2023
I’m oddly surprised at my high rating for this. Of course, it’s a very taboo subject matter and you really have to be OK with it to get through. BUT if you can, it’s very good. This is my first novel where the FMC is legitimately just as crazy as the MMC, if not even more so. I loved Sloane’s psyche and her story. I loved that she never took anyone’s shit and actually stood up for herself. I never felt annoyed with her, which is so rare for an FMC.
The storyline was very interesting and I actually bought into her relationship with Elias. I do slightly wish we got a dual POV but I didn’t need it to enjoy the story. It probably also helped that this wasn’t super long. My biggest gripe with this is just how weird and out of place the epilogue felt. I kind of wish I saw them actually going out into the world or doing something a little more extreme than just going to prom. But other than that, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.
The storyline was very interesting and I actually bought into her relationship with Elias. I do slightly wish we got a dual POV but I didn’t need it to enjoy the story. It probably also helped that this wasn’t super long. My biggest gripe with this is just how weird and out of place the epilogue felt. I kind of wish I saw them actually going out into the world or doing something a little more extreme than just going to prom. But other than that, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.
February 14, 2024
𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕠, 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕤𝕞𝕦𝕥… 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕤𝕟’𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦. 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕝 𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕤𝕒𝕪 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕. 𝕀 𝕨𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕕𝕘𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪, 𝕤𝕠 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕕𝕘𝕖 𝕞𝕖.
𝕋ℍ𝔸ℕ𝕂 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕏𝕆
Taboo? ✔️
🩸Related? ✔️
Cousins? ✔️
Gory? ✔️
Dark? ✔️
Twisted? ✔️
HOT AF? ✔️
Ya’ll this was CRAZY GOOD!!!! I went into it blind, I always do with Candace’s stories as I don’t want the TW’s or anything to ruin the mindfuckery that I’m about to enjoy.
I had no idea what was about to go down in this story and fuck, it sure did make my head spin…
Elias and Sloan, wow- they truly are a match made in hell! Their hearts and souls are just a pitch black as the other. Damn they’re perfect together!
This was all kinds of dark, twisted and delicious 🖤
“We were sinners. We were monsters. We were everything normal people never aspired to be, and that’s what made us perfect for each other.”
“I love you, Elias Whitenbaker,”
“Not as much as I love you, Sloane Karnagy. You’re mine.”
𝕋ℍ𝔸ℕ𝕂 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕏𝕆
Taboo? ✔️
🩸Related? ✔️
Cousins? ✔️
Gory? ✔️
Dark? ✔️
Twisted? ✔️
HOT AF? ✔️
Ya’ll this was CRAZY GOOD!!!! I went into it blind, I always do with Candace’s stories as I don’t want the TW’s or anything to ruin the mindfuckery that I’m about to enjoy.
I had no idea what was about to go down in this story and fuck, it sure did make my head spin…
Elias and Sloan, wow- they truly are a match made in hell! Their hearts and souls are just a pitch black as the other. Damn they’re perfect together!
This was all kinds of dark, twisted and delicious 🖤
“We were sinners. We were monsters. We were everything normal people never aspired to be, and that’s what made us perfect for each other.”
“I love you, Elias Whitenbaker,”
“Not as much as I love you, Sloane Karnagy. You’re mine.”
August 7, 2023
I rate this 3.5 ☆
This was a short little read. Nothing huge but quick and messy. This story begins with Sloane. She was the result of a serial killer forcing himself on her mom. Sloane grew up with her grandparents and treated like pariah due to her fathers identity. She grew up rich, protected and sheltered.
Until something happened at home. Her mom, newly out of the psych ward, and Sloane made their way to her estranged sister. This is where we meet Elias.
The story could have been much more intricate. It could have been deeper. But, if you're looking for a quick read where two souls are dark and psychotic this is a good start. I did find it relatively well written. I'd consider reading more from this author.
This was a short little read. Nothing huge but quick and messy. This story begins with Sloane. She was the result of a serial killer forcing himself on her mom. Sloane grew up with her grandparents and treated like pariah due to her fathers identity. She grew up rich, protected and sheltered.
Until something happened at home. Her mom, newly out of the psych ward, and Sloane made their way to her estranged sister. This is where we meet Elias.
The story could have been much more intricate. It could have been deeper. But, if you're looking for a quick read where two souls are dark and psychotic this is a good start. I did find it relatively well written. I'd consider reading more from this author.
May 15, 2023
"A sinful devotion, a blasphemous love, two murderous hearts."
How does one even being to describe the story of Sloane and Elias that is told within these pages? This book is not for those easily triggered. Murder, blood, serial killers, incest (cousins that were unaware of the other's existence their entire lives), mental health. Their story is one that wont make sense to everyone, but it is one that is felt nonetheless between those who share the rot. It's not something that can be described with words, but must be felt with how the story is laid out. I absolutely loved every single line that poured from this book.
How does one even being to describe the story of Sloane and Elias that is told within these pages? This book is not for those easily triggered. Murder, blood, serial killers, incest (cousins that were unaware of the other's existence their entire lives), mental health. Their story is one that wont make sense to everyone, but it is one that is felt nonetheless between those who share the rot. It's not something that can be described with words, but must be felt with how the story is laid out. I absolutely loved every single line that poured from this book.
June 16, 2023
The phrase "the rot" is VERY overused.
Sloane is batshit crazy, but, she probably would have fared better if she hadn't been raised by her grandparents. They should have put her up for adoption or something.
Penelope and Maggie are just there. I don't understand how Penelope has the mental strength to call in "cleaners" but not be able to function otherwise. She could have easily rid herself of Sloane by turning her in and gone on with her life. She probably would have even gotten a lot of sympathy.
Elias is boring really. I think it would have been more interesting if he hadn't killed his father and that the story was about him giving in to Sloane and corruption.
Sloane is batshit crazy, but, she probably would have fared better if she hadn't been raised by her grandparents. They should have put her up for adoption or something.
Penelope and Maggie are just there. I don't understand how Penelope has the mental strength to call in "cleaners" but not be able to function otherwise. She could have easily rid herself of Sloane by turning her in and gone on with her life. She probably would have even gotten a lot of sympathy.
Elias is boring really. I think it would have been more interesting if he hadn't killed his father and that the story was about him giving in to Sloane and corruption.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2025
Disgusting read. The writing itself is terrible (I don’t think she could’ve possibly used the phrase “the rot” any more than she already did), and I couldn’t even make it through the first few chapters. She makes a huge deal about Sloane being soooo tiny and soooo small - and freshly eighteen. The MMC is sooooo big and sooo muscled and not at all like a normal teenager, but she’s sooooo tiny and little-girl. Basically read like a pedophile’s description of their dream girl. And the MMC is her cousin? Her full blood cousin, who they’re both aware that they’re cousins, is the love interest??? BARF. Anyone reading this book and actually enjoying it needs some serious help.
June 8, 2023
I was bored.
Nothing happens for most of this book, and then even when things do start happening, the writing was flat and anticlimactic.
This book is told from Sloane’s POV and she doesn’t really do much apart from thinking about the ‘rot’. Elias is supposed to be the other main character, but he’s never developed and remains a vague background character.
This book was boring because the author’s writing style wasn’t for me, and now I’m wondering if there’s any point in trying to read the Cruel Black Hearts series.
Nothing happens for most of this book, and then even when things do start happening, the writing was flat and anticlimactic.
This book is told from Sloane’s POV and she doesn’t really do much apart from thinking about the ‘rot’. Elias is supposed to be the other main character, but he’s never developed and remains a vague background character.
This book was boring because the author’s writing style wasn’t for me, and now I’m wondering if there’s any point in trying to read the Cruel Black Hearts series.
June 13, 2023
unapologetically pitch black
Dark and absolutely psychotic, but a great read for its genre!
All the characters are well developed, but Sloane’s character is especially well developed. From early on you can tell that she’s dangerous and off, but you feel for her and her upbringing. It’s hard to write a character who’s a serial killer but is also still likeable, but Candace successfully did that.
Elias is also a likeable character. His quiet darkness is intriguing.
The plots is interesting but faced paced so 5/5
Dark and absolutely psychotic, but a great read for its genre!
All the characters are well developed, but Sloane’s character is especially well developed. From early on you can tell that she’s dangerous and off, but you feel for her and her upbringing. It’s hard to write a character who’s a serial killer but is also still likeable, but Candace successfully did that.
Elias is also a likeable character. His quiet darkness is intriguing.
The plots is interesting but faced paced so 5/5
August 15, 2024
This book was great! I read it in 4 hours so it is a short read. I loved it because they are made for each other and compliment each other's darkness so well and them being cousins did throw me off at first but I just ignored that part. I would say that my biggest problem was the fact that the author did tend to repeat some phrases but other than that I had no issue with the book.
Spoiler!!!
I also loved how towards the end we get a plot twist and the truth about what happened at the beginning of the book and later on we get another truth and then we find out why they had to move.
Spoiler!!!
I also loved how towards the end we get a plot twist and the truth about what happened at the beginning of the book and later on we get another truth and then we find out why they had to move.
May 4, 2023
Great Read
I went in with no expectations just knowing I enjoy reading this authors work. I didn’t read the description and thought the cover was amazing! This book hit all the crazy I was looking for, and even managed to surprise me a little bit. It could definitely trigger some so if you are a person with triggers I would enter this book with a bit of caution. This book was definitely worth the read! Enjoy
I went in with no expectations just knowing I enjoy reading this authors work. I didn’t read the description and thought the cover was amazing! This book hit all the crazy I was looking for, and even managed to surprise me a little bit. It could definitely trigger some so if you are a person with triggers I would enter this book with a bit of caution. This book was definitely worth the read! Enjoy
June 22, 2023
great story
Sloane has the rot in her. That’s what she’s been told all her life. Having the father she did, how could she not? Moving in with her Aunt and cousin, Elias, is a fresh start for Sloane and she quickly becomes interested in Elias. He’s tall, dark and is definitely hiding something. Does he have the rot in him too?
I love a good taboo story and this did not disappoint. Elias is mysterious and broody and so intriguing. This was a fairly short read, and so good!
Sloane has the rot in her. That’s what she’s been told all her life. Having the father she did, how could she not? Moving in with her Aunt and cousin, Elias, is a fresh start for Sloane and she quickly becomes interested in Elias. He’s tall, dark and is definitely hiding something. Does he have the rot in him too?
I love a good taboo story and this did not disappoint. Elias is mysterious and broody and so intriguing. This was a fairly short read, and so good!
June 23, 2023
YES!
Okay first thank you! I read through this book in a day. I simply couldn't put it down. I love a god psychopath female lead character 🖤 This is one of the only books I've liked enough to write a review on.
**Spoiler**
I really liked the background telling of the girl drowning. In the beginning Sloan seems like a messed up kid that finds death entertaining, then we find out she's actually the cause of those deaths.
Okay first thank you! I read through this book in a day. I simply couldn't put it down. I love a god psychopath female lead character 🖤 This is one of the only books I've liked enough to write a review on.
**Spoiler**
I really liked the background telling of the girl drowning. In the beginning Sloan seems like a messed up kid that finds death entertaining, then we find out she's actually the cause of those deaths.
April 1, 2025
Tab00 p$ychos trope at its finest!
Sloane has not had a good life. Born from a violent act and left to be raised by her grandparents who were cruel, to say the least, Sloane found she liked causing trouble. Violence rules her life when she finds herself in a small town, surrounded by estranged family she doesn't really know, and the typical stuck up, high school mean girls. Be sure to check all the triggers on this one. I LOVED this book!
Sloane has not had a good life. Born from a violent act and left to be raised by her grandparents who were cruel, to say the least, Sloane found she liked causing trouble. Violence rules her life when she finds herself in a small town, surrounded by estranged family she doesn't really know, and the typical stuck up, high school mean girls. Be sure to check all the triggers on this one. I LOVED this book!
May 2, 2023
Wow!!!!!!
This author really blows my mind!!!! Her talent for writing these dark characters is unparalleled!!!! How does she manage to get me to root for such disturbing people??!!! Sloane is fascinating and getting a look inside her head was fairly frightening!😂😂 If you love dark books with a touch of taboo this is definitely the book for you!
This author really blows my mind!!!! Her talent for writing these dark characters is unparalleled!!!! How does she manage to get me to root for such disturbing people??!!! Sloane is fascinating and getting a look inside her head was fairly frightening!😂😂 If you love dark books with a touch of taboo this is definitely the book for you!
June 23, 2023
Brilliant read.
The rot lives deep in Sloane. She has suffered with it her whole life. When Sloane and Penelope have to move rather quickly. Sloane is discovering a new life. She is finally spending time with her mum and finally going to a school where no one knows who she she is. But there is one person who really knows the depths of her soul.
Brilliant read.
The rot lives deep in Sloane. She has suffered with it her whole life. When Sloane and Penelope have to move rather quickly. Sloane is discovering a new life. She is finally spending time with her mum and finally going to a school where no one knows who she she is. But there is one person who really knows the depths of her soul.
Brilliant read.
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