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A Steep and Savage Path
From the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE THORNS REMAIN comes an enemies-to-lovers journey to the underworld unlike any other, for fans of THE CRIMSON MOTH and THE CRUEL PRINCE
An immortal vampire. A mortal bride. A vow that even death can’t break.
Irina is about to be married to a dead man. She is the willing village sacrifice for the Wedding of the a desperate ritual designed to lay the hungry vampire that has been terrorising her Transylvanian village to rest. Irina’s beloved sister’s soul is trapped in the land of the dead. If Irina can retrieve it, she could bring her back – but Irina would need a guide, one who can walk between the living and the dead.
Irina strikes up a deal with her new husband – if he agrees to get her safely there and back again, then he can drink her blood as much as he wants.
They begin a perilous journey through the afterlife together, in which Irina realises Stefan isn’t the cruel and terrifying monster that she thought. In a land of three-headed beasts, winged creatures and walking corpses, the last thing Irina would have expected was to fall in love.
Only, Irina learns that by bringing Stefan to the land of the dead she has put him in grave danger, and will be faced with an impossible choice. Will they be able to make it out, undead or alive?
An immortal vampire. A mortal bride. A vow that even death can’t break.
Irina is about to be married to a dead man. She is the willing village sacrifice for the Wedding of the a desperate ritual designed to lay the hungry vampire that has been terrorising her Transylvanian village to rest. Irina’s beloved sister’s soul is trapped in the land of the dead. If Irina can retrieve it, she could bring her back – but Irina would need a guide, one who can walk between the living and the dead.
Irina strikes up a deal with her new husband – if he agrees to get her safely there and back again, then he can drink her blood as much as he wants.
They begin a perilous journey through the afterlife together, in which Irina realises Stefan isn’t the cruel and terrifying monster that she thought. In a land of three-headed beasts, winged creatures and walking corpses, the last thing Irina would have expected was to fall in love.
Only, Irina learns that by bringing Stefan to the land of the dead she has put him in grave danger, and will be faced with an impossible choice. Will they be able to make it out, undead or alive?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2025
91 people are currently reading
9517 people want to read
About the author
J.J.A. Harwood
3 books317 followersJJA Harwood is an author, editor and blogger. She grew up in Norfolk, read History at the University of Warwick and eventually found her way to London, which is still something of a shock for somebody used to so many fields.
When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS is her debut novel.
When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS is her debut novel.
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December 7, 2025Drat! where did the book go? I was reading it just a moment ago and now . . . it's over? It's not a short book and surely I'm not that fast!
Literary blue balls, man. They're tuff.
Anyway, when I first read the blurb, I said it had vibes of Hades & Persephone with a touch of Beauty & Beast. And I was right, but not in the way I thought.
Review on publication day, December 30th.
Literary blue balls, man. They're tuff.
Anyway, when I first read the blurb, I said it had vibes of Hades & Persephone with a touch of Beauty & Beast. And I was right, but not in the way I thought.
Review on publication day, December 30th.
April 26, 2025
Sexy and sad, yes I'm talking about the book but also me (what 😇) I wasn't quite expecting this book to be as emotional as it was, haunting and eerie this is perfect for fans of romantasy that also love to cry (for 45mins straight) The story follows Irina, a woman forced to marry a vampire to save her village. But her real mission, journey into the Underworld to save her sister’s stolen soul. Her new husband Stefan (who gives major Salvatore vibes) offers his help, theres only one condition, she must give him her blood. I enjoy books where we go to hell (literally and metaphorically) and the world building was so vivid and haunting, the dynamic between Irina and Stefan was *BIG CHEFS KISS* forced proximity, enemies to lovers, the push and pull, the tension, and the SLOW BURN into something very sweet, tender and vulnerable, gird your loins and get your tissues (in the same sentence that sounds wrong) the ending? Devastating, no spoilers but I was a mess, I still am. I love vampire romances and this felt like a darker more grown up (I felt childish saying that?) version, thankyou to the angel that is rachelquinnmarketing and harpervoyager for the proof
March 21, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
This book was depressing.
I don’t usually dislike sad books - reading is supposed to make you feel emotions - but I didn’t enjoy the reading experience at all. The entire story was just so dreary … I was glad to finish it, and skimmed the last 20% just to get it over with.
We jump into the story as Irina is marrying a ‘dead man’ to help a village get rid of a vampire who’s tormenting them. She has an underlying motive - to make a deal with said vampire: in exchange for letting him (Stefan) feed off her regularly he is to take her to the underworld to bring back her sister’s trapped soul.
This could have been a super interesting story, however both the romance and the plot fell flatter than a pancake. Let me start with the love story: it’s poorly built and not believable. After 5 minutes of meeting Stefan, Irina just decides he’s annoying (despite him not being annoying at all) and hence this kind of sarcastic banter emerges between them. It all feels very forced, and is clearly the author trying to create an ‘enemies to lovers’ thing - but it doesn’t work! Their dialogue is very mechanical, and don’t even get me started on the fact that they both speak with lots of 21st century colloquialism… but the world is set in 19th century Romania? (Side note - I think it is anyway. I initially thought it was 14/15th century from all the descriptions but then the author mentioned imperial soldiers which is post 1800. You can see the world building wasn’t done well. However, the characters shouldn’t be speaking like modern teenagers either way.) PS this book is marketed for fans of The Cruel Prince, but let me tell you, it pales in comparison.
I also struggled to connect with either Irina or Stefan. We don’t get much background on either of them, especially Stefan as his death is supposed to be a big reveal, albeit a predictable one. I felt pity for him, and that was it, so he doesn’t make for a very good love interest as a result. Other than his tragic backstory, he ends up being a bit 2D. Irina is written better, and is a lot more ‘real’ but they were both a bit ‘meh’ in the end.
And lastly [mild spoilers here so proceed with caution] the underworld was just so … boring. I expected it to be richer and more scary. Instead, we get a normal world but anyone Irina touches remembers their death. Which is interesting once, and then it was just repetitive (all she keeps worrying about is touching people and making them decay into corpses) and frankly quite gross when it did happen. It was a unique concept but the author overdid it. Plus so many interesting things left unexplained, like whatever was the significance of the Totentanz in this story? Etc etc.
The ending [again, massive spoiler] was done well … or do I thought. The very last page left me confused and frankly, just felt like fan service and was left totally unexplained. I felt like the author chickened out from actually writing a tragic ending and tacked something on at the end just to make the readers happy. 👎🏼👎🏼
Overall, I was expecting this to be SO good and it wasn’t. The 2.5 is for the fact that I was actually intrigued enough to finish it. Probably won’t be reading any more books from JJA in the future as all her other material has mixed reviews too, sorry.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review, thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK
——————————————————-
Gothic vampire-and-mortal love story with Romanian folklore? I’m sat 🙇🏽♀️
The teenage twilight fan in me is jumping with joy, but the adult me is approaching with caution due to the mixed reviews on the authors’ previous books
arc received, thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK ✨
This book was depressing.
I don’t usually dislike sad books - reading is supposed to make you feel emotions - but I didn’t enjoy the reading experience at all. The entire story was just so dreary … I was glad to finish it, and skimmed the last 20% just to get it over with.
We jump into the story as Irina is marrying a ‘dead man’ to help a village get rid of a vampire who’s tormenting them. She has an underlying motive - to make a deal with said vampire: in exchange for letting him (Stefan) feed off her regularly he is to take her to the underworld to bring back her sister’s trapped soul.
This could have been a super interesting story, however both the romance and the plot fell flatter than a pancake. Let me start with the love story: it’s poorly built and not believable. After 5 minutes of meeting Stefan, Irina just decides he’s annoying (despite him not being annoying at all) and hence this kind of sarcastic banter emerges between them. It all feels very forced, and is clearly the author trying to create an ‘enemies to lovers’ thing - but it doesn’t work! Their dialogue is very mechanical, and don’t even get me started on the fact that they both speak with lots of 21st century colloquialism… but the world is set in 19th century Romania? (Side note - I think it is anyway. I initially thought it was 14/15th century from all the descriptions but then the author mentioned imperial soldiers which is post 1800. You can see the world building wasn’t done well. However, the characters shouldn’t be speaking like modern teenagers either way.) PS this book is marketed for fans of The Cruel Prince, but let me tell you, it pales in comparison.
I also struggled to connect with either Irina or Stefan. We don’t get much background on either of them, especially Stefan as his death is supposed to be a big reveal, albeit a predictable one. I felt pity for him, and that was it, so he doesn’t make for a very good love interest as a result. Other than his tragic backstory, he ends up being a bit 2D. Irina is written better, and is a lot more ‘real’ but they were both a bit ‘meh’ in the end.
And lastly [mild spoilers here so proceed with caution] the underworld was just so … boring. I expected it to be richer and more scary. Instead, we get a normal world but anyone Irina touches remembers their death. Which is interesting once, and then it was just repetitive (all she keeps worrying about is touching people and making them decay into corpses) and frankly quite gross when it did happen. It was a unique concept but the author overdid it. Plus so many interesting things left unexplained, like whatever was the significance of the Totentanz in this story? Etc etc.
The ending [again, massive spoiler] was done well … or do I thought. The very last page left me confused and frankly, just felt like fan service and was left totally unexplained. I felt like the author chickened out from actually writing a tragic ending and tacked something on at the end just to make the readers happy. 👎🏼👎🏼
Overall, I was expecting this to be SO good and it wasn’t. The 2.5 is for the fact that I was actually intrigued enough to finish it. Probably won’t be reading any more books from JJA in the future as all her other material has mixed reviews too, sorry.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review, thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK
——————————————————-
Gothic vampire-and-mortal love story with Romanian folklore? I’m sat 🙇🏽♀️
The teenage twilight fan in me is jumping with joy, but the adult me is approaching with caution due to the mixed reviews on the authors’ previous books
arc received, thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK ✨
February 6, 2025
So since there is a one star rating for a book that is not even out, I’ll give five stars to even it out in the meantime
May 31, 2025
So much smirking and snapping and hissing.
Good concept and ideas, but Harwood's writing needed a lot of editing; there were many repeated words and phrases, and the prose felt somewhat stagnant. The land of the dead here is also not very interesting, either? Summary promises enemies-to-lovers, but (unsurprisingly), A Steep and Savage Path's main characters are more reluctant allies. I wouldn't have minded that, but apparently the "enemies" part comes from the fact that they bicker together like two kids.
Good concept and ideas, but Harwood's writing needed a lot of editing; there were many repeated words and phrases, and the prose felt somewhat stagnant. The land of the dead here is also not very interesting, either? Summary promises enemies-to-lovers, but (unsurprisingly), A Steep and Savage Path's main characters are more reluctant allies. I wouldn't have minded that, but apparently the "enemies" part comes from the fact that they bicker together like two kids.
September 14, 2025
This needed more chapters and less.. filling?
I started off hopeful and didn't mind the lack of chapters much, although it was something I noticed from the start. but as the book progressed, I couldn't look past it anymore. I get breaking it up into 5 different parts for the different stages of her journey but.. what's wrong with having chapters in those parts? Nothing. Nothing would have been wrong with that.
Is this a me-problem because I need chapters to feel like I've accomplished sth?
I also felt that some blocks of text (I CANT PINPOINT WHICH CHAPTER BECAUSE THERE WERE NONE) could honestly have been left out completely and it wouldn't have taken anything from the story.
Over all it definitely wasn't a bad story but someone fortheloveofgod install some chapters and maybe snip a few forest-walking bits. Thankyew.
I started off hopeful and didn't mind the lack of chapters much, although it was something I noticed from the start. but as the book progressed, I couldn't look past it anymore. I get breaking it up into 5 different parts for the different stages of her journey but.. what's wrong with having chapters in those parts? Nothing. Nothing would have been wrong with that.
Is this a me-problem because I need chapters to feel like I've accomplished sth?
I also felt that some blocks of text (I CANT PINPOINT WHICH CHAPTER BECAUSE THERE WERE NONE) could honestly have been left out completely and it wouldn't have taken anything from the story.
Over all it definitely wasn't a bad story but someone fortheloveofgod install some chapters and maybe snip a few forest-walking bits. Thankyew.
May 7, 2025
This book was a fantastic surprise, and I devoured it in almost one sitting!
J.J.A. Harwood crafted a beautiful and daunting journey through the underworld, that becomes increasingly emotional the farther we go in.
A Steep and Savage Path is not the typical vampire romance. Instead, it’s a deeply touching story about Irina, a strong female lead who selflessly risks her life to recover her younger sister’s soul, and Stefan, a dear boy who just needed to discover that kindness and gentleness still exist in the world.
“I started seeing her differently. I realized how kind she was. She can be so gentle, but there’s a core of granite to her. Everyone else just… faded away.”
Irina and Stefan’s relationship is sweet and tender. While parts of their story broke my heart, I loved watching them grow closer and fall for each other. I had a feeling from the beginning that I’d care deeply about Stefan—and I couldn’t have been more right. I just wanted to hold him and tell him he deserved love and care.
The romance, though central and beautifully written, does not overshadow the story. The beautiful prose, immersive world-building, and compelling interactions—both between the main characters and the supporting cast—are what truly made this book shine for me.
I also loved the unique perspective this book offers regarding the stages souls undergo before passing into the true afterlife. Although a dark theme, I found Irina’s interactions with death deeply reassuring.
Highly recommended for YA readers and anyone who enjoys dark, gothic settings.
I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review
J.J.A. Harwood crafted a beautiful and daunting journey through the underworld, that becomes increasingly emotional the farther we go in.
A Steep and Savage Path is not the typical vampire romance. Instead, it’s a deeply touching story about Irina, a strong female lead who selflessly risks her life to recover her younger sister’s soul, and Stefan, a dear boy who just needed to discover that kindness and gentleness still exist in the world.
“I started seeing her differently. I realized how kind she was. She can be so gentle, but there’s a core of granite to her. Everyone else just… faded away.”
Irina and Stefan’s relationship is sweet and tender. While parts of their story broke my heart, I loved watching them grow closer and fall for each other. I had a feeling from the beginning that I’d care deeply about Stefan—and I couldn’t have been more right. I just wanted to hold him and tell him he deserved love and care.
The romance, though central and beautifully written, does not overshadow the story. The beautiful prose, immersive world-building, and compelling interactions—both between the main characters and the supporting cast—are what truly made this book shine for me.
I also loved the unique perspective this book offers regarding the stages souls undergo before passing into the true afterlife. Although a dark theme, I found Irina’s interactions with death deeply reassuring.
Highly recommended for YA readers and anyone who enjoys dark, gothic settings.
I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review
March 10, 2025
I'd love to write a long review about A Steep and Savage Path but I find it hard to write long reviews about books I love! So we'll just go with:
1) I cried for 30 minutes straight while reading this. Automatic 5 stars.
2) I didn't think it was going to be sweet and emotional! I wasn't prepared.
The description/blurb likens this book to The Crimson Moth and The Cruel Prince. I've only read one of those, but in my mental library I've placed A Steep and Savage Path with Olivia Atwater's Half A Soul - no-spice romantic fantasy full of emotion and heart that will stay with me and definitely be reread when my heart needs to be wrung out! This book took me completely by surprise - I have a post-cry photo as evidence lol.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
1) I cried for 30 minutes straight while reading this. Automatic 5 stars.
2) I didn't think it was going to be sweet and emotional! I wasn't prepared.
The description/blurb likens this book to The Crimson Moth and The Cruel Prince. I've only read one of those, but in my mental library I've placed A Steep and Savage Path with Olivia Atwater's Half A Soul - no-spice romantic fantasy full of emotion and heart that will stay with me and definitely be reread when my heart needs to be wrung out! This book took me completely by surprise - I have a post-cry photo as evidence lol.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
May 14, 2025
A Steep and Savage Path was a book I almost inhaled. As soon as I picked it up I was swept into the fantasy world, dragged into the underworld and fully invested in Irina and Stefan. The story draws heavily on vampire lore, Greek mythology and what the afterlife has in store. I could really picture the scenes throughout in vivid colour.
I would say this is generally a cozy read but there are some chilling parts that created that classic vampire novel feel. Especially at the start. The romance is a central theme throughout and the banter really balances with more tender moments. I loved the couple and felt the marriage of convenience trope was done uniquely. The overall plot of a perilous journey to save a sister was lovely to read. I think if you are a fan of T. Kingfisher this is one to read as a comparison. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
I would say this is generally a cozy read but there are some chilling parts that created that classic vampire novel feel. Especially at the start. The romance is a central theme throughout and the banter really balances with more tender moments. I loved the couple and felt the marriage of convenience trope was done uniquely. The overall plot of a perilous journey to save a sister was lovely to read. I think if you are a fan of T. Kingfisher this is one to read as a comparison. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
March 15, 2025
ad/gifted - thank you so much to Harper Voyager UK
and Rachel Quin Marketing for the advanced reader copy of this novel.
I didn’t quite realise that A Steep and Savage Path would take me so much by surprise. This book was such an enchanting, eerie, and emotional read (take that from someone who doesn’t usually cry at books).
The writer’s style is utterly captivating. This book has the perfect amount of vivid and vibrant world-building without being overly descriptive. The story centers around Irina, who is getting married to a groom who is dead and unaware of the wedding. This is so that she has a guide through the underworld to help complete a task.
‘Not that the groom was in any position to complain. He was dead.’
Stefan, the groom and vampire in the story, adds sarcasm and banter to the narrative in the best way. The dynamic between the two characters was lovely, and the pacing of their relationship was spot on.
This haunting romantic fantasy is perfect for fans of romantasy, and I believe it is currently a standalone novel.
Tropes include:
🥀 Journey through the underworld
☠️ Forced proximity
🥀 Grumpy vampire MMC
☠️ Don’t touch my wife
and Rachel Quin Marketing for the advanced reader copy of this novel.
I didn’t quite realise that A Steep and Savage Path would take me so much by surprise. This book was such an enchanting, eerie, and emotional read (take that from someone who doesn’t usually cry at books).
The writer’s style is utterly captivating. This book has the perfect amount of vivid and vibrant world-building without being overly descriptive. The story centers around Irina, who is getting married to a groom who is dead and unaware of the wedding. This is so that she has a guide through the underworld to help complete a task.
‘Not that the groom was in any position to complain. He was dead.’
Stefan, the groom and vampire in the story, adds sarcasm and banter to the narrative in the best way. The dynamic between the two characters was lovely, and the pacing of their relationship was spot on.
This haunting romantic fantasy is perfect for fans of romantasy, and I believe it is currently a standalone novel.
Tropes include:
🥀 Journey through the underworld
☠️ Forced proximity
🥀 Grumpy vampire MMC
☠️ Don’t touch my wife
March 27, 2025
4.5⭐
A Steep and Savage Path is one of those books that as soon as I started reading I couldn't put it down. It is split into five parts without any chapters so I found this a little hard to get into at first but once I did i flew through it. The writing is so beautiful and weaves together a rather hauntingly beautiful yet eerie story that even though at times it can feel morbid it is actually such a beautiful story of a young woman's love and the journey she undertakes to the underworld to bring back her sister's soul and the vampire she has enlisted not only to be her guide but also finds herself married to him.
The writing pulls you in straight away with how descriptive and vivid in details it is as it takes you along on the many different paths and lands of the underworld and I loved discovering them along with the main two characters and the host of different souls they meet along the way. The enemies to lovers is more like two individuals who find themselves relying on the other and the circumstances they find themselves in and what starts as a platonic yet tentative friendship grows into a really sweet and beautiful slow burn- romance between them that pays off in the best way as it is mainly about a journey of healing from the past and striving to be better.
The ending had me in tears and I found it so heartbreaking and also so beautiful at the same time. It really is such a beautiful story that will stay with me for a very long time.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
A Steep and Savage Path is one of those books that as soon as I started reading I couldn't put it down. It is split into five parts without any chapters so I found this a little hard to get into at first but once I did i flew through it. The writing is so beautiful and weaves together a rather hauntingly beautiful yet eerie story that even though at times it can feel morbid it is actually such a beautiful story of a young woman's love and the journey she undertakes to the underworld to bring back her sister's soul and the vampire she has enlisted not only to be her guide but also finds herself married to him.
The writing pulls you in straight away with how descriptive and vivid in details it is as it takes you along on the many different paths and lands of the underworld and I loved discovering them along with the main two characters and the host of different souls they meet along the way. The enemies to lovers is more like two individuals who find themselves relying on the other and the circumstances they find themselves in and what starts as a platonic yet tentative friendship grows into a really sweet and beautiful slow burn- romance between them that pays off in the best way as it is mainly about a journey of healing from the past and striving to be better.
The ending had me in tears and I found it so heartbreaking and also so beautiful at the same time. It really is such a beautiful story that will stay with me for a very long time.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 10, 2025
This book started with a bang.
We have a very reluctant bride forced to be in a marriage of convenience with a dead man (vampire).
Irina and Stefan disliked each other so much. Because of that their banter was hilarious.
I loved the sarcastic side of stefan. In fact I loved him period. He had a heartbreaking childhood and I was so glad to see Irina standing up for him and being protective of him. He was such a sweetheart to Irina.
Their love and relationship had a certain sweetness to it. Last part made me emotional and happy.
The story had that dark undertone going on. It dragged a bit in the middle especially as I wasn’t that invested in the underworld adventures but I loved the last part. But I wish the last part wasn’t hurried. I needed an epilogue for them.
Overall a good romantasy and recommended.
Safe.
-Marriage of convenience.
-Vampire x mortal.
-My Wife, forced proximity,
-Morally grey.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily
We have a very reluctant bride forced to be in a marriage of convenience with a dead man (vampire).
Irina and Stefan disliked each other so much. Because of that their banter was hilarious.
I loved the sarcastic side of stefan. In fact I loved him period. He had a heartbreaking childhood and I was so glad to see Irina standing up for him and being protective of him. He was such a sweetheart to Irina.
Their love and relationship had a certain sweetness to it. Last part made me emotional and happy.
The story had that dark undertone going on. It dragged a bit in the middle especially as I wasn’t that invested in the underworld adventures but I loved the last part. But I wish the last part wasn’t hurried. I needed an epilogue for them.
Overall a good romantasy and recommended.
Safe.
-Marriage of convenience.
-Vampire x mortal.
-My Wife, forced proximity,
-Morally grey.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily
July 7, 2025
A unique story with great world building.
November 4, 2025
3.5⭐️ I enjoyed this, but it’s not gonna be a book I remember in a few months 😂
March 23, 2025
**3,75/5**
„It was never a good idea to make conversation with a monster; it only let you forget about their teeth.“
✨Historical Fantasy
✨Folklore
✨Romance
✨Slow-Burn
✨mortal x immortal
✨forced proximity
What I liked:
I absolutely loved the Romanian folklore vibes and the historical setting of the small rural village. Vampire Stefan is such a gory creature at the beginning, very refreshing compared to most vampire stories. The building connection between him and Irina was enjoyable to follow throughout the book. Especially Stefan‘s self satisfied behavior and his dry humor were great, but also Irina‘s thoughts about him were often hilarious. Their banter was well written and I absolutely enjoyed it!
What I didn’t like:
The whole underworld journey was interesting at the beginning, but after a while the whole „drama“ about the door traveling to a different realm got really repetitive.
I also wished we got more of gory vampire Stefan, I found him quite interesting. The whole folklore vibes were a bit neglected after the beginning.
Thank you Harper Collins Uk and Rachel Quin for the arc!
„It was never a good idea to make conversation with a monster; it only let you forget about their teeth.“
✨Historical Fantasy
✨Folklore
✨Romance
✨Slow-Burn
✨mortal x immortal
✨forced proximity
What I liked:
I absolutely loved the Romanian folklore vibes and the historical setting of the small rural village. Vampire Stefan is such a gory creature at the beginning, very refreshing compared to most vampire stories. The building connection between him and Irina was enjoyable to follow throughout the book. Especially Stefan‘s self satisfied behavior and his dry humor were great, but also Irina‘s thoughts about him were often hilarious. Their banter was well written and I absolutely enjoyed it!
What I didn’t like:
The whole underworld journey was interesting at the beginning, but after a while the whole „drama“ about the door traveling to a different realm got really repetitive.
I also wished we got more of gory vampire Stefan, I found him quite interesting. The whole folklore vibes were a bit neglected after the beginning.
Thank you Harper Collins Uk and Rachel Quin for the arc!
May 16, 2025
*Actual rating is 4.75 stars*
A Steep and Savage Path is a fantasy romance inspired by Greek myths and Romanian folklore. It's a gothic and at times eerie story about a young woman determined to bring her sister’s soul back from the underworld and the vampire she has enlisted to be her guide. Their search takes them through many different parts and lands of the underworld, and it was so exciting to discover them alongside the two main characters.
While the enemies to lovers trope could be used to describe the relationship between Irina and Stefan, I can’t help but feel that it sells their relationship short. The pair were never really enemies, and instead more like two individuals striking an uneasy truce based on beneficial aspects. What ensues is a tender love story about a platonic relationship grown out of a desperate need evolves into something deeper. It’s about healing from the past and striving to better yourself. It’s the best kind of slow-burn romance where the pay-off is worth the wait. Not to mention that both the main characters are queer coded.
It’s a book about journeys, both outside in the world but also inside yourself. In case you couldn’t tell, I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it. Some part of me is a bit sad that it’s a standalone, but on the other hand I don't think I could handle another book with an ending that made me really emotional. My only big negative thing about the book is that it doesn’t have any chapters. Instead it’s divided into five parts of various lengths. Something that made my reading experience less than ideal at times.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Steep and Savage Path is a fantasy romance inspired by Greek myths and Romanian folklore. It's a gothic and at times eerie story about a young woman determined to bring her sister’s soul back from the underworld and the vampire she has enlisted to be her guide. Their search takes them through many different parts and lands of the underworld, and it was so exciting to discover them alongside the two main characters.
While the enemies to lovers trope could be used to describe the relationship between Irina and Stefan, I can’t help but feel that it sells their relationship short. The pair were never really enemies, and instead more like two individuals striking an uneasy truce based on beneficial aspects. What ensues is a tender love story about a platonic relationship grown out of a desperate need evolves into something deeper. It’s about healing from the past and striving to better yourself. It’s the best kind of slow-burn romance where the pay-off is worth the wait. Not to mention that both the main characters are queer coded.
It’s a book about journeys, both outside in the world but also inside yourself. In case you couldn’t tell, I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it. Some part of me is a bit sad that it’s a standalone, but on the other hand I don't think I could handle another book with an ending that made me really emotional. My only big negative thing about the book is that it doesn’t have any chapters. Instead it’s divided into five parts of various lengths. Something that made my reading experience less than ideal at times.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2025
DNF @ 60% - YA fantasy
Irina agrees to marry the vampire, Stefan, who is tormenting a village in an effort to go to the underworld to find her sister’s soul. Stefan is unaware of the marriage but agrees to help her if she lets him into the villagers homes after he helps her.
I really tried to give this one a chance after previously DNFing my last two arcs but it was not meant to be. I have read in other reviews it picks up in the last 30% but I don’t think this would have increased my rating significantly.
I had several issues with this story:
No chapters - this made the story feel really slow paced.
Lots of description but lack of dialogue /plot progression - I felt myself skim reading paragraphs of descriptions just to get to the dialogue of the characters.
Strange underworld setting - markets and villages? No mention of Hades or the devil etc. It genuinely could have been a village in the normal world and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
Irina made no effort of trying to find out Stefans background - she instantly judged him and at 60% there was very little in terms of romance or even friendship.
Overall, again a brilliant sounding premise but poor execution for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ebook.
Irina agrees to marry the vampire, Stefan, who is tormenting a village in an effort to go to the underworld to find her sister’s soul. Stefan is unaware of the marriage but agrees to help her if she lets him into the villagers homes after he helps her.
I really tried to give this one a chance after previously DNFing my last two arcs but it was not meant to be. I have read in other reviews it picks up in the last 30% but I don’t think this would have increased my rating significantly.
I had several issues with this story:
No chapters - this made the story feel really slow paced.
Lots of description but lack of dialogue /plot progression - I felt myself skim reading paragraphs of descriptions just to get to the dialogue of the characters.
Strange underworld setting - markets and villages? No mention of Hades or the devil etc. It genuinely could have been a village in the normal world and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
Irina made no effort of trying to find out Stefans background - she instantly judged him and at 60% there was very little in terms of romance or even friendship.
Overall, again a brilliant sounding premise but poor execution for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ebook.
March 21, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Sadly, this was mostly underwhelming. I had high hopes after reading the synopsis, but I just didn't feel fulfilled after reading the book.
The writing style was descriptive, and I enjoyed the ending and the last 30% overall, but for the majority of the book I felt bored. The journey seemed repetitive, and I found myself skimming some long paragraphs of descriptions to get to the good parts.
I found Irina annoying, she kept rushing into danger and the unknown headfirst without any planning or prior research. I liked Stefan, but he wasn’t fleshed out enough. I didn’t find myself overly invested in the romance, I wish there was more buildup and subtle details leading to it.
I also don't think it's an enemies-to-lovers story. I saw no enemies, just two individuals who didn’t know how to communicate. There was no hatred nor big conflict between them, only weak bickering and some occasional banter.
The book doesn’t have any chapters, and it also negatively impacted my reading experience.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but unfortunately, it was a disappointment for me.
Sadly, this was mostly underwhelming. I had high hopes after reading the synopsis, but I just didn't feel fulfilled after reading the book.
The writing style was descriptive, and I enjoyed the ending and the last 30% overall, but for the majority of the book I felt bored. The journey seemed repetitive, and I found myself skimming some long paragraphs of descriptions to get to the good parts.
I found Irina annoying, she kept rushing into danger and the unknown headfirst without any planning or prior research. I liked Stefan, but he wasn’t fleshed out enough. I didn’t find myself overly invested in the romance, I wish there was more buildup and subtle details leading to it.
I also don't think it's an enemies-to-lovers story. I saw no enemies, just two individuals who didn’t know how to communicate. There was no hatred nor big conflict between them, only weak bickering and some occasional banter.
The book doesn’t have any chapters, and it also negatively impacted my reading experience.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but unfortunately, it was a disappointment for me.
May 10, 2025
This was such a beautiful, emotional read. A really interesting blend of Romanian vampiric folklore and a Greek myth retelling – an unexpected combination that worked surprisingly well. I’m not usually a big fan of underworld quest stories, but this one drew me in more than I expected. It also reads older than a typical YA book, which was a big plus.
That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. The pacing felt uneven at times, and the lack of chapters made it harder to stay grounded in the narrative. The dialogue also felt far too modern for the historical setting, which pulled me out of the story now and then. I can see these elements being dealbreakers for some readers. Still, the strength of the characters more than made up for it, at least for me. Irina and Stefan were truly the heart of the story. Their dynamic was tender, bittersweet, and quietly intense. And Stefan… I’m just so weak for the tragic, tormented ones. I loved him.
All in all, not a perfect book – but definitely a memorable one.
That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. The pacing felt uneven at times, and the lack of chapters made it harder to stay grounded in the narrative. The dialogue also felt far too modern for the historical setting, which pulled me out of the story now and then. I can see these elements being dealbreakers for some readers. Still, the strength of the characters more than made up for it, at least for me. Irina and Stefan were truly the heart of the story. Their dynamic was tender, bittersweet, and quietly intense. And Stefan… I’m just so weak for the tragic, tormented ones. I loved him.
All in all, not a perfect book – but definitely a memorable one.
June 25, 2025
Sometimes you pick up a book and it just doesn’t click. That’s how I felt about A Steep and Savage Path. It wasn’t a bad read by any means, but it didn’t quite spark anything in me either.
JJA Harwood has a way with atmosphere. There’s a definite gothic thread running through the pages, and fans of her previous works will likely appreciate the eerie, folklore-tinged setting. But for me, the writing style didn’t quite vibe. It felt a bit too distant, or maybe just a little too slow to really sink its hooks in.
The premise had promise (and I’ll always give bonus points for anything even vaguely witchy or haunting), but the emotional connection I usually look for just wasn’t there this time. I kept waiting to care more than I did.
That said, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from giving it a try. Sometimes a story just isn’t your story, and that’s okay.
JJA Harwood has a way with atmosphere. There’s a definite gothic thread running through the pages, and fans of her previous works will likely appreciate the eerie, folklore-tinged setting. But for me, the writing style didn’t quite vibe. It felt a bit too distant, or maybe just a little too slow to really sink its hooks in.
The premise had promise (and I’ll always give bonus points for anything even vaguely witchy or haunting), but the emotional connection I usually look for just wasn’t there this time. I kept waiting to care more than I did.
That said, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from giving it a try. Sometimes a story just isn’t your story, and that’s okay.
May 9, 2025
A Steep and Savage Path sounded so interesting. I requested this book as an ARC on NetGalley as the premise intrigued me and I haven't read many Vampire Books
But unfortunately, I had to DNF at 42%.
My first issue is the lack of Chapters. It has Parts and no Chapters but at 42% in I was still in Part 2.
Part 1 had me reeled in. I was invested in the quest of going to the Underworld to save Irina Sister and using her new Vampire Husband to lead the way. But then the story just halted in Part 2. It was so repetitive.
It was just a lot of walking through darks spaces towards glimmers of light just because her sisters necklace was seemingly pointing that way. I'm sorry but I didn't buy into it and I couldn't force myself to continue.
But unfortunately, I had to DNF at 42%.
My first issue is the lack of Chapters. It has Parts and no Chapters but at 42% in I was still in Part 2.
Part 1 had me reeled in. I was invested in the quest of going to the Underworld to save Irina Sister and using her new Vampire Husband to lead the way. But then the story just halted in Part 2. It was so repetitive.
It was just a lot of walking through darks spaces towards glimmers of light just because her sisters necklace was seemingly pointing that way. I'm sorry but I didn't buy into it and I couldn't force myself to continue.
May 8, 2025
The Thorns Remain was one of my favourite reads of 2025. I was therefore very excited when I discovered that the author was gonna release a new book. I pre-ordered my copy and when I got an e-mail from Magpie to invite me to grab a digital review copy through Netgalley I didn't hesitate. With the release day coming closer it was finally time to dive in last week!
This book doesn't even have a very spectacular plot. The heroine is determined to save her sister's soul from the Underworld and everything that's happening is because of that. And yet, this read is insanely atmospheric. There were so many scenes I read without breathing. So many times I forgot the world around me because I was focussed on the characters and their journey. It felt like I was there with them. it felt like I was on the same journey with them.
That's partly because the author did an amazing job with the mythology and lore of the Underworld. Since I'm a lover of the classic Greek stories I could predict quite a few elements, but there were also quite a few nice and well thought out surprises! The descriptions were also really amazing and vivid. I could feel the pain and agony every time our heroine had to walk through another door. I could feel the fear and the excitement. I even, and this happens rarely, saw some vague images!
I also loved the characters, their dynamic and how they're growing and learning throughout the story. Both characters are quite complicated and layered. Neither of them is good. Neither of them is bad. Mistakes were made, terrible things were done and yet it's so clear they have a heart. It's even clearer that throughout the story they're growing closer and closer. However, this is not the kind of book where a happily ever after for everyone is guaranteed and that made the finale even more emotional!
This book doesn't even have a very spectacular plot. The heroine is determined to save her sister's soul from the Underworld and everything that's happening is because of that. And yet, this read is insanely atmospheric. There were so many scenes I read without breathing. So many times I forgot the world around me because I was focussed on the characters and their journey. It felt like I was there with them. it felt like I was on the same journey with them.
That's partly because the author did an amazing job with the mythology and lore of the Underworld. Since I'm a lover of the classic Greek stories I could predict quite a few elements, but there were also quite a few nice and well thought out surprises! The descriptions were also really amazing and vivid. I could feel the pain and agony every time our heroine had to walk through another door. I could feel the fear and the excitement. I even, and this happens rarely, saw some vague images!
I also loved the characters, their dynamic and how they're growing and learning throughout the story. Both characters are quite complicated and layered. Neither of them is good. Neither of them is bad. Mistakes were made, terrible things were done and yet it's so clear they have a heart. It's even clearer that throughout the story they're growing closer and closer. However, this is not the kind of book where a happily ever after for everyone is guaranteed and that made the finale even more emotional!
April 13, 2025
I loved this book; oh how I loved it. This was such a wonderful, wonderful book; one that I will come back to time and again.
It is such a lovely and moving story, one which blissfully manages to fuse gut-wrenching and heart-wrenching moments with heart-fluttering and feet-kicking ones. A Steep and Savage Path had everything.
I have been so excited for this book since it was announced. While I enjoyed A Thorn Remains, the plot of A Steep and Savage Path just called to me; I was certain that I would love it. And holy moly did I. This book is on an entirely different level; it has blown my expectations completely out of the water. Her writing has left me gobsmacked; it was so emotional and atmospheric, bordering on the macabre.
The descriptions of the underworld were mesmerising; she's created such a broad and vast map of the underworld. You can tell that a lot of work and planning went into creating this underworld; it's not a cut and paste world from other books. There is so much detail in each section of this world; even down to the different types of cobblestones.
For me, it's like a relationship-flipped Orpheus and Eurydice which I found to have worked really well; it's such a creative and interesting concept for a story.
Irina and Stefan are everything; their relationship is beautiful and wonderful. They truly are an enemies-to-lovers romance pairing in every sense of the word. The way their relationship changes and develops is so lovely to read; they really grow to understand each other and see each others flaws in completely different ways to the rest of the world. There's no spice in this one, just a lovely and sweet romance blossoming.
I will not spoil it, but the last forty pages or so had me bawling, and I mean ugly, snotty, struggling to breath crying. I am not a person that will typically actually-have-tears-rolling-down-my-cheeks cry while reading books, but this one gutted me. I was so invested in the story that the real life completely passed me by, and I just cried.
I truly didn't want this story to end; I was hooked right until the end. I was just so invested in the characters and the story.
I highly, highly recommend this one! It is a wonderful romantasy!
It is such a lovely and moving story, one which blissfully manages to fuse gut-wrenching and heart-wrenching moments with heart-fluttering and feet-kicking ones. A Steep and Savage Path had everything.
I have been so excited for this book since it was announced. While I enjoyed A Thorn Remains, the plot of A Steep and Savage Path just called to me; I was certain that I would love it. And holy moly did I. This book is on an entirely different level; it has blown my expectations completely out of the water. Her writing has left me gobsmacked; it was so emotional and atmospheric, bordering on the macabre.
The descriptions of the underworld were mesmerising; she's created such a broad and vast map of the underworld. You can tell that a lot of work and planning went into creating this underworld; it's not a cut and paste world from other books. There is so much detail in each section of this world; even down to the different types of cobblestones.
For me, it's like a relationship-flipped Orpheus and Eurydice which I found to have worked really well; it's such a creative and interesting concept for a story.
Irina and Stefan are everything; their relationship is beautiful and wonderful. They truly are an enemies-to-lovers romance pairing in every sense of the word. The way their relationship changes and develops is so lovely to read; they really grow to understand each other and see each others flaws in completely different ways to the rest of the world. There's no spice in this one, just a lovely and sweet romance blossoming.
I will not spoil it, but the last forty pages or so had me bawling, and I mean ugly, snotty, struggling to breath crying. I am not a person that will typically actually-have-tears-rolling-down-my-cheeks cry while reading books, but this one gutted me. I was so invested in the story that the real life completely passed me by, and I just cried.
I truly didn't want this story to end; I was hooked right until the end. I was just so invested in the characters and the story.
I highly, highly recommend this one! It is a wonderful romantasy!
May 2, 2025
I wasn’t really too sure what to expect when going into this one since there were so many mixed opinions, but I think I actually enjoyed it quite a bit!
I loved the idea of this one immediately. Having a main character who was willing to be married to a dead man all so she could save her sister and the village was so intriguing, lest of all that this dead man was also a vampire that was terrorising everyone! It just seemed like it would be full of twists and adventure, lots of snarky banter and an almost enemies to lovers kind of plot.
That already would have been enough to get me into this one, but throw in the fact that they then travel to the underworld!!! Like come on that is so sick! They travel there to find her sister’s soul, and in return her vampire husband who has been guiding her gets to feed from her whenever he wants.
It was really interesting and quite atmospheric the whole way through, and I really did enjoy the first part of the book where she is agreeing to be married, encounters her murderous husband for the first time before they then strike the bargain and head into the underworld.
Just having everything explained as it was happening kept me in the story and didn’t really have too much of a jarring effect either.
Everything is explained so that if you know nothing about vampires or greek mythology you can still enjoy what is happening which I thought was really nice as it didn’t feel like there was loads of info being dumped on us, it all came up super organically.
The one thing I didn’t really like which probably had the most negative impact on the overall experience was the fact that the whole book was split up into parts but not chapters. It just made the whole experience feel that much longer, it dragged, and I never really knew when to put the book down (since I’m the sort who stops at a new chapter).
Having the book split up into parts was good, because it was obvious when we were then moving into a different act / place, but I just feel like chapters could have still been present too, and it would have made things easier to read.
This book did genuinely have a lot going for it, but it was also a little bit of a hot mess. Maybe it needed to be dragged out into a duology for it to make more sense? So that the author could have explored a little more and made the romance and connections seem a little less rushed? Or maybe the romantic element shouldn’t have been included because she was willing to give up her little sister for this vamp dude after knowing him for less than 5 days… Idk ok.
This could have been AMAZING if it wasn’t for a few things, but it was kinda fun in a chaotic and unbelievable way.
I loved the idea of this one immediately. Having a main character who was willing to be married to a dead man all so she could save her sister and the village was so intriguing, lest of all that this dead man was also a vampire that was terrorising everyone! It just seemed like it would be full of twists and adventure, lots of snarky banter and an almost enemies to lovers kind of plot.
That already would have been enough to get me into this one, but throw in the fact that they then travel to the underworld!!! Like come on that is so sick! They travel there to find her sister’s soul, and in return her vampire husband who has been guiding her gets to feed from her whenever he wants.
It was really interesting and quite atmospheric the whole way through, and I really did enjoy the first part of the book where she is agreeing to be married, encounters her murderous husband for the first time before they then strike the bargain and head into the underworld.
Just having everything explained as it was happening kept me in the story and didn’t really have too much of a jarring effect either.
Everything is explained so that if you know nothing about vampires or greek mythology you can still enjoy what is happening which I thought was really nice as it didn’t feel like there was loads of info being dumped on us, it all came up super organically.
The one thing I didn’t really like which probably had the most negative impact on the overall experience was the fact that the whole book was split up into parts but not chapters. It just made the whole experience feel that much longer, it dragged, and I never really knew when to put the book down (since I’m the sort who stops at a new chapter).
Having the book split up into parts was good, because it was obvious when we were then moving into a different act / place, but I just feel like chapters could have still been present too, and it would have made things easier to read.
This book did genuinely have a lot going for it, but it was also a little bit of a hot mess. Maybe it needed to be dragged out into a duology for it to make more sense? So that the author could have explored a little more and made the romance and connections seem a little less rushed? Or maybe the romantic element shouldn’t have been included because she was willing to give up her little sister for this vamp dude after knowing him for less than 5 days… Idk ok.
This could have been AMAZING if it wasn’t for a few things, but it was kinda fun in a chaotic and unbelievable way.
July 5, 2025
There are elements of A Steep and Savage Path that I enjoyed, such as the set-up that sees Irina being married off to an undead dead man, a seemingly guileless sacrifice with her own secret plans. It's a brilliant start! I also really enjoyed the final part, and thought the ending was a good conclusion to Irina and Stefan's character arcs.
However, it is tricky to maintain interest and momentum in what becomes, despite the setting, a very linear quest journey, and I don't think that the book pulled it off. The early to mid dynamic between Irina and Stefan wasn't up to sustaining my interest alone, and the world-building wasn't coherent enough to keep the tension going for plot-based reasons. For a while in the middle Stefan and Irina are just going from place to place without growing their understanding of their situation or having any reasonable path to success, and I got a bit bored.
Also, I found this version of vampirism a little pointless, and I wished Stefan had just been a revenant or some other creature that doesn't come loaded with as many expectations as vampires do. Stefan didn't embody the usual vampire tropes, not by the monstrous villain route (e.g. Dracula, Nosferatu, Buffy) or the tortured and glamorous anti-hero route (e.g. Anne Rice, Twilight... Buffy again), but he also wasn't anything new and interesting. He was just a slightly tragic recently dead boy! It made the book's blurb of "An immortal vampire. A mortal bride." feel like deadly false advertising, doomed to disappoint anyone with an actual interest in vampire media who reads this book.
I gave this three stars because I am glad I persevered to the conclusion, but it could have been two for quite a while.
However, it is tricky to maintain interest and momentum in what becomes, despite the setting, a very linear quest journey, and I don't think that the book pulled it off. The early to mid dynamic between Irina and Stefan wasn't up to sustaining my interest alone, and the world-building wasn't coherent enough to keep the tension going for plot-based reasons. For a while in the middle Stefan and Irina are just going from place to place without growing their understanding of their situation or having any reasonable path to success, and I got a bit bored.
Also, I found this version of vampirism a little pointless, and I wished Stefan had just been a revenant or some other creature that doesn't come loaded with as many expectations as vampires do. Stefan didn't embody the usual vampire tropes, not by the monstrous villain route (e.g. Dracula, Nosferatu, Buffy) or the tortured and glamorous anti-hero route (e.g. Anne Rice, Twilight... Buffy again), but he also wasn't anything new and interesting. He was just a slightly tragic recently dead boy! It made the book's blurb of "An immortal vampire. A mortal bride." feel like deadly false advertising, doomed to disappoint anyone with an actual interest in vampire media who reads this book.
I gave this three stars because I am glad I persevered to the conclusion, but it could have been two for quite a while.
April 11, 2025
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 & 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬: Enemies To Lovers, marriage out of convenience, Vampire husband x Human bride, Greek mythology influences, journey across the underworld, brilliant banter and yearning, romantasy with an engaging plot, reversed Persephone and Hades
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Steep and Savage Path is JJA Harwood’s upcoming romantasy novel and proof that I do in fact like reading romantasy if it’s well written.
Considering that this novel is about the marriage of convenience between a vampire groom and a human bride, I was not surprised to be met with a Romanian setting when first opening the book. By getting straight into the story, A Steep and Savage Path then continued with combining folk stories of different origins and therefore making it an incredibly colourful read. The novel, in particularly, processed to heavily involve elements of Greek mythology, once we had entered and began our journey in the underworld, which was something I didn’t expect when requesting his book, but was an element I ended up enjoying immensely. Especially, because it provided the story with a red thread and contributed nicely to the plot aspects of exploring the idea and consequences of a living person entering the Underworld.
Furthermore, A Steep and Savage Path provided with reader with a great enemy to lover’s romance, thanks to great character dynamic as well as brilliant banter and teasing. On the one hand, we have Stefan, a vampire with a tragic backstory who expects the worst in everything that happens to him as well as in others and their intentions and tries to deal with that by being either incredibly secluded and mildly violent or by being comedic gold. On the other hand, we have Irina, a human who is willing to make one sacrifice after the other to save her sister, trying her very best to never stray off that goal and especially not because of how attractive said vampire can be in the light of the underworld.
Along with that, A Steep and Savage Path was one of the rare exceptions of a romantasy novel, which I’ve wholeheartedly enjoyed since the actual story and plot didn’t get drowned by the romance. Instead of forcing the romance upon the characters, it grew gradually and with sense. I therefore loved seeing how Irina's and Stefan’s relationship developed and how they both allowed themselves to be vulnerable and even a bit fragile. All of this ultimately made reading the more romance focused scenes, beautifully intense and so full of exquisite yearning. Like, how can you turn a scene about drinking blood into something so incredibly romantic that it had me giggling and kicking my feet?!
Additionally, I love how this book made sure to have some darker scenes in between to balance out the romance and to establish the development of Irina’s and Stefan’s relationship. Having only read and very much loved, JJA Hardwood’s The Thorns Remain, which was a much darker novel than this, I think this balance was precisely why I ended up enjoying this more romance heavy new novel of hers as well.
Overall, A Steep and Savage Path kept what it promised, which is to take you on a journey across the underworld like no other, whilst giving you an exquisite and sizzling enemies to lover’s story. One that will even impress none romantasy readers.
Thank you so much to Harper Reach for sending me this early copy.
P.S.: “I can’t not enter paradise, but a life with you would come close.”
BRB SCREAMING INTO A PILLOW
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Steep and Savage Path is JJA Harwood’s upcoming romantasy novel and proof that I do in fact like reading romantasy if it’s well written.
Considering that this novel is about the marriage of convenience between a vampire groom and a human bride, I was not surprised to be met with a Romanian setting when first opening the book. By getting straight into the story, A Steep and Savage Path then continued with combining folk stories of different origins and therefore making it an incredibly colourful read. The novel, in particularly, processed to heavily involve elements of Greek mythology, once we had entered and began our journey in the underworld, which was something I didn’t expect when requesting his book, but was an element I ended up enjoying immensely. Especially, because it provided the story with a red thread and contributed nicely to the plot aspects of exploring the idea and consequences of a living person entering the Underworld.
Furthermore, A Steep and Savage Path provided with reader with a great enemy to lover’s romance, thanks to great character dynamic as well as brilliant banter and teasing. On the one hand, we have Stefan, a vampire with a tragic backstory who expects the worst in everything that happens to him as well as in others and their intentions and tries to deal with that by being either incredibly secluded and mildly violent or by being comedic gold. On the other hand, we have Irina, a human who is willing to make one sacrifice after the other to save her sister, trying her very best to never stray off that goal and especially not because of how attractive said vampire can be in the light of the underworld.
Along with that, A Steep and Savage Path was one of the rare exceptions of a romantasy novel, which I’ve wholeheartedly enjoyed since the actual story and plot didn’t get drowned by the romance. Instead of forcing the romance upon the characters, it grew gradually and with sense. I therefore loved seeing how Irina's and Stefan’s relationship developed and how they both allowed themselves to be vulnerable and even a bit fragile. All of this ultimately made reading the more romance focused scenes, beautifully intense and so full of exquisite yearning. Like, how can you turn a scene about drinking blood into something so incredibly romantic that it had me giggling and kicking my feet?!
Additionally, I love how this book made sure to have some darker scenes in between to balance out the romance and to establish the development of Irina’s and Stefan’s relationship. Having only read and very much loved, JJA Hardwood’s The Thorns Remain, which was a much darker novel than this, I think this balance was precisely why I ended up enjoying this more romance heavy new novel of hers as well.
Overall, A Steep and Savage Path kept what it promised, which is to take you on a journey across the underworld like no other, whilst giving you an exquisite and sizzling enemies to lover’s story. One that will even impress none romantasy readers.
Thank you so much to Harper Reach for sending me this early copy.
P.S.: “I can’t not enter paradise, but a life with you would come close.”
BRB SCREAMING INTO A PILLOW
May 26, 2025
"Daddy, what did you do in the Romanstasy Wars?"
Despite reading a fair bit of fantasy and the odd bit of romance, I can't say I have read anything that has been directly described as romanstasy before, and after reading this, I am still not convinced it is all that representative of the sub-genre. Because while a lot of the tropes are here (young vampire, tragic backstory, enemies to lovers), it does generally seem to be more interested with playing with its afterworld tropes and let the romance tick along on the side,
Irina is a teenager being set up to become a bride of the dead, a newcomer to the small Transylvanian village which is being plagued by a vampire, she volunteers to marry it and then destroy it. There are open questions about the village, but we know from the start that Irina has an ulterior motive, namely, her sister's soul appears to be in the land of the dead, and she needs passage to find it. And since vampires are both dead and alive, she is willing to make this terrible bargain so he can help her save her sister. Of course when the vampire turns up, and after she has placated him with charms, Stefan turns out to be a pretty honourable chap, and as ever with books with vampires as lead characters, the lore and backstory needs to be softened, and there is still a fair bit of blood letting, albeit willingly, to keep him alive. Of course, as the venture further into the quite Dantean vision of the afterworld, they discover more about each other: Irina is plagued with guilt, and Stefan has a much more tragic backstory.
I enjoyed Harwood's commitment to the vampire lore, and obviously there is instant colour from the Transylvanian setting. But what is interesting here is how Stefan's vampire was created, which gives the tale additional pathos. The romance works, not least because they are already married from the start, but the book understands the kind of bargaining you have to do with any "escaping the land of the dead" narrative, and this has a cleverly bittersweet denouement. It felt more like gothic horror than romance, though it is very clearly a romance, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Despite reading a fair bit of fantasy and the odd bit of romance, I can't say I have read anything that has been directly described as romanstasy before, and after reading this, I am still not convinced it is all that representative of the sub-genre. Because while a lot of the tropes are here (young vampire, tragic backstory, enemies to lovers), it does generally seem to be more interested with playing with its afterworld tropes and let the romance tick along on the side,
Irina is a teenager being set up to become a bride of the dead, a newcomer to the small Transylvanian village which is being plagued by a vampire, she volunteers to marry it and then destroy it. There are open questions about the village, but we know from the start that Irina has an ulterior motive, namely, her sister's soul appears to be in the land of the dead, and she needs passage to find it. And since vampires are both dead and alive, she is willing to make this terrible bargain so he can help her save her sister. Of course when the vampire turns up, and after she has placated him with charms, Stefan turns out to be a pretty honourable chap, and as ever with books with vampires as lead characters, the lore and backstory needs to be softened, and there is still a fair bit of blood letting, albeit willingly, to keep him alive. Of course, as the venture further into the quite Dantean vision of the afterworld, they discover more about each other: Irina is plagued with guilt, and Stefan has a much more tragic backstory.
I enjoyed Harwood's commitment to the vampire lore, and obviously there is instant colour from the Transylvanian setting. But what is interesting here is how Stefan's vampire was created, which gives the tale additional pathos. The romance works, not least because they are already married from the start, but the book understands the kind of bargaining you have to do with any "escaping the land of the dead" narrative, and this has a cleverly bittersweet denouement. It felt more like gothic horror than romance, though it is very clearly a romance, and I enjoyed it a lot.
May 20, 2025
Rating: ♾️⭐️
What a book! This is my first book from JJA Harwood and let me tell you, it completely captivated me from the very beginning. A Steep and Savage Path is probably the most unique vampire book I’ve had the pleasure of reading and I though it was woven so interestingly with this whole living, death and everything in between dynamic. I adored the journey to the underworld and the familiarity it brought from Greek mythology. I had all sort of emotions during this book, including crying and feeling like my heart was being crushed and all the sweet moments that made my heart fill so full…! It was a full on journey all right.
The writing is enchanting, the balance between storytelling and character complexities is fantastic and this book brings you on a full on journey! I adore Irina and Stefan, they were both such unique, organic and relatable characters that not only grew throughout the story, as you will want to cheery them on and see them reaching their happy ending! I am, however, guilty of loving strong FMC that wait for no one to solve their problems and good, gentle, misunderstood MMC and this author completely delivered!
“ ‘It’s nice,’ he mumbled. ‘It’s always nice, you always look… you’re just - your hair is… good’
Irina blushed. That definitely was a compliment. If it had come from a stranger, she would have batted it away or changed the subject; compliments had only ever led to awkwardness, in her experience. but, coming out of his mouth, compliments sounded different. They sounded like something she might want to listen to.”
These two must be protected AT ALL COSTS! This being said, pick up this book: you will not regret it! And I am super excited to read more of this author - I do have Thorns Remain on its way!
What a book! This is my first book from JJA Harwood and let me tell you, it completely captivated me from the very beginning. A Steep and Savage Path is probably the most unique vampire book I’ve had the pleasure of reading and I though it was woven so interestingly with this whole living, death and everything in between dynamic. I adored the journey to the underworld and the familiarity it brought from Greek mythology. I had all sort of emotions during this book, including crying and feeling like my heart was being crushed and all the sweet moments that made my heart fill so full…! It was a full on journey all right.
The writing is enchanting, the balance between storytelling and character complexities is fantastic and this book brings you on a full on journey! I adore Irina and Stefan, they were both such unique, organic and relatable characters that not only grew throughout the story, as you will want to cheery them on and see them reaching their happy ending! I am, however, guilty of loving strong FMC that wait for no one to solve their problems and good, gentle, misunderstood MMC and this author completely delivered!
“ ‘It’s nice,’ he mumbled. ‘It’s always nice, you always look… you’re just - your hair is… good’
Irina blushed. That definitely was a compliment. If it had come from a stranger, she would have batted it away or changed the subject; compliments had only ever led to awkwardness, in her experience. but, coming out of his mouth, compliments sounded different. They sounded like something she might want to listen to.”
These two must be protected AT ALL COSTS! This being said, pick up this book: you will not regret it! And I am super excited to read more of this author - I do have Thorns Remain on its way!
August 2, 2025
I’m not very fond of stories that strayed too much into the topic of stepping over the veil of death—necromancy intrigued me, but venturing into the ‘land of the dead’, having ‘Death’ as a character and portraying anything related to the afterlife was not something I liked in fiction; it felt too taboo. This book was no different, yet, I loved the main characters, Irina and Stefan, too much so that I overlooked my disdain over the overall topic of going to the land of the dead.
Irina needed a guide to the land of the dead to find her sister’s lost soul. What better way than getting herself married to a dead man? And so she did. She made a deal with her newly wedded husband to become her guide, in exchange of drinking her blood.
Oh I love how feisty and headstrong Irina’s character was. Stefan surely had the upper hand with his strength, but her brilliance with her words and actions made him have no choice but to begrudgingly obey her, and I love this dynamic so much (ngl when she commanded him to stay on his knees while being ravenous of her blood? SEXY AF) ❤️🔥 Their banter was so fun, I liked that they both have ways to annoy each other to no ends ✨
I have to admit that if I didn’t enjoy these two characters’ interactions so much, I would have found this story to be slightly bland. Nothing piqued my interests much about the land of the dead, and it got tiring at some point. However, their slowly blooming feelings towards each other throughout the arguments and arduous journey, I cherished those parts.
There were actually not much backstory about Irina apart from her focus on getting back her sister’s soul, but Stefan’s backstory was truly heartbreaking. I was sad reading through his painful past, and then I got more sad when Irina and Stefan were caught by Death. It was actually surprising that the story ended on a rather light tone; honestly after the tears I shed, I thought it will only end with a painful heartbreak. I really liked how the story concluded 🤍
Many thanks to Times Reads for sending me this book!
Irina needed a guide to the land of the dead to find her sister’s lost soul. What better way than getting herself married to a dead man? And so she did. She made a deal with her newly wedded husband to become her guide, in exchange of drinking her blood.
Oh I love how feisty and headstrong Irina’s character was. Stefan surely had the upper hand with his strength, but her brilliance with her words and actions made him have no choice but to begrudgingly obey her, and I love this dynamic so much (ngl when she commanded him to stay on his knees while being ravenous of her blood? SEXY AF) ❤️🔥 Their banter was so fun, I liked that they both have ways to annoy each other to no ends ✨
I have to admit that if I didn’t enjoy these two characters’ interactions so much, I would have found this story to be slightly bland. Nothing piqued my interests much about the land of the dead, and it got tiring at some point. However, their slowly blooming feelings towards each other throughout the arguments and arduous journey, I cherished those parts.
There were actually not much backstory about Irina apart from her focus on getting back her sister’s soul, but Stefan’s backstory was truly heartbreaking. I was sad reading through his painful past, and then I got more sad when Irina and Stefan were caught by Death. It was actually surprising that the story ended on a rather light tone; honestly after the tears I shed, I thought it will only end with a painful heartbreak. I really liked how the story concluded 🤍
Many thanks to Times Reads for sending me this book!
October 24, 2025
If gothic romance and folklore had a fever dream together, A Steep and Savage Path would be the result and I mean that as the highest compliment. From the very first page, I was swept into a Transylvanian nightmare that somehow managed to be both achingly romantic and utterly terrifying.
Irina is the kind of heroine I can’t help rooting for grieving, desperate, and brave in ways that feel bone-deep. She willingly marries a vampire, not for glory or martyrdom, but for the chance to save her sister’s soul. That premise alone hooked me. But then came Stefan the immortal groom, brooding and bound by a curse, and suddenly I was deeply invested in a love story that literally defies death.
Their uneasy alliance Irina trading her blood for passage into the land of the dead turns into something so much more tender and haunting than I expected. Harwood’s worldbuilding is pure gothic magic: forests that whisper, rivers that bleed, and skies that seem to breathe. Every step Irina and Stefan take through the afterlife feels like walking through a fevered fairytale, equal parts nightmare and devotion.
And the romance? It’s slow-burn perfection. You can practically feel the shift from fear to trust to something dangerously close to love. The tension between them is sharp enough to draw blood and often does.
By the end, my heart hurt in the best way. It’s a love story carved out of grief and darkness, the kind that asks what you’d be willing to sacrifice for someone you love and what it really means to be alive.
Irina is the kind of heroine I can’t help rooting for grieving, desperate, and brave in ways that feel bone-deep. She willingly marries a vampire, not for glory or martyrdom, but for the chance to save her sister’s soul. That premise alone hooked me. But then came Stefan the immortal groom, brooding and bound by a curse, and suddenly I was deeply invested in a love story that literally defies death.
Their uneasy alliance Irina trading her blood for passage into the land of the dead turns into something so much more tender and haunting than I expected. Harwood’s worldbuilding is pure gothic magic: forests that whisper, rivers that bleed, and skies that seem to breathe. Every step Irina and Stefan take through the afterlife feels like walking through a fevered fairytale, equal parts nightmare and devotion.
And the romance? It’s slow-burn perfection. You can practically feel the shift from fear to trust to something dangerously close to love. The tension between them is sharp enough to draw blood and often does.
By the end, my heart hurt in the best way. It’s a love story carved out of grief and darkness, the kind that asks what you’d be willing to sacrifice for someone you love and what it really means to be alive.
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