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Horns of Revenge
Enveloped within the abyss of her own thoughts and haunted by a dreadful past, Diana Goldstein finds the fortitude to exact vengeance upon those who had long shattered her very identity. From the jagged remnants of her history, she emerges transformed, embracing her role as the architect of her own villainous destiny.
Yet, as the threads of her past intertwine with her unfolding narrative, Diana’s trajectory takes an unexpected turn. A chance encounter in the realm of dreams introduces her to an enigmatic stranger whose presence blurs the lines between two worlds, urging her to navigate the precarious balance between them.
As her journey unfolds, Diana is faced with pivotal questions: What lies ahead for her, and who will emerge unscathed when the dust finally settles?
THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT. NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS.
INCLUDES A TRIGGER WARNING MESSAGE ON THE FIRST PAGE.
THIS BOOK IS A PART OF THE DUOLOGY "HORNS OF REVENGE" AND "HORNS OF LOVE".
Yet, as the threads of her past intertwine with her unfolding narrative, Diana’s trajectory takes an unexpected turn. A chance encounter in the realm of dreams introduces her to an enigmatic stranger whose presence blurs the lines between two worlds, urging her to navigate the precarious balance between them.
As her journey unfolds, Diana is faced with pivotal questions: What lies ahead for her, and who will emerge unscathed when the dust finally settles?
THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT. NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS.
INCLUDES A TRIGGER WARNING MESSAGE ON THE FIRST PAGE.
THIS BOOK IS A PART OF THE DUOLOGY "HORNS OF REVENGE" AND "HORNS OF LOVE".
603 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2023
3 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Dari A. Malaunt
11 books98 followersDari A. Malaunt weaves fantasy romance with a dark twist, exploring the complex struggles of love, power, and redemption in her characters' journeys. She’s the mind behind "Horns Unveiled" romantasy duology, "Unrequited Love" dark romance trilogy, "Divine Destinies" dark romantasy series and "Worshipped by Darkness" paranormal romance series. When she's not writing, you can find her balancing life as a student and office worker, often dreaming of the worlds she creates, where magic and passion collide.
To find out more, follow @dariamalaunt on Instagram and @dariamalauntwrites on TikTok.
To find out more, follow @dariamalaunt on Instagram and @dariamalauntwrites on TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 31, 2024
When we all fall asleep where do we go?
This was an intriguing and original read, unlike anything I have ever read before.
The book focuses on the idea of dreams and alternate realities. What is real? What is a dream? What’s the difference?
The story focuses on a girl named Diana, who lives a miserable existence. Dismissed by her family and bullied by her peers, Diana seeks solace in her dreams, where she alternately wishes to be loved, or to literally kill her tormentors. When she realises the killings she did were real and not a dream (or were they?), she longs to escape and somehow wakes up in a completely different reality, one where she is popular, where she is a healer rather than a killer, and where her wish to be loved is finally granted. The rest of the story focuses on Diana trying to reconcile these two parts of her psyche and wanting to stay in the “dream”, to make this her reality. But is this even possible?
The tone of the book is very dreamlike, with the first world dark and nightmarish, the second light and airy, and the contrast very well done.
The book is not perfect, with some parts seeming to lag a little, but it always picks up, with the last part focusing on lucid dreaming and Diana taking control of both the “good” and “evil” parts of herself.
The ending is satisfying and also leaves the door open for a sequel.
I found this book to be like a literary version of a Picasso painting, with every part being surreal and a little twisted, but overall compelling. It is the type of book that I see people discussing late at night in coffee shops, trying to find the hidden meanings in it. 4.5 stars.
This was an intriguing and original read, unlike anything I have ever read before.
The book focuses on the idea of dreams and alternate realities. What is real? What is a dream? What’s the difference?
The story focuses on a girl named Diana, who lives a miserable existence. Dismissed by her family and bullied by her peers, Diana seeks solace in her dreams, where she alternately wishes to be loved, or to literally kill her tormentors. When she realises the killings she did were real and not a dream (or were they?), she longs to escape and somehow wakes up in a completely different reality, one where she is popular, where she is a healer rather than a killer, and where her wish to be loved is finally granted. The rest of the story focuses on Diana trying to reconcile these two parts of her psyche and wanting to stay in the “dream”, to make this her reality. But is this even possible?
The tone of the book is very dreamlike, with the first world dark and nightmarish, the second light and airy, and the contrast very well done.
The book is not perfect, with some parts seeming to lag a little, but it always picks up, with the last part focusing on lucid dreaming and Diana taking control of both the “good” and “evil” parts of herself.
The ending is satisfying and also leaves the door open for a sequel.
I found this book to be like a literary version of a Picasso painting, with every part being surreal and a little twisted, but overall compelling. It is the type of book that I see people discussing late at night in coffee shops, trying to find the hidden meanings in it. 4.5 stars.
October 19, 2023
The first few chapters of the books is the flashbacks on the life of Diana, our FMC. It tells her story on how she got bullied, abused, and rejected by the people she loves and on how she struggle with her trauma and mental issues. A perfect recipe for a villain origin story. It's no surprise that she decided to get back to those people by unaliving them.
Then her consciousness took her to a whole different world. Where she met new found friends (people that she deserve) and her beloved Amelius.
She is living her best life in there when she got pulled back onto her reality and that she realizes that it's only a dream. And with continously researching, she found a way to go back to the other world, only to be pulled back in her awful reality.
This time she is having a hard time getting back to Ami's world but when she successfully did, they ask for help to a Dragoness to let her stay in Ami's world, and she successfully did. But it did end on a cliffhanger.
All in all, I love the story, there are some confusion on the first few chapters but as I later progress in the book it became more and more clearer. There are a lot of spicy scenes too 🤭. Well I think we can't help it, our FMC love reading those kind of books too. 🤣🤣🤣. But it also deals with the effect of rejection and bullying to one's mind and how even in your darkest someone will be willing to accept you.
And I learned an interesting lesson from Beatrice on how to make friends. She said "Just read a spicy book and then you will find someone who will definitely join your reading as well." 😅😅😅
Then her consciousness took her to a whole different world. Where she met new found friends (people that she deserve) and her beloved Amelius.
She is living her best life in there when she got pulled back onto her reality and that she realizes that it's only a dream. And with continously researching, she found a way to go back to the other world, only to be pulled back in her awful reality.
This time she is having a hard time getting back to Ami's world but when she successfully did, they ask for help to a Dragoness to let her stay in Ami's world, and she successfully did. But it did end on a cliffhanger.
All in all, I love the story, there are some confusion on the first few chapters but as I later progress in the book it became more and more clearer. There are a lot of spicy scenes too 🤭. Well I think we can't help it, our FMC love reading those kind of books too. 🤣🤣🤣. But it also deals with the effect of rejection and bullying to one's mind and how even in your darkest someone will be willing to accept you.
And I learned an interesting lesson from Beatrice on how to make friends. She said "Just read a spicy book and then you will find someone who will definitely join your reading as well." 😅😅😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2023
Hello everyone!
I wanted to share my thoughts on this book now that I've finished reading it. First and foremost, I found it to be incredibly well-written and easy to follow. The author's storytelling style resonated with me, and I was deeply moved by the events in the first part of the book. I must admit, there were moments when I found myself shedding a tear or two while reading. The author has a remarkable ability to convey the emotions of the characters, which made their journeys all the more engaging.
The revenge scenes in the story were nothing short of thrilling and took unexpected twists that had me on the edge of my seat. But what really blew me away was the second part of the book—a true plot twist that had me completely hooked. I couldn't put the book down; I was eager to uncover more about the captivating fantasy worlds, the characters, and their intricate love relationships. In fact, I became so engrossed in the story that I sacrificed some sleep just to keep reading!
In my opinion, this book deserves a solid 10 out of 10 rating. It's a well-deserved score for a book that managed to captivate me from start to finish.
I'm eagerly anticipating another book by this author, Dari, and I wish them the best of luck with their future writing endeavors. I can't wait to dive into their next creation!
Thank you for this wonderful reading experience!
I wanted to share my thoughts on this book now that I've finished reading it. First and foremost, I found it to be incredibly well-written and easy to follow. The author's storytelling style resonated with me, and I was deeply moved by the events in the first part of the book. I must admit, there were moments when I found myself shedding a tear or two while reading. The author has a remarkable ability to convey the emotions of the characters, which made their journeys all the more engaging.
The revenge scenes in the story were nothing short of thrilling and took unexpected twists that had me on the edge of my seat. But what really blew me away was the second part of the book—a true plot twist that had me completely hooked. I couldn't put the book down; I was eager to uncover more about the captivating fantasy worlds, the characters, and their intricate love relationships. In fact, I became so engrossed in the story that I sacrificed some sleep just to keep reading!
In my opinion, this book deserves a solid 10 out of 10 rating. It's a well-deserved score for a book that managed to captivate me from start to finish.
I'm eagerly anticipating another book by this author, Dari, and I wish them the best of luck with their future writing endeavors. I can't wait to dive into their next creation!
Thank you for this wonderful reading experience!
April 19, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ honestly this book had me feeling all the ups and downs right along with the FMC. The book is in her PoV mostly we do get a Male POV also later on in the book. I loved the revenge to it and then the part two of the book had me in a tight grip to keep reading. I loved that there was a little spice that felt perfect fit for the book. And with the cliffhanger end I am now dying to get book Two and read it so I can find out the rest. This was an awesome book I would recommend to read, but please check warnings first.
June 18, 2024
I absolutely loved the book, I was amazed by how I really felt in touch with Diana and her tales of being bullied in her youth, how she has brought her strength up to be a strong woman. I loved the ideas of shifting into a fantasy realm, even in a dystopian-like era Diana was in. Her revenge tales and in-depth break in reality of each character and her troubles to get back to the love of her life. Reading it was a rollercoaster of emotions bringing me confusion, heartbreak, adventure, and edge of my seat romance with Diana and Amelius <3
June 3, 2024
oh my god I devoured this book. It was so good. Worth the read!
June 15, 2025
A girl bullied her entire life by not only the kids in her school but her parents and worst of all herself.
You read through Diana's story learning all the terrible things that continually happened to her making her what she is in the present, an assassin.
As she begins her revenge she is soon transported into a whole other world, a world where she has friends and most importantly finds a boy that she not only falls in love with but he falls for also.
Soon as she is awoken back in the other world she believes its a dream, but it all felt real. She can feel his touch, can taste his lips. She figures out how to get back into this other reality and they fight learning how to keep her there away from her other hell.
This book leaves you wondering how much worse can things get. Gives you some relief only to break your heart once more. Then leaves you with a cliffhanger wanting to jump into the next book!
You read through Diana's story learning all the terrible things that continually happened to her making her what she is in the present, an assassin.
As she begins her revenge she is soon transported into a whole other world, a world where she has friends and most importantly finds a boy that she not only falls in love with but he falls for also.
Soon as she is awoken back in the other world she believes its a dream, but it all felt real. She can feel his touch, can taste his lips. She figures out how to get back into this other reality and they fight learning how to keep her there away from her other hell.
This book leaves you wondering how much worse can things get. Gives you some relief only to break your heart once more. Then leaves you with a cliffhanger wanting to jump into the next book!
June 8, 2025
Plot: 3/5
Horns of Revenge?
More like
"Diana Wears Black and Has Murder Fantasies: The Novel" or "Diana: the Human Tumblr Post"
Okay, credit where it’s due: the premise slaps.
Vengeful protagonist? Check
Mystery powers? Check
Enemies to lovers with horned fae men who smirk too much? Check
But here's the problem: there are three plots fighting for dominance like it’s the finale of America’s Next Top Trope.
Revenge? Fire.
Romance? Chaotic.
Fantasy? Wait, where did it go? Oh right, buried under Diana’s constant internal monologues about the color black and how “nothing matters anymore because I'm so broken and edgy.”
This is like ordering a spicy fantasy burrito and getting mostly angst with a side of undercooked worldbuilding.
Let’s not forget the powers.
The fantasy elements barely get a look-in, like they were invited to the party but decided to stay in the bathroom.
Diana’s powers could have been cool, but nope. She uses them mostly to brood harder or make enemies explode dramatically.
Character depth: 2/5
Meet Diana. A girl who thinks wearing black is a personality trait, and brooding is a lifestyle.
If angst were currency, she’d be a billionaire. But sadly, her emotional bank account is just a void.
Diana is the kind of girl who:
- Writes “I hate humanity” in her diary with a feather quill,
- Stares into mirrors whispering “I am the storm,”
- And wears so much black the void personally sues her for copyright infringement. Her wardrobe reads like a goth convention sponsored by the color black. The author mentions black so much, I started wondering if Diana was allergic to color. It’s like she’s trying to communicate with the void itself, but all the void hears is, “Girl, loosen up. Try a pastel once in a while.”
Diana is less “dark queen” and more girl who quotes Nietzsche on her Instagram story at 2 a.m. She spends half the book reminding us she’s “not like other girls,” which is just code for: I peaked at 14, and it wasn’t pretty.
Seriously, Diana’s idea of character development is swapping one melodramatic trauma monologue for another. “I’m broken. I’m evil. I’m the villain.” Says the girl who cries over a breakup and acts like she’s auditioning for a Lifetime movie about serial killers.
We get it. She’s ✨not like other girls✨
But like can she chill for five minutes and wear literally any color that isn’t described as “darker than her soul”?
The obsession with black borders on parody. Every outfit description reads like a funeral fashion blog written by a haunted Victorian poet.
Her personality is “trauma and black clothing.” I've met Hot Topic mannequins with more character.
Also, her reason for murder?
“He shattered my heart into a million pieces.”
Okay... and? Did he cheat? Betray her?
Nope. He rejected her feelings. That’s it.
Girl, that’s not a murder plot, that’s a sad Tumblr post.
“He rejected me, so I stabbed him.”
What is this?
An overdramatic high school diary?
A dark fantasy revenge novel?
More like Diana’s Emotional Breakdown: The Novel.
If you need a reason to kill someone, maybe consider actual villainy, not “he didn’t like me back.”
Diana’s got all the maturity of a soap opera extra with a grudge and a knife collection.
Her emotional range is from “I hate everyone” to “Why won’t anyone love me?” Repeat for 400 pages. If this was a Spotify playlist, it would be called “Sadness in Minor Key ft. Endless Eye-Rolling.”
TL;DR on Diana
The girl who thinks “dark and mysterious” means “dramatic monologue and excessive swearing.”
Killing people because of heartbreak is less “revenge fantasy” and more “emo meltdown with weapons.”
The human embodiment of “black clothes don’t fix your personality.”
A walking billboard for why you should maybe see a therapist instead of becoming a revenge queen.
Character development: 4/5
Here’s where I’ll give Diana some flowers (black roses, obviously).
She goes from soft-spoken pushover to bloodthirsty shadow queen real fast. And honestly? We love a revenge arc with emotional carnage.
The toll of her actions is actually shown well — the deaths, the guilt, the cracks beneath her “I feel nothing” exterior.
But by Horns of Love, the development plateaus. She just broods more creatively.
Pacing: 1/5
This book needs therapy, but also a serious editor.
The pacing is all over the damn place.
The first 10 chapters? Slower than molasses in a blizzard. I almost developed arthritis scrolling.
Then suddenly:
BOOM! Betrayal.
BOOM! Magic.
BOOM! “I want to stab him but also kiss him against a tree.”
The flashbacks? Dumped like exposition soup on our heads instead of sprinkled in for effect. It’s giving, “I didn’t know how to tell you this naturally, so here’s my entire backstory while I cry in a forest.” Felt like someone paused the show every 5 minutes to make you read a sad diary entry. It also feels like a toddler throwing toys: loud, overwhelming, and mostly unnecessary.
Every flashback is a lecture on how tortured she is, but somehow it never feels real, just forced. You want to feel her pain, but instead, you feel like she’s just reading off a Pinterest board of “How to Be Edgy.”
Pro tip: maybe reveal some of that trauma in dialogue, not in 3-page inner monologues that end with her whispering, “I am the curse.”
Originality: 2/5
Revenge fantasy? Not new.
Angsty hot fae man with emotional damage? Been there.
Magic girl with a vendetta and secret powers she doesn’t understand? Lived through Throne of Glass, thank you.
But the combination does work. The focus on female rage and power is genuinely refreshing, when it’s not buried under emo monologuing and gratuitous “I’m such a villain uwu” lines. (like in this book)
Writing: 2/5
Ever heard of a beta reader? Or at least a grammar checker? Well this book clearly hasn't.
There’s potential here. For real.
There are some poetic moments that hit, especially during Diana’s quiet reflections or her self-loathing spirals. And when the prose leans into rage, it sings.
BUT. Let’s talk about the repeated words:
- “Spat” is used so much I started imagining everyone literally spitting on each other.
- “Nevertheless” sounds cool. Once. Not fifty times.
- “Fucking” gets tossed around like emotional punctuation. Ever heard of “damn,” “hell,” “shit,” or even a tasteful “bastard”? Vary it up queen.
Also:
- Paragraphs were THICC. Like, unnecessarily dense.
- Dialogue sometimes felt like a soap opera script written during a blackout.
- Some grammar issues were rough enough to derail the mood entirely.
Personal thoughts:
I almost DNF’d it. Several times.
Diana being called a villain every other page felt forced. Like, literally the author: “She’s a villain. A villain. She’s evil. She’s bad.”
Me: THEN SHOW IT. STOP ANNOUNCING IT LIKE A WWE INTRO.
Skipping every spicy scene didn’t ruin the plot, because let’s be honest, the plot doesn’t really live there.
I used the “1-10-2-11” reading order hack to help me emotionally survive act one.
Richie didn’t deserve that fate. A rejection is not a death sentence. You need therapy girl, not a kill count.
You had one job: explore the fantasy side. Instead, we got ✨Trauma Simulator 3000✨.
This book feels like it wants to be dark, edgy, empowering revenge fantasy, but instead ends up as:
- A Wattpad story that took itself too seriously.
- A TED Talk on why you shouldn’t give theater kids access to knives.
- A cautionary tale in the form of eyeliner, overused swears, and misplaced flashbacks.
Would I recommend it?
Only if you want to emotionally spiral and question your taste in literature.
Final rating: 2/5
Horns of Revenge?
More like
"Diana Wears Black and Has Murder Fantasies: The Novel" or "Diana: the Human Tumblr Post"
Okay, credit where it’s due: the premise slaps.
Vengeful protagonist? Check
Mystery powers? Check
Enemies to lovers with horned fae men who smirk too much? Check
But here's the problem: there are three plots fighting for dominance like it’s the finale of America’s Next Top Trope.
Revenge? Fire.
Romance? Chaotic.
Fantasy? Wait, where did it go? Oh right, buried under Diana’s constant internal monologues about the color black and how “nothing matters anymore because I'm so broken and edgy.”
This is like ordering a spicy fantasy burrito and getting mostly angst with a side of undercooked worldbuilding.
Let’s not forget the powers.
The fantasy elements barely get a look-in, like they were invited to the party but decided to stay in the bathroom.
Diana’s powers could have been cool, but nope. She uses them mostly to brood harder or make enemies explode dramatically.
Character depth: 2/5
Meet Diana. A girl who thinks wearing black is a personality trait, and brooding is a lifestyle.
If angst were currency, she’d be a billionaire. But sadly, her emotional bank account is just a void.
Diana is the kind of girl who:
- Writes “I hate humanity” in her diary with a feather quill,
- Stares into mirrors whispering “I am the storm,”
- And wears so much black the void personally sues her for copyright infringement. Her wardrobe reads like a goth convention sponsored by the color black. The author mentions black so much, I started wondering if Diana was allergic to color. It’s like she’s trying to communicate with the void itself, but all the void hears is, “Girl, loosen up. Try a pastel once in a while.”
Diana is less “dark queen” and more girl who quotes Nietzsche on her Instagram story at 2 a.m. She spends half the book reminding us she’s “not like other girls,” which is just code for: I peaked at 14, and it wasn’t pretty.
Seriously, Diana’s idea of character development is swapping one melodramatic trauma monologue for another. “I’m broken. I’m evil. I’m the villain.” Says the girl who cries over a breakup and acts like she’s auditioning for a Lifetime movie about serial killers.
We get it. She’s ✨not like other girls✨
But like can she chill for five minutes and wear literally any color that isn’t described as “darker than her soul”?
The obsession with black borders on parody. Every outfit description reads like a funeral fashion blog written by a haunted Victorian poet.
Her personality is “trauma and black clothing.” I've met Hot Topic mannequins with more character.
Also, her reason for murder?
“He shattered my heart into a million pieces.”
Okay... and? Did he cheat? Betray her?
Nope. He rejected her feelings. That’s it.
Girl, that’s not a murder plot, that’s a sad Tumblr post.
“He rejected me, so I stabbed him.”
What is this?
An overdramatic high school diary?
A dark fantasy revenge novel?
More like Diana’s Emotional Breakdown: The Novel.
If you need a reason to kill someone, maybe consider actual villainy, not “he didn’t like me back.”
Diana’s got all the maturity of a soap opera extra with a grudge and a knife collection.
Her emotional range is from “I hate everyone” to “Why won’t anyone love me?” Repeat for 400 pages. If this was a Spotify playlist, it would be called “Sadness in Minor Key ft. Endless Eye-Rolling.”
TL;DR on Diana
The girl who thinks “dark and mysterious” means “dramatic monologue and excessive swearing.”
Killing people because of heartbreak is less “revenge fantasy” and more “emo meltdown with weapons.”
The human embodiment of “black clothes don’t fix your personality.”
A walking billboard for why you should maybe see a therapist instead of becoming a revenge queen.
Character development: 4/5
Here’s where I’ll give Diana some flowers (black roses, obviously).
She goes from soft-spoken pushover to bloodthirsty shadow queen real fast. And honestly? We love a revenge arc with emotional carnage.
The toll of her actions is actually shown well — the deaths, the guilt, the cracks beneath her “I feel nothing” exterior.
But by Horns of Love, the development plateaus. She just broods more creatively.
Pacing: 1/5
This book needs therapy, but also a serious editor.
The pacing is all over the damn place.
The first 10 chapters? Slower than molasses in a blizzard. I almost developed arthritis scrolling.
Then suddenly:
BOOM! Betrayal.
BOOM! Magic.
BOOM! “I want to stab him but also kiss him against a tree.”
The flashbacks? Dumped like exposition soup on our heads instead of sprinkled in for effect. It’s giving, “I didn’t know how to tell you this naturally, so here’s my entire backstory while I cry in a forest.” Felt like someone paused the show every 5 minutes to make you read a sad diary entry. It also feels like a toddler throwing toys: loud, overwhelming, and mostly unnecessary.
Every flashback is a lecture on how tortured she is, but somehow it never feels real, just forced. You want to feel her pain, but instead, you feel like she’s just reading off a Pinterest board of “How to Be Edgy.”
Pro tip: maybe reveal some of that trauma in dialogue, not in 3-page inner monologues that end with her whispering, “I am the curse.”
Originality: 2/5
Revenge fantasy? Not new.
Angsty hot fae man with emotional damage? Been there.
Magic girl with a vendetta and secret powers she doesn’t understand? Lived through Throne of Glass, thank you.
But the combination does work. The focus on female rage and power is genuinely refreshing, when it’s not buried under emo monologuing and gratuitous “I’m such a villain uwu” lines. (like in this book)
Writing: 2/5
Ever heard of a beta reader? Or at least a grammar checker? Well this book clearly hasn't.
There’s potential here. For real.
There are some poetic moments that hit, especially during Diana’s quiet reflections or her self-loathing spirals. And when the prose leans into rage, it sings.
BUT. Let’s talk about the repeated words:
- “Spat” is used so much I started imagining everyone literally spitting on each other.
- “Nevertheless” sounds cool. Once. Not fifty times.
- “Fucking” gets tossed around like emotional punctuation. Ever heard of “damn,” “hell,” “shit,” or even a tasteful “bastard”? Vary it up queen.
Also:
- Paragraphs were THICC. Like, unnecessarily dense.
- Dialogue sometimes felt like a soap opera script written during a blackout.
- Some grammar issues were rough enough to derail the mood entirely.
Personal thoughts:
I almost DNF’d it. Several times.
Diana being called a villain every other page felt forced. Like, literally the author: “She’s a villain. A villain. She’s evil. She’s bad.”
Me: THEN SHOW IT. STOP ANNOUNCING IT LIKE A WWE INTRO.
Skipping every spicy scene didn’t ruin the plot, because let’s be honest, the plot doesn’t really live there.
I used the “1-10-2-11” reading order hack to help me emotionally survive act one.
Richie didn’t deserve that fate. A rejection is not a death sentence. You need therapy girl, not a kill count.
You had one job: explore the fantasy side. Instead, we got ✨Trauma Simulator 3000✨.
This book feels like it wants to be dark, edgy, empowering revenge fantasy, but instead ends up as:
- A Wattpad story that took itself too seriously.
- A TED Talk on why you shouldn’t give theater kids access to knives.
- A cautionary tale in the form of eyeliner, overused swears, and misplaced flashbacks.
Would I recommend it?
Only if you want to emotionally spiral and question your taste in literature.
Final rating: 2/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2025
😈🗡️💜 ARC Review 💜🗡️😈
First of all. This book has the VILLAIN as the main character which is already dope! Okay, now to the review :)
I had the privilege of receiving this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As someone who actively supports Dari as the author: both as an assistant and a friend, I’ve been reading all her books to truly understand her creative vision. And this book? I devoured it in just a couple of days!
Part 1 immerses us in the heroine’s "real" world, where she endures the trauma of bullying. Every moment of cruelty from those around her, every heartbreaking loss she experiences it all tugged at my soul. I truly cried at some points because the pain felt so raw and real.
BUT!!
From chapter 10 onward, everything changes! My girl grows up, takes control, and finally sets out for revenge and let me tell you, I was grinning like a villain. It was so satisfying watching her get the justice she deserved, even if revenge didn’t bring her the relief she was searching for. This part of the book raises deep philosophical questions like - does revenge truly heal, or is it just an illusion? That reflection hit hard.
Part 2 transports us to an entirely different experience. With her magical ability, the heroine shifts between realities, escaping to a dream, like fantasy world, that's so beautiful, so seemingly perfect, so pretty and shining. WOW! I was mesmerized. The way the book plays with these alternate realities, the back-and-forth between escape and harsh reality, is nothing short of breathtaking.
And then, Diana’s love story after everything she’s endured, I so desperately wanted her to find happiness. And she does, in the form of a gorgeous blond university student. Their relationship? Sweet, passionate, and sizzling with chemistry (if you know what I mean 😉). IYKYK coz the spice was DELIVERED! Blindfolds are kind of my favorites now, teheee.
Overall, this book hits deep with emotions, philosophy, fantasy, and romance all woven together masterfully. It’s a 10 out of 10, no doubt!
A huge thank you, dear Dari, for allowing me to read this as an ARC, it was truly an honor!
First of all. This book has the VILLAIN as the main character which is already dope! Okay, now to the review :)
I had the privilege of receiving this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As someone who actively supports Dari as the author: both as an assistant and a friend, I’ve been reading all her books to truly understand her creative vision. And this book? I devoured it in just a couple of days!
Part 1 immerses us in the heroine’s "real" world, where she endures the trauma of bullying. Every moment of cruelty from those around her, every heartbreaking loss she experiences it all tugged at my soul. I truly cried at some points because the pain felt so raw and real.
BUT!!
From chapter 10 onward, everything changes! My girl grows up, takes control, and finally sets out for revenge and let me tell you, I was grinning like a villain. It was so satisfying watching her get the justice she deserved, even if revenge didn’t bring her the relief she was searching for. This part of the book raises deep philosophical questions like - does revenge truly heal, or is it just an illusion? That reflection hit hard.
Part 2 transports us to an entirely different experience. With her magical ability, the heroine shifts between realities, escaping to a dream, like fantasy world, that's so beautiful, so seemingly perfect, so pretty and shining. WOW! I was mesmerized. The way the book plays with these alternate realities, the back-and-forth between escape and harsh reality, is nothing short of breathtaking.
And then, Diana’s love story after everything she’s endured, I so desperately wanted her to find happiness. And she does, in the form of a gorgeous blond university student. Their relationship? Sweet, passionate, and sizzling with chemistry (if you know what I mean 😉). IYKYK coz the spice was DELIVERED! Blindfolds are kind of my favorites now, teheee.
Overall, this book hits deep with emotions, philosophy, fantasy, and romance all woven together masterfully. It’s a 10 out of 10, no doubt!
A huge thank you, dear Dari, for allowing me to read this as an ARC, it was truly an honor!
June 6, 2025
A dark, hypnotic journey through vengeance, identity, and the thin veil between worlds.
In Horns of Revenge, Dari A. Malaunt paints a chilling and evocative portrait of a woman reclaiming her power—not as a hero, but as something far more dangerous. Diana Goldstein is no stranger to suffering. Enshrouded by the abyss of her own thoughts and haunted by a history that has fractured her very identity, she emerges not as a survivor, but as a storm. From the jagged remnants of her past, she reconstructs herself into the architect of her own villainy, choosing vengeance over forgiveness, and darkness over redemption.
But just as her path sharpens into purpose, Malaunt twists the narrative with surreal beauty. In the realm of dreams, Diana meets an enigmatic stranger whose presence unsettles her resolve and pulls at the fragile boundary between worlds. As dream and reality intertwine, she is forced to navigate the shifting terrain of her inner world—where the past is not dead, and the future is not fixed.
Malaunt’s prose is lush and lyrical, capturing both the raw violence of Diana’s transformation and the haunting stillness of the dream realm. The novel pulses with psychological depth, allowing readers to inhabit Diana’s rage, her doubts, and her growing awareness that becoming powerful may also mean becoming unrecognizable.
Horns of Revenge is not a tale of redemption. It is a symphony of reckoning—a fearless exploration of what it means to reclaim agency after trauma, even if that reclamation comes cloaked in shadow. Diana is complex, magnetic, and unapologetically flawed—a protagonist who doesn’t ask for sympathy, but demands to be seen.
For readers who crave emotionally charged narratives, morally gray heroines, and stories that blur the line between reality and the unconscious, Horns of Revenge is both mesmerizing and unforgettable. Dari A. Malaunt delivers a novel that lingers—sharp, sorrowful, and impossible to look away from.
In Horns of Revenge, Dari A. Malaunt paints a chilling and evocative portrait of a woman reclaiming her power—not as a hero, but as something far more dangerous. Diana Goldstein is no stranger to suffering. Enshrouded by the abyss of her own thoughts and haunted by a history that has fractured her very identity, she emerges not as a survivor, but as a storm. From the jagged remnants of her past, she reconstructs herself into the architect of her own villainy, choosing vengeance over forgiveness, and darkness over redemption.
But just as her path sharpens into purpose, Malaunt twists the narrative with surreal beauty. In the realm of dreams, Diana meets an enigmatic stranger whose presence unsettles her resolve and pulls at the fragile boundary between worlds. As dream and reality intertwine, she is forced to navigate the shifting terrain of her inner world—where the past is not dead, and the future is not fixed.
Malaunt’s prose is lush and lyrical, capturing both the raw violence of Diana’s transformation and the haunting stillness of the dream realm. The novel pulses with psychological depth, allowing readers to inhabit Diana’s rage, her doubts, and her growing awareness that becoming powerful may also mean becoming unrecognizable.
Horns of Revenge is not a tale of redemption. It is a symphony of reckoning—a fearless exploration of what it means to reclaim agency after trauma, even if that reclamation comes cloaked in shadow. Diana is complex, magnetic, and unapologetically flawed—a protagonist who doesn’t ask for sympathy, but demands to be seen.
For readers who crave emotionally charged narratives, morally gray heroines, and stories that blur the line between reality and the unconscious, Horns of Revenge is both mesmerizing and unforgettable. Dari A. Malaunt delivers a novel that lingers—sharp, sorrowful, and impossible to look away from.
September 1, 2025
I give it 3.25 ⭐️
It is a dark and emotional book. All the flashbacks were really powerful, and it was heartbreaking to read about the life she lived, bullied both at school and at home. You can’t help but wish that everyone in her situation had her powers. At the same time, she was a very strong person who endured so much, even though it gave her dark thoughts, both about hurting others and herself. And when the truth about where her powers really came from was revealed, it made everything even more intense. It’s a strong story, but sadly I still didn’t fully connect with the book, even if I can understand why many others like it.
Thank you so much Dari and BookSirens for letting me be a part of the team. ❤️🌺
It is a dark and emotional book. All the flashbacks were really powerful, and it was heartbreaking to read about the life she lived, bullied both at school and at home. You can’t help but wish that everyone in her situation had her powers. At the same time, she was a very strong person who endured so much, even though it gave her dark thoughts, both about hurting others and herself. And when the truth about where her powers really came from was revealed, it made everything even more intense. It’s a strong story, but sadly I still didn’t fully connect with the book, even if I can understand why many others like it.
Thank you so much Dari and BookSirens for letting me be a part of the team. ❤️🌺
November 5, 2025
what a ridde !!!!! I was intrigued but confused the whole journey I still don’t know what really happened lol but I am going to continue on to the next book to find out bc it was so entertaining ..Full of adventure and spice .. magic…I was fortunate enough to get an advanced readers copy to review and I am diving into book two now !!! My heart was shattered for the FMC bc of all the bullying and heartbreak she went through … I was hoping for that redemption… and boy oh boy …. Check this one out
July 21, 2025
// I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. //
The covers of these books were what inspired me to read them, but their intriguing storyline is what made me stay and finish. This book focuses on the idea of dreams and alternate realities. Real? Dream? Is there a difference? The book is major dreamlike state. The contrast between the worlds is very well done.
The end is satisfying, leaves the door open for the sequel!
The covers of these books were what inspired me to read them, but their intriguing storyline is what made me stay and finish. This book focuses on the idea of dreams and alternate realities. Real? Dream? Is there a difference? The book is major dreamlike state. The contrast between the worlds is very well done.
The end is satisfying, leaves the door open for the sequel!
December 14, 2025
I quite enjoyed this book It was a dark and emotional book. All the flashbacks were really powerful, and heartbreaking to read. My emotions definitely went through the ringer with this one. But it was definitely a great way to be introduced to this author's writing.
Reading this was a rollercoaster of emotions and the way it ended has left me wanting to jump right into book two!!!
Reading this was a rollercoaster of emotions and the way it ended has left me wanting to jump right into book two!!!
July 20, 2025
Come and venture into the mind of the fmc. She will take you between her past and present in almost a dream like state. If you've ever felt like your life is out of control and you need to find the courage to regain control, this book is for you.
August 9, 2025
book had me hooked from the beginning. I can relate a little to the girls bullying. this book really had me in my feelings!
October 4, 2025
I absolutely loved it 💓
November 2, 2025
I loved this book. With each book I read it just gets better
January 13, 2026
Rewriting my debut to make it a worldwide masterpiece of a psychological dark romantasy that will blow your mind ;)
heheeeeeeee.
(manuscript has been rewritten fully, concept stayed the same - realities shifting and revenge, currently doing grammar editing/line editing/fixing details)
NEED ARC READERS.
ARC-SIGN UP is opened for everyone who loves to read and can leave an honest review :)
heheeeeeeee.
(manuscript has been rewritten fully, concept stayed the same - realities shifting and revenge, currently doing grammar editing/line editing/fixing details)
NEED ARC READERS.
ARC-SIGN UP is opened for everyone who loves to read and can leave an honest review :)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews