Dance with Darkness: A Magical Enemies to Lovers Anthology

by Rae Hendricks, Sai Marie Johnson, A.M. Matsuda

To protect your people, you must allow yourself to be captured by the creature everyone has feared for over a century.

Or maybe, you're a stowaway bested by an enemy on distant shores or a princess seeking a deal to save your kingdom.

Whether this collection of stories takes you for a journey through a magical landscape or brings a creature from a distant land to your doorstep, you won't be left wanting of magic and excitement.

In this collection, you'll be captivated by dark magic, anti-heroes, and tough heroines who don't cower in the face of their demons. In fact, you might find some falling for them.

Fae, vampires, elves, and more grace the pages of this book, written by various beloved fantasy and paranormal authors. Be captivated by unconventional enemies to lovers stories with twists to thrill, surprise you, and sometimes, break your heart.

Grab your copy of DANCE WITH DARKNESS today. Discover nearly a dozen romantic fantasy stories for fans of Elise Kova, Emily Blackwood, Sarah J. Maas, and more.

Authors in this collection include: USA Today Bestselling Author Rae Hendricks, A.M. Matsuda, E.C. Hibbs, Adrianna Benevides, E.M. Howell, Sai Marie Johnson, Shelli Rosewarne, Kasandra Sheckles, and Ellie Mack.

THIS AUTHOR DOES NOT USE ANY AI. ANY ACCUSATIONS OF SUCH ARE LIBEL AND FALSE.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Anthologies, Fae, Romantasy, Enemies To Lovers

622 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of anthologies. I usually find them boring or lacking in depth that I want in all my stories. I can honestly say that I loved this one!!! The diversity with different stories, characters, and authors really made for a well-rounded book. I didn't feel that the book was 800 pages. My favorite story was the first one! Miyuki and Kazan were made for each other. Though the story was short, it developed well. I love how Kazan cared for her and tried to make her feel safe. He didn't make her feel weak, and I think that's why she was able to grow into her powers. I also love how kind she was. I adore Japanese mythology and the authors writing! I actually want to look up the rest of that authors story. Actually, all the authors have intrigued me, and I look forward to reading more of their works.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of being gifted this story as part of an ARC. Librorum is a beautiful story inspired by beauty and the beast but taken to further depths. Our heroine Violet becomes stuck in the most magical library with William and she has a very important task to accomplish.
This story read beautifully and while the setting was a strictly monitored old fashioned nation where women had few rights this was established subtly with precise world building which did not detract from the flow of the story.
I almost wish it was longer so that I could stay with the characters and stories longer but there is definitely power in how it was told this way. This was such an easy and enjoyable read and I can't wait to check out the rest of the anthology.

[Kirsten Van Hooland · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was one of a kind.
Dance with Darkness contains 11 enemies-to-lovers stories.
Some stories were good, fun and enjoyable, where others were simply not my thing and I had to drag myself through to finish tem.
However, there was one story “Of Ember & Stone” by E.M. Howell, that is just perfection! I love the characters, the chemistry and the story, but what I love most is Shroomie! A little funghi that made me laugh so badly!
3⭐️ (ARC-review)

[Alma Cadigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Purchased by the oni lord by A.M. Matsuda.
This is the first story I read by the author. I enjoyed the story very much. It captivated me from the beginning. I will definitely read more by the author

[Brielle Londyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heck-freakin-yeah.

This is the romantasy story collection we all wished we had. You know, like that story book fairytale collection with all the awesome stories we know from childhood...except for us adults. I ARC reviewed EXALTED ANOMALY by SAI MARIE JOHNSON as FEATURED IN DANCE WITH DARKNESS and it was such a great story! Filled with mystery that unravels to reveal an enchanting story, I can only imagine how great all the other fantastic tales in this collection will be!

[Lillie Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dance with Darkness is a collection that for me had some greats but more misses. I went in wanting to love this collection, and with quite high hopes for it.

However the starting short story, Oni Lord started us off with a touch of disappointment. While a steamy story, the writing was rather a mess and the story jumped all over the place often leaving me a touch confused as to where the plot was going or what had just happened.

I found some of the short stories to be as lack luster, or worse, then the starting one with Exalted Anomaly being the worst. This one I did have to DNF as I literally could not track the plot as the main characters names kept changing being two names, and the plot kept jumping around in a way that was impossible to track. It appears the author was attempting to follow the born yesterday idea of the main character not having any more idea of the plot then the reader, but doing a rather bad job at it as I also had no idea what was going on by the third chapter.

On the flip side some of these were the best written short stories I have read in a while, with Librorum being an absolute pleasure to read and leaving me craving more in that world. Fated to the Fae also shown as one I quite enjoyed. With both of these they kept me reading the others in a hope there would more like them. In fact I almost feel worse because of how good some of them were having to lump them in with the start of this review.

My main overview is that if you would like to pick up a mixed bag and risk having some stories that you know will be a miss for you, but also will have some massive hits then grab this. It provides a good mix of steamy, spicy, and swoony, with some being spice free and some being spice overload. It also would be a good jumping off place if you want a few short stories between larger novels as you can place one short story between each large novel almost as a cleanser.

I would recommend this for those who enjoy:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Short Stories
- Finding new authors or trying new styles in a shorter format
- Mixing up their reading once in a while
- Solid romance of differing types
- Steamy, Spicy, and Swoony

I would avoid this if you are looking for one consent thing in a book, or don't want to risk jumping in on a mixed bag of short stories where you may only enjoy some. I would also recommend taking time to check trigger warnings on each story before starting them.

I received an ARC of this book at no cost/for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of quick stories, that captivated and delighted me, some were authors I knew others were new to me. It starts with "Purchased by the Oni Lord" by A.M. Matsuda - where a half yokai woman is up for auction, she knows that she needs to be sold (otherwise it will definitely mean death for her). Will her new master be cruel or kind? Can she escape her destiny? I loved this quick tale that had a nice little twist. Next was "Librorum" by E.C.Hibbs - which was about a woman who wants to write books, but the time she lives in doesn't allow women to be writers, and her husband doesn't approve of her dreams. Can she escape the dreary life planned for her? Surely a Library isn't the safest place to be. I loved this interesting story, where tales come to life.
Another story in this collection is "A Crown of Darkness & Sorrow" by Adrianna Benavides and Rae Hendricks - where Valen is hunting down the best psychic to help him sort out his kingdom, and he isn't afraid to chain her to himself. Myra has tried all she can to avoid Valen, but will it be enough? And what will happen if he captures her? I loved this quick suspenseful story, that had me wanting more. There are other stories, but I will try to not make a novel out of my review. I loved all the stories, and are only sad they had to end.

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

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allow at least four days for this collection of eleven adventures.

Purchased by the Oni Lord by A.M. Matsuda: An unwanted girl is purchased by a giant Oni Lord. adult 2 hrs 4*

Liborum by E C. Hibbs: A fiction writer in a world that only allows rewrites of truth for profit. adult 2hrs 5*

A Crown of Darkness and Sorrow by Adrianna Benavides and Rae Hendricks: A human seer becomes advisor to the King of the Elves. YA 2hrs 4* cliffhanger

Of Ember & Stone by EM Howell: A neighboring king wants the young, empathic Princess for his bride. YA 2hrs 5*

Exalted Anomaly by Sai Marie Johnson: A 2-hour NC17 coming-of-age involving a prophecy. 4*

Fated to the Fae by Shelli Rosewarne: Scottish wedding goes awry. 90 minutes NC17 5*

Preserver of the World by LaKeah Shannelle: World Preservation based on African traditions. PG15 2 hours 3 1/2*

Crossing Reality: Realms of Indifference: Book One by Paige Clendenin & Kasandra Sheckles: Start of the Adventures of Karris Zaverru. PG13 two hours 3 1/2*

Crossing Reality: Chaos and Mayhem: Book Two by Paige Clendenin & Kasandra Sheckles: Further Adventures of Karris Zaverri. PG15 two hours 3*

Intertwined for All Eternity by J. Kitana: 1 hour strange steamy contemporary 3*

Dark Deception by Ellie Mack: NC17 2-hour palace intrigue 4*.

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

[Mc Chanster · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This was a good read! I don’t typically choose anthologies – I often find myself more disappointed than not, but I do have to say that Dance with Darkness was a pleasant surprise. There were a variety of stories and styles, and for the most part, I quite enjoyed most of the tales. My favorite though, was “Purchased by the Oni Lord”. I really love Japanese mythology and culture so this was definitely right up my alley. I thought their romance was really well-paced and I couldn’t help but love Miyuki and Kazan together.

Second place went to "Fated to the Fae". I'm a pretty big sucker for a Scottish setting so this was a winner for me as well - I'd be interested in seeing a full-length novel from this author, or from my top choice. I enjoyed the other tales, though some needed just a little editing to make sure there is good flow throughout, and that events are rushed through for the sake of it being a short story. Overall, a solid read.

Thank you Voracious Readers for my copy! I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All above thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Barbara Hill]

If this story is any clue to what this collection of stories is about, then it will deliver.

I received an ARC and read “Exalted Anomaly” by Sai Marie Johnson first.

This story is lush and commanded by two characters – one powerful in position, one powerful in passion. Eulie and Xi make every page pulse with tension and unfulfilled expectations. Eulalia is courageous and her nefarious captor knows this and yet, he can’t help but be drawn to her. Xi is powerful, potent, and despite his position as her captor, he brings out everything that Eulie could hope for.

The passionate tension in this story is well delivered and the dialogue is stellar. If you like TO REIGN IN HELL by Steven Brust this story is for you. And just wait, there is a satisfying twist at the end you won’t want to miss.

My only complaint is that it culminated and left me wanting more!

[Author A.L. Knuckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC excerpt featured in Dance with Darkness. I read Exalted Anomaly and let me tell you, I could NOT stop reading. I loved the characters and I felt the heartache throughout the story. The characters came to life in my mind and it's something I have always loved about the author, Sai Marie Johnson. She makes you feel the characters are alive and lets you live their adventure with them. It was an amazing story and I am so Happy to read the entire rest of the book when it fully releases in October!

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dance with Darkness features an exquisite collection of stories from various authors ranging from Fantasy, Paranormal and the Supernatural. Light and darkness entwine within each imaginative journey of love, adventure, romance, self discovery, and fulfillment.
These authors were new to me and I found the stories presented very entertaining and well written as they provided some very pleasurable hours of good reading.

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

[Dena Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing an arc for EXALTED ANOMALY by SAI MARIE JOHNSON, as featured in the DANCE WITH DARKNESS anthology. It is a well written, quick read that made me want a full length story. Including intrigue, a long lost family, and mystery this story was sweet and engaging. What seemingly started with tragedy could actually begin a new life for more than the main characters. I would recommend reading this and more from this author.

[Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Read Purchased by the Oni Lord as an Arc) As someone who doesn’t normally read the more fantastical stories, I very much enjoyed this short story. I loved the storyline as well as the characters. The only thing that was barely an issue for me was keeping track of the different creature types and their differences. If this short story became something more I could definitely see myself reading it. The writing is easy to understand and flows nicely. Definitely enjoyed this story.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute box full of enemies-to-lovers stories (11). I really enjoyed the different stories and there was romance but it was rather tame, and that was fine. This boxset is very handy to read about different enemies-to-lovers in a magical setting. It might be that sometimes there are a bit sensitive topics in the books. such as domestic violence and a (slave) market.

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

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance with Darkness is a wonderful collection of stories from some very talented writers. Each story is spicy, unique, and hard to put down. There's a nice variety to the stories, but each adheres to the enemies to lovers theme. I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys spicy romance stories with supernatural elements.

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

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldnt put it down. Great charecters. Drawnb into their world. Great world building. These books are full of fantasy, paranormal. Elves, vampires. Books are - Purchased by the Oni Lord; Librorum, A Crown of Darkness & Sorrow, Of Ember & Stone, Exalted Anomaly, Crossing Reality-Realm of Indifference & Chaos and Mayhem, Dark Deception.

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

[Jamie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting it to be full-length novels in the anthology, but it was a collection of mainly short stories. They were still captivating, though, and I'm not even someone who usually reads short stories. Some of the authors have no other works published under those pen names, but I am eagerly awaiting when they do.

These stories were unique and pulled me right in.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a week to read this collection. The authors are all new to me and boy do I have a bigger list of authors I want to follow. Each story grabbed my attention and had me flipping through the pages. There is so much going on and I cannot say which one was my most favorite. I would recommend reading this collection and I am sure you will like it too. This has a bit of everything and a really good read.

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

[Silentcitylibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored the tale Librorum by E.C. Hibbs in this anthology. This was a short and sweet tale, that I didn't want to end. It was very well thought out and I enjoyed the nods to classic fairtales throughout. We all know I love it when a women takes matters into her own hands to forge her own story and this little novella was just that!

My only criticism is that it was just too short! I would love another short story about Violets adventures after these events or even a whole novel.

[Havanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sai Marie's EXALTED ANOMALY is one of the best fantasy romance stories I've enjoyed reading this year. Comparable to other fabulous romantasy tales, and with an imagination like Sai has - I was on the edge of my seat and fully absorbed by the story. This is an amazing collection with whimsical and mystical beings of every sort. I was left absolutely THRILLED.

[EricLaVaeux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for EXAULTED ANOMALY by Sai Marie Johnson, I received an ARC copy of this short story and honestly, I can't seem to put it down. It's a wonderful tale that leaves you gripping for more. It is well written, and we don't want to give away too many spoilers, but yes, 10/10 AND WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Let's go on a trip, into this dark fantasy and see where it takes you.

[Sai Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rae, Shelli, and AM's stories are the best to date. This anthology is everything Labyrinth, Legend, Willow and the Princess Bride fans will want...those who enjoy Game of Thrones, Wheel of Time, the Witcher, and Shadow and Bone - you'll be enthralled.

If you love fairytales a little dark and a bit dirty - this collection IS for you.

Get it.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I have read one of the stories - Purchased by the Oni Lord is a quick instant love kind of story with the male lead being an Oni who ends up at an auction and buys a plucky female who had heard stories about the big bad Oni. A few issues arise but that is the fun of the story. A fun easy read that made me laugh a few times.

[Jasmina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of a few short stories from various authors. Some of them were interesting, had a good world building and plot. Also the characters were likeable. Some of them were not really my style. The writing style was a bit dificult to go through and also the plot was not for me. Also in many stories there were still many typos. Of course everyone should choose his own favorite.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good. Some of the stories didn't really connect with me. But I hadn't read most of these authors before and I found a few that I want to look into more so I count it as a win. I like the variety of settings and influences. It's always fun to see how every person creates their own world. It's definitely worth the read.

[Dee Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of 11 fantasy/paranormal stories by some new to me authors.
Fun and spicy, all quick reads, all with the enemies to lovers theme, great characters, plenty of emotion and action, and all with a HEA.

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

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous collection of stories written by some incredible authors. Brimming with action, adventure, magic and darkness as we follow our characters on their journeys of excitement, twists and turns and so much more. Fae, vampires, elves, strong heroines and complex hero’s, these paranormal / supernatural / fantasy stories are enthralling and I could not stop reading.

[Darleena Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a readers delicacy, intrigue, romance, mystery, this book has it all and more. Give yourself a treat and read this book. The authors way out did themselves a with a story that will create so many different feelings inside. Definitely a must Read.!

[Brenda Wescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exalted Anomaly by Sai Marie Johnson

This story grips you you quickly. The characters Eulalia and Xilius are complex and well developed as the story reveals itself well without giving away too much immediately as why it is a full circle story. I read straight through it was exciting, I loved it!