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Love Like Gilded Bones: A Toll Of Flesh Novella #1

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*This standalone novella is a character-driven, slow burn dark villain romance set in an original fantasy universe.*

River Anderson finally snapped.

Now she’s on the run, the stench of copper clinging to her fingers like the phantom smell of sin.

When her car breaks down on a deserted forest road in the middle of the night, search for help leads her to an abandoned, decrepit estate—and what should have been a deadly accident.

Instead of death, however, River gets a second chance at life.

A fresh start in another realm, one like those she’s always dreamed of, seeking escapism from reality in fantasy books and horror video games.

Yet a world of thrilling magic and terrifying creatures isn’t the sole adventure awaiting her. The greatest enigma is her mysterious A veiled, charming gentleman, offering her shelter and respite in his luxurious mansion.

But River isn’t the only one with a dark secret and debased urges.

While she finds herself irresistibly attracted to this kind stranger, she realizes he might just be the most dangerous monster of all.

*This book is only intended for an adult audience. It contains graphic violence, sexual content and strong language. Reader discretion is advised. Please refer to the trigger warnings inside the book and on the author's website.*

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

44 people are currently reading
853 people want to read

About the author

Cyran Faringray

9 books168 followers
Cyran [ˈsɪ-ræn] Faringray is a queer, chronically ill author of deeply emotional, dark (nec)romantic novels with a touch of horror and morally black villains as love interests. Their character-driven stories feature magic, monsters and everything in between.

Though redemption arcs won’t ever be found in their books, all endings are happy ones.

When they’re not writing, Cyran is usually playing videogames, reading, napping or spending time with their partner and their dog. Their adoration for anything macabre—and erotic—runs deep, and is mirrored in their ever-growing collection of art prints.

Cyran is currently not active on Goodreads and messages will go unread. Please contact them through Instagram (@cyranfaringray) or via email: cyran@cyranfaringray.com

You can find Cyran here:

Website: cyranfaringray.com

Instagram: @cyranfaringray

TikTok: @cyranfaringray

Twitter: @cyranfaringray

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5 stars
131 (41%)
4 stars
87 (27%)
3 stars
60 (18%)
2 stars
30 (9%)
1 star
11 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
Profile Image for Marie-Hélène.
307 reviews11 followers
July 10, 2023
“How dark do you want it?” “Yes”

Sometimes i think i have hard no’s and then my favourite authors write about them and i am proven so wrong. I don’t think i’ll ever not love anything Cyran writes. I love their horror romance, Yrvaeth and River stole my heart in less than 200 pages with their questionable morals and dubious actions and i couldn’t be more grateful. Looking forward to have them meet Nyxis, Zalthorn and Selene, and immerse myself even more into the Order of the Unbeating Heart.

“Ours was a love like gilded bones. Macabre and rare, but all the more precious for it.”
Profile Image for Elena Rodríguez.
1,192 reviews491 followers
November 29, 2023
Querida compañera de lecturas de este género tan variopinto. Te voy a matar. Con todo el cariño del mundo, pero lo haré, encima usted no lo llegó a terminar (es broma sabes que no y que voy a leer lo que me pongas).

“But I think I can’t be afraid any longer. Evil has followed me for as long as I can remember.”

Vamos a decir que yo estaba expectante con esta novela e iba toda inocentemente. Ya desde el inicio debo admitir que no me estaba gustando la prosa de la autora y el camino argumental que estaba siguiendo, había un algo que no me cuadraba del todo y me faltaba profundidad. Dejé pasar ello y me intentaba fijar en el argumento, en sí, tampoco estaba “tan mal”. Sin embargo, me llega el famoso “plot-twist” al menos para mí y obviamente no lo esperaba. Solo admitiré que cerré el libro boquiabierta y maldije a esta querida amiga. Aparentemente la ingenua e inocente era yo porque técnicamente sabía dónde me estaba metiendo.

“You are like them, River. You need darkness claim to unleash your incandescent brilliance”.

Una vez pasado esto, empecé a encontrar aún más incongruencias, sobre todo físicas y eso me molestó mucho porque eran imposibles ciertas cosas. Eso, me molestó aún más.

El final bueno, argumentalmente ha estado decente, cumple con el “Dark romance” pero en general no me ha gustado como lectura. Más sabiendo esos “fallos”. Me da pena porque detrás de cada libro hay un autor, pero hay que ser sincera. Creo que intentaré leer otros de la autora, pero por el momento, no.
Profile Image for Faith.
232 reviews108 followers
July 18, 2023
A mutual on tiktok recommended this to me. As expected vore is not my kink however it was still an interesting read
Profile Image for Moony Luve.
Author 18 books78 followers
March 28, 2024
This book is what I would consider cozy dark romance.
It has a gothic novel vibe.
It’s DARK don’t get me wrong, super dark, but also homey and amazing.
I love the characters so much.
I love the setting.
I love this story.
It was amazing.
Please read trigger warnings.
Profile Image for Mx. T *Chaotic Reader*.
622 reviews115 followers
July 9, 2023
Brilliant, angsty and beautiful

As always, Cyran manages to paint a beautiful world with their descriptions. Their characters are not good by any means -morally black villains are Cyran's standard- but the relationship between Yrvaeth and River is so wholesomely depraved one cannot stop longing for an Archlich to incite them to autophagia. River says it all: one cannot wait to heal to be happy, so what better way than to embrace the darkness. River is a true heroine, her struggles make her a survivor and having someone's recognition helps her become fully herself. Yrvaeth is evil but along the way he becomes so soft for her it melted my black heart. And I'm so grateful he never stops being who he truly is.
This novella includes heavy themes, treated with a gentle approach. Read the CW before diving into this beautiful gem of a story.
Profile Image for Sarah.
165 reviews33 followers
November 14, 2024
This was a deliciously horrifying yet utterly romantic little story. The writing was absolutely stunning, almost a blend of coarse, frank language fit for our world where the book starts and lush, almost lyrical language more fitting of the fantasy realm we end up in. I was a little surprised at how well the story and characters were developed for a novella, which for me just reinforced the talent of this author.

I can’t say enough good things about this novella. The plot was engaging. I completely fell for the characters. The writing was great. I was scandalized, horrified, in love, and heartbroken all in the span of just over 200 pages. I had a genuinely amazing time every step of the way. I’d happily reread this, buy it, and recommend it.

I will say though that this is dark. Trigger warnings matter here and need to be checked.
Profile Image for RachelAnyFranny.
342 reviews4 followers
January 7, 2024
Jack Skellington/Beauty and the Beast/Frankenstein erotic fan fiction. What a combination 🤣

So beautifully written, and touched on some tough topics well. Tentacles made an appearance, again. Is this a new thing for 2024?? Knocked off a ⭐️ because I'm not ok with cannibalism. Seems to be a recurring theme in this authors books so may steer clear in future, but enjoyed this anyway 🫠
Profile Image for Sara Smith.
95 reviews7 followers
July 15, 2023
Dark, oh so dark, angsty, spicy and just another Curran Faringray epicness. Love morally black villains and Curran write them perfectly
Profile Image for Mayara Cantao.
25 reviews
July 6, 2025
I read this in one day, I promise you won’t regret it. It’s perfect.
Profile Image for Finding Sky Reads.
236 reviews19 followers
July 20, 2023
Another beautifully written book by an amazing fucking author!! Honestly I cannot get enough of the writing style. Cyran truly had a way of transporting you to a different world and makes you see everything clearly through the characters eyes. Her writing is nothing short of poetic.

This book was adorable. Yrvaerth and River are absolutely beautiful together. I loved their relationship building and development throughout. That one scene we get of them together was utter perfection. But I did want more (I’m a spice girly after all) that’s my only reason for rating this 4 stars.
1,211 reviews
November 4, 2023
What I liked about LOVE LIKE GILDED BONES is that it’s different. The love interest is different (SERIOUSLY different), the relationship itself is different, and I liked the story the author was weaving. The relationship is an incredibly slow burn one, to the point where I went back to the blurb to make sure I was reading the kind of book I thought I was reading. I was. It’s just very slow, like 3/4ish of the way through the book slow.

I did find the plot dragging a little trying to get to that climax point (heh). The story focuses on the relationship and watching it build, but because they’re going through rather mundane things, I found my interest lagging. Not that the book needed more sex (not a requirement for me as a reader). But I do think it needed more than conversations and meals.

With that being said, though, River’s and the mystery man’s chemistry was something seriously sensual. I could feel the brimming desire between the two of them, and their interactions, however mundane, were simmering with eroticism. Combine that with the anticipation of things to come (heh) and it created an excellent slow burn relationship just at the very bones (heh) of that relationship.

What bugged me the most, though, was I wasn’t buying River’s revelation about herself. I kept being told she had this darkness in her and it’s why she was attracted to the mystery man so much, but I never saw anything that supported that prior to her interactions with him. A lot of the plot hinged on this “dastardly” secret she was keeping, that she killed her ex in self defense, and that’s what made her so dark, and I’m just not buying it. Killing in self defense and deriving pleasure in mutilating, killing, and reviving people are two very separate things and from where I sit, that leap was not explained very well. I would have liked to have seen more of River’s character developed on page outside of her mystery man leading her down the road of development so it seemed less plot-devicey. I did look to see if I jumped into a story in the middle since it’s set in an already-established universe, but according to the author’s website, this is a stand-alone novella.

Overall I enjoyed the story. The sex scene was incredibly hot and something else to behold. The warnings are not lying there. Check your triggers. I’m intrigued about the rest of the world, and the other books the author created, because the snip of what’s included in this novel is super interesting.

4
Profile Image for savvvyreads.
202 reviews54 followers
October 12, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Loving this world. Need to read more by this author!

If you have triggers, PLEASE check them. This will not be for everyone.

If you don’t have triggers, go in blind if you can because wow I was not expecting the things that happened in this book to happen 🤯
Profile Image for Alexis C..
Author 9 books77 followers
Read
October 20, 2023
This was morbid, romantic, and fantastical, would definitely recommend for those who don’t need character redemption bc you won’t find that here!
Profile Image for Joe Wass.
24 reviews2 followers
May 5, 2024
This review is mostly trope and triggers specific and plot light/vague for pleasure and surprise of new/fresh readers…., thank you. 📌

💀🥀 Move over Jack Skelington there’s a new Bone Daddy in town. 🥀💀….,🫠🫠🫠💁‍♂️💁‍♂️💁‍♂️👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏🙈🙈🙈🥵🥵🥵

10/10 stars in every realm of existence 💫💫💫💫💫 this book is not for the faint of heart but for those with beautiful darkness infused in their heart.

🖊 Comments on craft: Cyran has some of the most gorgeous prose I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, their descriptions are to be savoured and studied. Mary Shelly, Lord Byron, Lovecraft and Edger Allen Poe themselves would be the only possible comparison to such an exquisite writing style as this.
🖊

🛑 CW/TW: /Gore, Mutilation, SA, DA/ degradation, extreme and diverse k*nk,c*nnibalism, non consensual activities, death/romanticism of death/necromancy, situations of violence,peril and absence of agency/freedom- Food/drink-consumption and texture descriptions-horror and body horror. 🛑
📌🌟Other more positive inclusions: self love/acceptance, finding strength, courage and belonging. Overcoming trauma, grief, guilt and trepidation.
📌🌟Inclusivity: this is one of many in Cyrans ongoing series and set of works which encompasses the most joyously and unapologetically inclusive and diverse set of characters across the genre and literature in general. These works are
Set in a superlative Queer/ LGBTQAI+, 2 spirit, Non binary normative/inclusive world. ( 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️)

This is a deliciously dark novel, Danse Macabre made flesh and guided bone: 💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀💀🥀 perfect for lovers of dark romance, dark twisted fairytales and readers of Nocticadia, Gothikana and the Never Ming series alike. (📌 whilst every sensitivity moral responsibility and care has clearly been taken painstakingly and lovingly by the author regarding the depiction of the more “taboo” or “extreme/potentially triggering” aspects of this book I would highly recommend checking the kindly, detailed and appreciatively provided trigger/content/sensitivity warnings before diving into this book 📌 your own mental physical and emotional health is of course paramount. 🫂)

I cannot praise this book highly enough 👏 Cyran is a siren of sublime. seductive and introspective storytelling. They are Djinn delving into our darkest desires, secrets, shame and depravities all the while never judging them, seeking to heal them and striving to let beauty shine beyond our pain and struggles. This story truly feels like the physical conduit to another cosmos of sex, magic and esoterica. The world building on display here rivals anything even remotely comparable across the genre! It is my belief that even the multiverse of Stephen kings the dark tower, Sarah J Maas world of AOTAR or The Cosmere of Brandon Sanderson would struggle to contain the boundless depths and endless denizens of Cyrans dark delicious universe.

….,”I’m eager not to give any real spoilers but suffice to say if you’re a fan in any way of enemies to lovers, enemies & lovers and found family with a firmly skeletal hand in the dark side of romance/eroticism then you’ll have found your new favourite novel just as I have!”

Think “if a court of thorns and roses had Fayre stumble into a bargain with a dashing, charming, witty, urbane and very sexy Jack Skelington instead 👌 ☠️ 👌

On a personal note as an individual who struggles daily with issues surrounding grief, shame, self abusive/destruction/admonishing patterns/behaviours and abandonment this book was a
Tonic for my trauma infused heart, this book truly is a Frankensteins laboratory of learning to love yourself, letting go of guilt/grief and learning to light up the good inside us all!

Cyran has become my absolute favourite author and anything and everything they ever write I shall
Instantly read, recommend and cherish. I firmly believe Cyran was sent and meant and made to tell these stories: to heal our broken hearts, push our boundaries of expectations and experience, seamlessly, masterfully and seemingly effortlessly blend fantasy, macabre & phantasmagoria and to sing a song to our souls and senses with these stories of understanding and healing that won’t soon be forgotten.

I know I personally could never thank or repay them enough for their talents, for writing these stories and for their own bravery and courage which will forever inspire and support others!

💫💫💫💫💫

Thank you for taking the time and care
To read my review and please do consider purchasing, reading/recommending and reviewing this divine book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Catherine Jagos.
Author 1 book21 followers
August 10, 2023
I devoured this book (no pun intended) in one day and then read it again!
I already knew this was an auto buy when my friend & one of my all time favorite authors, Cyran Faringray, released it.
After falling in love with 'The Unbeating Heart' and 'The Pale Daughter & The Tyrant Prince' I was really excited to get my hands on more of their writing.
I was not at all disappointed! This book was poetry!
Exhibit A:
"His politeness was unsettling, like a knife caressing an apology before it cut."

'Love Like gilded Bones' is a stand Alone Novella in the Toll of Flesh Universe
I cried, gasped out loud, squealed, and squirmed with delight while reading this book.

As always check your trigger/content warnings!

This quote right here is everything!
"I don't want to save you, River. All I wish is to watch you plunge into the corrupting embrace of the wicked shadows you crave, for the same ones that swirl in my blackened soul. I am not a hero in shining armor. I am a villain. But if I was your villain, would you become mine? Would you join me in damnation?"

I Have to say I immediately got immersed in 'River' our FMC but this quote right here had me 100% into her:
"My brain simply decided not to brain any further."

Other reasons to read this book besides the beautiful writing:
🩶Skeleton man with tentacles
🩶Modern day thrust into the fantasy world
🩶Adorable pet name
🩶Delish food
🩶Mental Health Rep
🩶Necromancy

Pretty sure I am now in love with a skeleton with gilded bones whose eyes change color..... 😏
"You are simply too delightful alive to consume. And what a waste it would be if I cannot even taste the aroma of your flesh."

A little side note for those who have read this....
PG 203 👀 has me excited for what comes next in this series and makes me wonder if we will see this delightfully depraved couple again

So all that so say go read this!
Go read 'The Unbeating Heart'
Go read "The Pale Daughter & The Tyrant Prince'
Check your trigger warnings!
Profile Image for v0id_93.
216 reviews56 followers
July 12, 2023
The goal of my writing has always been to blur the lines between repulsion and attraction. To tiptoe the border between romance and ruin. I wanted to write true villains and terrible monsters doing monstrously arousing things.’

Folks, if that doesn’t make you want to read this book…I don’t know what to tell you.

Well, actually if you need more convincing here’s a review🦷🥩✨

Oh my where to start! I don’t want to spoil too much of this novella because I think not knowing details will make your reading experience that much more enjoyable. I was kept glued to the pages trying to figure out the veiled stranger and why he makes you describe the food your eating to him and why is there no warmth when you touch his gloved hand..?

The chemistry and sexual tension between these two was deliciously electric and I kept screaming in my head ‘JUST KISS ALREADY’ but the build up was fantastic edging because when the smut hit I felt all the things. Let’s just say I would gladly be this man’s patient any day💉
Also the nod to our Undead God Queen and King at the end of the book had me giggling! I hope they all get to meet someday🥹

Cyran weaves over coming trauma, dark fantasy romance, horror and villains into an enthralling story you don’t want to miss!

-190 pages
-slow burn, villain romance
-dark fantasy
-character driven
-bisexual FMC

Other works by Cyran:
-The Unbeating Heart
-The Pale Daughter and The Tyrant Prince
Profile Image for Nicky.
159 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2024
You know those books that crawl inside of you and leave you feeling hungover when you finish them? That's what this book did to me. Not only did this book make me cry on multiple occasions, but it made me laugh, and it made me smile.
As with most of Cyran's books, I highly recommend reading the content warnings before reading this. The characters are morally black and have no qualms about saying so. That being said, this book ticked so many boxes for me. It was a mix of Gothic romance, Dark romance, monster romance, smut, and the fuzzy happy ending that you would expect from a contemporary romance.
In addition to ticking all my usual boxes, River was the most relatable character that I have ever read. The way that her mental health struggles are discussed and the emotions that Cyran was able to convey through River was a cathartic experience for me. Just River's conversation with Yrvaeth in chapter 11 was more potent and cathartic than any therapy session I have ever been too. A lot of us read fantasy to escape the world, so having a character that I could escape with, and relate to, that wasn't the perfect frilly heroine was incredible. And the fact that I have read so many of Cyran's books and she tied this one seamlessly into The Unbeating Heart made me almost giddy. This book is my new favorite and I will be buying it in a hard copy so I can make it my new favorite dark comfort read.
Profile Image for Martina.
207 reviews6 followers
July 5, 2024
What the fuck did I just read? No, but really. 😭 I picked up this book thinking it'll be about a woman with troubled past and how she overcomes her struggles. In the first 50% I was kinda right. BUT THE OTHER HALF?!

⚠️SPOILERS AHEAD⚠️

River, the main female character of this story, murders her ex and while she's on the run from justice, she somehow teleports to another realm. There she met a master of the mansion she popped up at and he lets her stay. They spent some time together and get closer. It's heavily implied she would very much like to jump his bones. Pun intended, he's literally a skeleton. 💀 Oh, I think I also forgot to mention his staff is full of abominations risen from the death. 🤪 Anyways, she finds out he's also a cannibal, yeah... he ate his wife and many others. 😀 They go shagging and the whole time I wondered what he'll pull out from his pants. Nothing? Bone? A dildo carved from a bone? Nah, all wrong! TENTACLES! Fucking tentacles, not a single tentacle, but multiple tentacles! 🐙💀 So yeah, he filled ALL HER HOLES with his tentacles while one of his Frankenstein chimeras held her down. Lovely, right? 😍🥰 After their BDSM hentai session he sends her away, but she comes back. She truly loved him, he ate her heart, his curse was broken, he resurrected her like the necromancer he is and they lived happily ever after, yay.

I don't really know what should I think about this book. Did I hate it? Not really. But did I like it? Also, not really.
Profile Image for nerdygirlmeetsbooks.
105 reviews6 followers
February 21, 2025
This story was wild!!! This was my first monster romance book and Cyran created something so different and unique to me!

This story gave us the growing relationship between a human and a man she never expected to fall for…a cursed Lich who is completely a skeleton with an Emerald heart. It shows us the beauty of having someone who accepts you completely, flaws and all, sees your darkness and depravity and doesn’t hold it against you but revels in it with you. Yrvaeth showing River his love, not through words, but through his actions like cooking every meal for her, being present to spend time with her, respecting her, teaching her his “ways” shows how deep his feelings are. River accepts Yrvaeth completely and accepts the cost of freeing him. It was very much a Romeo and Juliet story with a happily ever after.

This book is quite dark! Lots of heavy CW/TW and very taboo content. Totally was surprised by the tentacle use and how Cyran fit it in. I enjoyed the story, but the ending felt like it happened a little fast compared to rest of the depth within the story. Cyran’s writing is beautiful and deep, filled with emotion and regard to the story they’re trying to share. If you’re looking for a blend of romance and horror in a Frankenstein meets Romeo and Juliet meets Crimson Peak style, you may enjoy this novella.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for ri.
14 reviews2 followers
January 5, 2024
This is beautifully fucking written. Gore makes me squeamish but I decided to give it a shot and I'm glad I did. Even though I didn't really enjoy those parts - especially not the vore/cannibalism, everything else was so beautiful. The build up was fantastic for how short it was. It didn't feel forced or unnatural and Jesus christ I've felt that way about a book I read that was 500 pages long and this one barely reached 200.

I can't decide on a rating to give it so it might fluctuate if I come back to it. I'm stuck between 3 and 4 stars because I couldn't get into the bones as much as I tried despite how poetic this novella was to read. It's hard being into thrillers and horrors and then a little stabbing making me feel these kinds of ways. To be honest, I think I was drawn in by an Instagram reel by the author and as soon as I saw "tentacles" in the inclusions my brain just went, well this is our next read lmao. (That scene was great, by the way. Excluding the scalpel parts. At least for me. I'm sure there are many others who particularly enjoyed that).

It would've been 5 stars if it was more up my alley but this rating won't deter me from checking out more of Cyran's books! In fact, I think I have another on my tbr :)
Profile Image for Shane Blackheart.
Author 6 books33 followers
March 21, 2024
This is the kind of romance I've been craving and struggled to find.

At first, it feels like a dark fantasy romance that lures you in with a sense of security. I even thought, 'So, it's a redeemed villain arc. And he's such a sweetheart!'

No, no it's not. I didn't expect the turn that completely ruined me in the best way. There are several unforgettable lines in between the beautiful prose, too, mostly pertaining to being a survivor of domestic abuse and self-harm, as well as SI. As a survivor of these things myself, I found something within River, the main character, that I related to more than any character I've read thus far in romance. I understood her anger and all that she suffered through, and Yrvaeth, the villain love interest, supported her in ways that made me tear up. He said things I've always wished to hear from a lover, myself.

At times feeling like a fairytale, and at others reminiscent of a scene belonging in Hellraiser, this book is one of my favorites. Like, top favorites. I highly recommend it, but take the content warnings seriously. This book is dark and heavy, but it is so worth it. Right up until the ending my heart was pounding. I devoured this in one sitting, which is rare for me.

I look forward to reading more of Cyran's books!
Profile Image for anna.
1,057 reviews11 followers
December 15, 2023
well i wasn’t expecting a cannibal mmc. apart from that i liked the book and how it tied at the end to the main one.

perfect man?
“He had no hair.
No skin.
No tendons.
No muscle.
No flesh.
His was a face of nothing but alabaster bone. All of him was nothing but bone.”


such a romantic.

“I want to slice open your skull right here. I want to saw through that delicate, white bone, stain it red to pull your most intimate, secret thoughts from that gorgeous brain.”


yum.

“You ate someone. An actual person.”
“Not just someone. And he was not the first either.”


yes, please.

“But if I was your villain, would you become mine? Would you join me in damnation?”


that was my limit. he made her eat a chunk of herself.

“Between his fingers, right in front of my face, was a piece of raw meat. Just a small sliver.A sliver of my own flesh.
“Tell me how your suffering tastes, River.”
Profile Image for Zuzihut.
352 reviews5 followers
July 10, 2023
I will reed anything this author drops on me. Even if it’s at the back of a cereal box. So this one was no brainier for me.

I’m only sad this book was short! But what it lacked in length fully delivered on
1. Great story line and plot
2. Brave FMC with so much hurt and pain you could taste it.
3. Dark and macabre villain who was just too good and evil at the same time.
4. Tentacles! I thought I only had space for a two dicked demon! Who thought I will also have a space for a cannibal demon with tentacles!
5. Incredibly hot kink on the border of very dark!
6. The food porn in this book is just incredible! I will never eat a grape without thinking about those lines in the book!
7. Happy ending, albeit a bit sad!

Loved it! Great story telling as always with so much pain and passion!

I will literally read a manual which I will have you known I never do, if this author writes it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️👀👀🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️
Profile Image for Angie.
200 reviews10 followers
July 14, 2023
𝙊𝙪𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝘼 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝘼 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩, 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.


I have so many feelings about this novella, but so little words to express them 😭
I absolutely loved this story. And I’m not sure if it’s weird or not, but it’s a comfy read. Don’t know what that says about me but hey LOL

It’s 190 pages filled with beautiful writing, tear-worthy moments, jaw-dropping-stare-at-the-wall scenes and overall a captivating tale of horror and finding love when you least expect it.

Cyran notes in the beginning of the book that their goal as a writer has always been to blur the lines between repulsion and attraction, and they are at the top of this game!

Check TW if needed, and if you decide to pick this book up, I hope you have a great time reading it. I know I did!!!
Profile Image for Nalaina.
24 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2023
Delectably dark, sultry, and just the right amount of fucked up to have me hooked. I truly did not know what to expect going into this book after having read multiple reviews of it, but I am so glad that I decided to give it a shot. I will say to anyone considering it, do make sure to read the trigger warnings before delving in. However, if they don't scare you, I encourage you to read this book - just try to go in with little judgment offsetting your views.
Cyran Faringray may just be one of my new favorite authors. Her writing style is one of my favorites yet and she is immaculate at describing this world in a way that created an intensely vivid image in my mind. I cannot wait to continue to delve into the worlds given to us by her brilliance.
Profile Image for Phylicia.
637 reviews11 followers
March 25, 2024
“If I was doing the hell prom thing, I might as well have gone the whole way.”


5⭐️ This is so creepy I love it it’s like every goth girl dreamland up in here! I obsessed with this, I’m obsessed with River and Yrvaeth, they need to stop it with their cuteness, like for reals. My little black heart is exploding.

It’s like Beauty in the beast, but like Gothic style with an Arch Lich and a stunning Goth girl. There’s strong mental health rep which was done really delicately and lovely, so I really enjoyed that but obviously check yourself if that’s something that’s possibly triggering for you.

There’s some dark moments too but I really loved it. I read it as part of transrights readathon, and I’ll definitely go back for more from this Author.
Profile Image for Marya.
955 reviews15 followers
July 21, 2023
“𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙢𝙮 𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚? 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙭𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡?”

Sneaky, sneaky Cyran Faringray releasing a surprise novella set in our favorite 𝘛𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 universe! And, or course, I loved it!

It is a dark and stormy night, and River is on the run when her car breaks down. She enters a creepy mansion, and well, things go on from there!

River & Yrvaeth story is so cute and sweet for such evil little villains, par for the course in these books. I loved their story, and especially River’s acceptance of her true self by the end.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙩. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙤 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚, 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨.”

As usual, Cyran Faringray’s writing was so beautiful and pulled me in right from the start. I can’t wait to see if these two pop-up again in future books! 🖤

What this book is giving:
✅ DARK Romance
✅ Novella
✅ Necromancy
✅ Villain Love Interests
✅ “Good Girl”
✅ Tentacles x3
✅ C@nnibal!sm
✅ Mental Health Rep
✅ Slow Burn

As with most Dark Romances: Check TW before jumping in!

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️½ / 5
Profile Image for Raye.
219 reviews7 followers
July 17, 2023

There is a reason that Cyran is an auto-buy author for me. Her writing is so poetic, and her characters are easy to love and become attached to. If you love the macabre, unhinged MMCs, and Dr. Frankenstein vibes this book might just be up your alley. Of course, check those trigger warnings as there are some darker themes and some gore.

Yrvaeth is a new book boyfriend lol he is so manipulative but also very intense. The tension between River and Yrvaeth is *chefs kiss* River is honestly puddy in his hands. She is naive and starved for love which is perfect for our lovely doctor.

Honestly, go read this poetically dark novella immediately, you will not be disappointed.
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