Teagan Townsend has never really fit in and gave up trying a long time ago. A college dropout obsessed with horror, true crime, and the occult, Teagan prefers books to people, her hookups casual, and her friendships nonexistent.
Lately, her focus has been on jumpstarting her true crime podcast…which brings her to her latest obsession.
Led by brothers Declan and Luca De Rossi, Gods of Tomorrow is an emerging rock band known for haunting lyrics, an extreme, overzealous fanbase, and their literal appetite for blood.
Chaos and violence follow the band wherever they go—whether it’s from their fanbase or people in their own circle. But no matter how many girls go missing or die under mysterious circumstances, everyone looks the other way.
When Teagan gets a backstage pass to their show, she’s determined to find out what’s going on and expose them. Except…the closer she gets, the harder it is to see them for what they really are.
Dangerous. Manipulative. Killers.
Seduced by the rock and roll underworld—by sex, drugs, and violence, by living free of consequences—will Teagan escape the spell she’s under before it ruins her?
Or will they wake something inside of her that she can’t put back to sleep?
If you are not comfortable with blood, you will not enjoy this book.
Known as the (mostly benevolent) Queen of Angst, Elle Mitchell writes new adult contemporary romance ranging from shades of grey to morally pitch black with a hint of taboo. A mix of plot and spice, her books follow flawed, relatable characters as they rage against the machine or struggle against the darker parts of humanity and themselves. They’re messy—like real life—and emotional.
She can’t promise that all her books will depict what a healthy relationship should look like at every turn. She rejects purity themes. The best she can do is promise an eventual HEA when it’s all said and done.
When she isn’t reading or writing, it’s unlikely you’ll find her anywhere. She’s probably at home with her family, minding her own business.
Tropes + what to expect: - Found family - Rockstar romance - Cult - Why choose/poly relationship(s) with MFM, FF + FFM scenes - Murder mystery - Blood play - Knife play - Dubcon/noncon - Who hurt you? - Touch him/her and you die - He falls first - Spanking - Marking - Breath play
I couldn't put this down. This book is one of the best, if not the best book I have read this year. The plot was INSANE. Like, I had so many adrenaline rushes while reading this.
I loved every single character. At some points, I hated them, but as I got to know them more I feel like I was slowly becoming part of the crazy, fucked up family they formed.
I really don't want to give away the plot, I suggest reading the synopsis and then going in blind.. BUT make sure you check your triggers because this one was A WILD RIDE.
Please for the love of 2 hot, bloody rockstars, give us book 2 ASAP.
Be warned this is fucking DARK 😅 and explicitly spicyyyy
This is a dark rockstar, why choose romance MFM/FFM the lot(if you love why choose you should definitely read this)
Teagan has a dark past and is obsessed with true crime. She believes the rock band gods of tomorrow to be responsible for the deaths of girls who go on tour with them, so she gets herself a backstage pass and integrates into their ‘family’ to find out what’s going. She finds herself caught between two of the brothers, one who’s unhinged, and one who’s very reserved but definitely keeping secrets. Once she’s in, she realises the depth of what this ‘family’ are in to and how dark their lives are
This does involve a secret society/cult storyline and a hell of a lot of blood and knife play (the craziest I’ve read😅) so if you’re not into that this won’t be for you, because them being rockstars isn’t what drives the story, it’s this storyline instead 👀
Contemporary Why Choose Duet MFM, FF, FFM Rockstar Romance Secret Society/Cult Knife/Blood Play (So. Much!) Beyond Morally Grey Found Family So Many WTF Moments Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥➕
This is probably one of the craziest and darkest stories I have read, but man it sticks in your brain! I couldn't put the book down, I just had to keep going. I do feel at points I was reading with one eye open, like I was watching a horror movie or something. I will strongly advise to read the TW that the author provides. I went in pretty much blind and whoo boy, I had a lot of surprises that made me question why I was enjoying this so much.
I can't really say much with out giving the plot away, but basically you have Teagan, a woman that has a true crime podcast and gets a heads up on some hanky stuff that a popular rock band could be involved with. Of course, the obvious course of action is to go undercover and try to become a clingy groupie and uncover whats really going on with this band. Her plan is a success and she is immediately brought into the fold, where two unhinged brothers, their band mates and a family of groupies make for one hell of a crazy bunch of characters. Even though these people are all completely bonkers, there does become a sense of found family for Teagan, probably because shes bonkers too. The brothers are of course hot as hell... Luca is your golden retriever and Declan is the asshole bully that balances the two out. River and Hazel are the two most sane of this sexy polyamorous group and adds a little levity to the story.
I think if you go in just expecting a bloody (literally) good time, that's what you will get. Book one ends on an insane cliffhanger, so if you get hooked on the story, be prepared to jump right into book two where the crazy gets even more crazy.
****************** It’s gonna take me a minute to think up this review. I don’t know how to describe what the fuck I just read 😅😳😳 a wild freaking ride, that is for sure!!
Do you know what's even better after reading this book? Reading it AGAIN. After I read this, I could not stop thinking about it. I am a big dark why choose a fan, and this one hit the spot! There is so much to unfold in these MCs that it's insane. I love every single book by this author because of her talent in writing raw characters that hit you deep in your core. She makes you feel like you are the characters while they figure out who they are and what they really want from life. Teagan's sass and crazy are chefs kiss 😍🤣 no spoilers🤐 While reading, I couldn't guess the ending, and that is what I LOVE in a book.
Plot: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 Spice:🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 Character development:🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
The perfect amount of all 3!
And the cliffhanger......🖕🏻 you will want to dive into the next book IMMEDIATELY if you want to sleep after finishing.
I do advise you to PLEASE read the content warning at the beginning of the book. It's dark AF. 💀⚠️
This is the perfect example of the style of why choose I don’t like it……. I was interested enough in the plot to finish but I am not interested enough to read book 2 …… I like the secret society aspect, I like the brand of psycho Luca is and I like the brand of criminal Declan is, BUT HEAR ME OUT ….. I hated everything else. I didn’t like Teagan because she was smart turned to dumb bitch ! I didn’t like how mean and fucking everyone Declan is. I don’t like how Luca was also putting his dick in everyone ! I don’t like they all are fucking everyone and drink each other’s blood. I don’t like how Rhett was dating Brady but cheating on him every night with a different groupie and still Brady accepted because he was “coming back to him in the end” FUCK THAT! I don’t like how Eli was the one we see nothing besides orgies and fucking a different girl every night also to then find out he is ACTUALLY married and a father of 2 little girls !?!? REALLY? Believe it or not the psycho Luca was the cutest one to me and the only one I kinda like it ! The entire book is just them all partying, fucking, drinking blood and using drugs, nothing is explained and in the last 10% of the book there are some action. So after all the promises of love and never abandoning Teagan that Declan and Luca made throughout the entire book they do JUST that in the end, they leave her face down in the desert alone for the police to take her as they get into a plane and runaway WITHOUT HER!!!!! 😤😡🤬 it’s incredible because the same time it took them to run to the plane it would’ve taken her but Declan still told her to stay ! No matter what the other book will explain I still hated the betrayal. I am sure we will have an explanation for this in the next book but I just don’t need it . I gave it a chance and it wasn’t for me !!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I didn’t have a clue what was happening most of the time, it was a mystery and I ate it up. Went into this blind just knowing it was a rockstar why choose dark romance and damn it delivered that plus more. This was twisted in the best way, I loved every second of it. Heading into book two asap!
“I don't think I'm the kind of girl you can take home to meet your mom. I think I'm the kind you tie up in the basement." He smiles. "I'm okay with that. I don't have a mom, but I do have a basement."
Look, I have read this book on a day at the beach and I will tell you right now: that cold dip in the ocean was very welcome after reading this 🫠
This dark (bully) rockstar romance had me kicking my feet, gasp and cheer (haha oops) The characters are interesting and HOT. I love Teagan, the brothers, Riv and Haze the most. Pfew!🥵 The spice in this book is top notch and blood play? You got me there. I loved reading about it. The plot in this book was really fun to read, the true crime/mystery kept it interesting!
This book ends on a cliffy and I feel severely edged by it. Was the ink of this book laced with 🩸?.. I NEED MORE!!
In this book you'll find: 🖤Dark Romance 🖤MFM/FF/FFM 🖤Why Choose/ Poly 🖤Rockstar Romance 🖤Morally Grey/Unhinged FMC & MMC's 🖤🔪 Play 🖤🩸 Play 🖤Secret Society 🖤Found Family
Well…this went on my “what the hell did I just read” and “worse than dark” shelves. Cause, what the hell?! This was so dark, and crazy, and I couldn’t put it down! May need a psyche evaluation, but I’m jumping into the next book, cause….what the hell?! How did I like this? My husband has called me fucking crazy many times, but I’m not gonna tell him I read this and liked it 😂😂😂 I need some answers now!
Too unhinged to give an actual rating I can’t believe i wasted a day and a half reading this utter bullshit and mind numbing nonsense i think i might be traumatised by this
🎸Dark Romance 🔪Why Choose/ Poly 🎸Rockstar Romance 🔪Secret Society 🎸MFM/FF/FFM 🔪Knif3 Play 🎸Bl00d Play 🔪Morally Grey FMC 🎸Unhinged MMC 🔪Check TWs 🎸Occult 🔪Found Family
I have a new favorite Elle Mitchell book! Wow! Honestly this is one of my favorite reads this year! I loved how Elle brought the characters to literary life! The spice scenes in Pretty Poisoned were yummy! Delicious! This will be my favorite why choose/poly romance book to recommend! My favorite I have read thus far. This is not just a smutty book! There is plot! I loved the true crime investigation aspect.
The found family is written so beautifully! Brady and Rhett are a sweet couple, loved them. They teach you that no matter what, you know where your heart lays. My favorite…River and Hazel. Their characters are the glue of group! IMO. They are the ones that keep everything sane. The true definition of true love.
On to the MMCs.. Luca…what can I say about Luca, he’s an unhinged sweetheart and a psychotic hopeless romantic. He is crazy but in the most delicious way. I mean come on who doesn’t love a good “I can fix him” romance “Everyone has a drug of choice. Luca’s drug of choice…is love.”
Declan….Alpha-Ahole, the leader, mysterious, manipulator, and fictional love of my life! Haha! I am obsessed with the cold hearted, no feelings, wont love you with side of secretly deranged that is Declan. “Finally being a good girl for me, Teagan. In every way that matters, you’re mine.”
FMC Teagan is in her glow up era and she knows it. Throw in mentally hanging in there, unsupportive family and a secret past and you get the morally grey FMC that is Teagan. I am rooting for her to get that happy ending 😉
Elle! You have worked your literary magic on this one! Hands down one I will not forget!
“Pretty Poisoned” is a dark romance masterpiece that will leave you speechless - I’m not even sure where to begin with this review. I am literally shaking as I try to put my thoughts into words. (Hopefully the review doesn’t get 🏴☠️. lol)
This book is hands-down one of the most disturbingly brilliant stories I’ve encountered in this genre and I couldn’t put it down! Be prepared to enter a uniquely crafted world where intrigue and unpredictability reign, and the lines between horror and desire are expertly blurred; This story doesn't shy away from intense and disturbing with elements that will push even the most seasoned readers to their limit, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. “Pretty Poisoned” consumed me for two nights straight, and I’m now a die-hard Elle Mitchell fan, ready to one-click her future releases. Mind blown. This is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of the year 👏🏼 As a conspiracy girly, it’s definitely giving illümínatí + adrenôcħrómè vibes. (If you know you know) The ending was savage! I'm left speechless and desperate for more. Good thing it's a rapid release, or I'd be driven mad with suspense! A 5-star read that deserves a spot on every dark romance lovers’ TBR!
I have always loved Elle’s writing and when @goldenliterature reached out to me and said she knew I’d love this one, I was all over it.
I mean a dark why choose rockstar romance, with bloody morally/psychotic grey brothers? Absolutely this was right up my alley.
It’s been two weeks since I finished this, and it immediately put me into a reading slump. I’m literally still recovering. 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑰 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑫 𝑰𝑻. Do I also need to see my mental health professional? Probably. (Sam if you see this, you should also read it)
I know this was filled with red flags, and in the real world I’d be super against it (probably). But honestly, I was eating this up, and I stayed up late into the night trying to finish it.
This book is a masterpiece!! Elle had me in the palm of her hand the ENTIRE journey of this book. When I tell you that this book will have you on the absolute edge of your seat, I can’t stress it enough. I never knew what was going to happen at the next turn and just when I think things couldn’t get any crazier it does. This entire book has me gobsmacked. I need the book like yesterday! 😂 if you need a book that will make you rethink your own sanity look no further because this will scratch that part of your brain. I’m gonna need at least 7-10 business to process what I just read.
The way I DEVOURED this in one day..I’m sorry- were these pages laced with crack cocaine?? I couldn’t put it down!! Did I just read a book about 2 rockstars who drink blood and also lead a cult? Yes. Did I fall in love with both of them? Also yes💀 This book was dark and unhinged in the best ways and seriously once you start you can’t stop! Not sure why I wasn’t expecting to get my heart broken at the end..that’s on me🤡 I’m so unwell and I am GNAWING at the bars of my enclosure for book 2😭😭😭 oh and the smut?? 10/10🥵🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
No……just no. I enjoy dark romance. This is not dark romance-This was horrific! It’s honestly one of the worst books I have ever read. I am genuinely disturbed that there is even a second book. Absolute Stolkholm syndrome with murder, suicide and (in my opinion) some of the sex scenes are more on the side of non consent with physical pain. I’m in shock at how many 5* this book received.
This was absolutely incredible! 5⭐️4🌶️ what an amazing dark romance book! Everything I could want and the spice was off the charts! Diving into book 2 right now!
3.75 ⭐️ Imagine the movie Almost Famous with Kate Hudson but the band is The Vapire Lestat from Queen of the Damned - sprinkle in Mason family values and voila you have this book. 🌶🌶🌶🌶
This book was the worst fucking kind of rage bait I’ve ever seen. It felt like a heavily romanticized Criminal Minds episode with a fucking cult. I will never, ever dive blindly into a book again. 😍 I feel like the reviews are literally paid, ’cause ain’t no fucking way someone loved this horror story masked as a romance.
Reasons I hated the main characters:
Teagan: She literally has such an insane and dumb personality, I couldn’t even begin. I’m so sure she’s an undiagnosed psychopath, because she represents the worst kind of people in real life — the ones who write fan letters to serial killers and want relationships with them. I hated her. I hated her lack of empathy and her dumb thoughts; she literally rage-baited me. 😀
Next one, Luca: An insane psychopath who abused women and held them hostage in a fucking forest because they didn’t love him. No way I had to read about his fucked-up ass not being held accountable for 500 pages.
Last but not least, Brother Psycho Declan: He may also be insane and the cult leader, but at least he admitted he’s a psychopath.
It’s insane that this book not only physically and emotionally abuses women constantly — including the main female character, Teagan — AND THIS BOOK STILL GOT FANS BECAUSE THEY HIDE UNDER THE VEIL OF “DARK ROMANCE.” 😭😭😭 I’m so serious, I wish every single one of those 5-star reviewers help. 🙏 I hope you never get into a toxic-ass relationship like this. I’m so confused 😭 There will always be a certain kind of romanticizing when reading or watching a fictional love story, but seriously — you clearly saw there was no love in this book. They were just all mentally ill.
Even the side characters… all of them died because they believed they wouldn’t be next, after three dead bodies — and boom… they were. 😍
Worst part…the author:
I’ve read the trigger warnings beforehand, and the author claims that the characters are morally grey 😭 HONEY, THERE IS ZERO MORAL. ZEROOOO.
“My books are both plot and spice and center around flawed, relatable characters dealing with real-life issues.” – Author’s note.
I AM LITERALLY SCARED TO ASK WHAT WAS RELATABLE FOR PEOPLE WHILE READING. 🙏
I said it at the beginning and I’ll say it again: THIS BOOK IS 10/10 RAGE BAIT — it’s 100% meant to make the reader angry.🤡
OMG!!!! I literally couldn't put this book down! Not only was the spice absolutely spicing, but the plot was a 10/10 😳
Thank you so much Elle for giving me the chance to arc read this book! I had the time of my life getting whiplashes left and right LOL ! if you’re a fan of rockstar romance, cult vibes, why choose/poly relationships (MFM, FF + FFM scenes), he falls first, murder mystery, who hurt you?, touch him/her and you die, and all the kinky bits then this book is definitely for you!
I loved every character and at certain points... also hated them too. As I got deeper into this book I learned to understand them more and more 🖤 there were times where I was literally clutching my pearls because I got such an insane adrenaline rush! This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. it got me hooked from the very beginning and I haven't read a dark rockstar romance quite like this one!
I honestly can't say much without spoiling the whole purpose of the plot! So i highly recommend just diving in blind. I fear these brothers have ruined me in the best way possible 🧎🏻♀️
That cliffhanger ending had me GAPING at the screen 😭 i literally didn’t see it coming one bit! i need the next book like right now omg!
Buckle up folks, my obsession with Elle Mitchell has elevated to the next level with this book. 🔥📚
Teagan’s descent into cultish madness is slow, messy, twisted and so obsessive. 😈💔 The ending? Absolutely bonkers…betrayals, blood, and a cliffhanger that made me soooo happy I waited to read this until the duet was complete. 😱💉🩸
Maybe I've grown a little attached to the monster. I blame the sickness in my bones.
Ok first off let’s get this over with but this book is stuffed full of triggers and I can’t stress enough how much you need to read the warnings at the beginning of the book before getting started if you are a person who has triggers. They are there for a reason and your mental health matters. With that being said ……
Holy friking shirtballs this book was AMAZING! Elle Mitchell has and will always be top of the charts for me. Her writing is always so real and so raw that I find myself lost in the world and characters she creates. I usually am so intensely deeply into her books that I almost feel like I am a bystander witnessing the story as it happens. And this book is no different. I can’t tell you if this is the first book she has written like this one because I haven’t read all of her books yet( something I plan to remedy soon). But i can tell you that it took me 1 book(carved in scars) to fall in love with her work. The pieces we leave behind and the pieces we try to forget ripped my heart out and left me a mess of emotions that were so raw I still remember how it felt going through them as I was reading. And now pretty poisoned has be feeling like I’m on the edge of something intense. My brain is running a million miles an hour after that cliffhanger and I dont even know what to do with myself now.
On to the good stuff😘. This book is SPICY! Imagine you have only ever eaten bland food and can’t handle spicy and then some one hands you a Carolina reaper not knowing what to expect and you just shove the entire thing in your mouth and go to town. That’s how I felt about the spicy scenes in this book, and they are PLENTIFUL. And I can’t even tell you how without giving any thing away. Just know if you don’t like graphic descriptions of adult situations. You probably won’t like this book. But if you are an unhinged trash panda like I am , grab a drink and get comfortable because once you start reading you won’t be able to put it down until you are finished.
❤️Love a good “Why Choose “ MMF FFM FFFM “ unhinged Dark Rockstar 🎸🖤Romance !! And this book was 100% that and more! Loved it! 🖤
I’ve read a couple of Elle’s other books and this one won’t leave you crying.
“Pretty Poisoned” is very dark and unhinged and will have you questioning your morals. But strangely I really enjoyed reading it so much lol 😆
Love 💕 me some evil and morally gray MMC’s and the “ De Rossi” brothers are the definition of “ Morally Pitch Black “ 💀🖤💀 MMC’s Declan & Luca are bored rockstar rich boys 💀🖤 who have a way of manipulating “fan girls “ and sweeping them into their dark and bloody 🩸🎸world.💀
MFC ❤️Teagan , who does a “True Crime Podcast “ is just looking for acceptance and love and unfortunately finds that in the “Gods of Tomorrow “ rock band 🎸their entourage.
She is then welcome to join the band on the road and then is swept into an unhinged and grotesque world. She tries to uncover the truth about some mysterious deaths involving the band and some fangirls . At first she a little apprehensive and scared about their strange 🩸rituals but then starts falling under the spell of the De Rossi brothers. And then falls deep into their crazy world!😬
This story is very spicy 🥵 🌶️in a unhinged sort of way lol 😆 loved it 😍 Loved all the secondary characters too “River & Hazel “ and can’t wait to read the next installment of this series “The Road to Ruined “ 💀 very curious about this “Secret Society “ the De Rossi “ brothers are involved in! 🤩💀
Overall loved 🥰 this book and I would highly recommend it! Check those triggers first 😉💀🖤
I’ve been trying to gather my thoughts and give this book proper justice all day. No matter how much I rave about it, I truly don’t think it’ll be enough. Elle always makes her FMC just so relatable in every book. So much I literally devour each and every one of her books, and this one was no different. I just love how Elle’s books are perfectly spicy, but have a plot that just keeps you wanting more. Every.single.time. I could not put this down. It consumed me, and that is not an exaggeration at allllll.
First and foremost, don’t skip the content warnings😅 this is not your typical romance, it’ll have ya guessing if you need therapy for enjoying it so much..kidding..sort of😇
Each and every character was simply so hotttttt 🔥 the spice was top notch 🌶️🤌🏼 , and the 🩸🥵(never thought I’d say that) , everything was just perfect. Everything I want in a dark (bully) romance if I’m being honest (I don’t know what that says about me🤪).
The ending (without spoiling) will have ya ready to dive right into the next one, trust me on that. I’m going to have to read this for a second time, because these characters are just perfection, and just simply cannot get enough.
BLOOD. that’s it. that’s all. If you can’t handle blood talk, play, etc you might want to pass on this book. this book was such a different type of read! like I didn’t expect any of what I just read. like WHAT!? that ending was crazy. I will be diving into book 2 immediately because I have to see how this all turns out. I’m glad I finally decided to give this book a try, it’s been sitting on my kindle forever. I loved the plot of this story and how insane it was. the brothers are crazy as fuck. I thought them being rockstars would be what the story would revolve around but boy was I wrong!
I enjoy a good unhinged dark romance but this was way beyond unhinged for me, the cult vibes and CNC were just too next level to be enjoyable in any way. It’s definitely dark and twisted, if you are looking for something unlike any other dark romance, this has every trigger warning possible, it’s so unhinged it’s impressive but just wasn’t for me.