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Shadowface: A Dark College Romance
He was my nameless monster, lurking in the shadows of my dreams. A constant presence in the depths of the night. A kiss, a caress, and a night so passionate I questioned my sanity.
My first day of class at Kinsmen University changes everything. A leaked photo, a dead body, and a man who rises from the grave. I never thought in my wildest dreams the one who haunts me is a three-hundred-year-old legend.
For years, the name Shadowface invoked terror and fear to those that heard it. He’s an entity, an ancient evil that’s taken the lives of more people than I can count.
It turns out the monster in my dreams is real, the demon causing my dark desires. And I need to find out exactly who he is before he destroys me.
Shadowface is a dark serial killer romance featuring scenes that some readers may find disturbing.
My first day of class at Kinsmen University changes everything. A leaked photo, a dead body, and a man who rises from the grave. I never thought in my wildest dreams the one who haunts me is a three-hundred-year-old legend.
For years, the name Shadowface invoked terror and fear to those that heard it. He’s an entity, an ancient evil that’s taken the lives of more people than I can count.
It turns out the monster in my dreams is real, the demon causing my dark desires. And I need to find out exactly who he is before he destroys me.
Shadowface is a dark serial killer romance featuring scenes that some readers may find disturbing.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2025
290 people are currently reading
2838 people want to read
About the author
Rhea Ryan
9 books241 followerswebsite: www.rhearyan.com
Rhea Ryan is a spicy writer of romance on the edge of dark and twisty. Each of her stories delves deep into matters of the heart and explores the darker side of human nature. After writing in the corporate world, she realized she had a desire and compulsion to write creatively. She lives in Western Canada with her husband, two young children and a fur baby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews
April 22, 2025
10 Star Read
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
✨ Things you’ll find ✨
🖤 Dark Romance
💀 Stalking
🖤 Kidnapping
💀 Serial Killer
🖤 Cult/secret society
💀 Gothic university setting
🖤 UNHINGED AS F*CK MMC
💀 unhinged FMC
🖤 Complex mental health and trauma representation
💀 Obsessive possessive MMC
🖤 Obsessive possessive FMC
💀 Touch him/her and literally 💀
🖤 Dark and twisted love story
💀 Multi POV (not what you think 👀)
🖤 First person POV
(I could go on) 🤭
✨ My Review ✨
“You’re so fucking pretty with blood on your face,” he finally says, and I melt at those words. His teeth grind, his voice laced with acid. “I hate how pretty you are.”
“I’ll cut out your eyes, pretty girl,” he whispers.
⸻
* As always checked the TWs *
I don’t even know where to start. I’m utterly spellbound and bordering on speechless.
No matter how I write this review it will not do it justice.
Let me tell you…. you have NO IDEA what you’re getting yourself into when you pick up this book. It’s SO MUCH more than the description. I honestly can’t put into words how truly brilliant this book is.
The characters are so complex, and this was one of the most fascinating reads I’ve had in a long, long time.
RHEA… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?
MMC – I don’t want to give anything away, so it’s really hard to explain him without spoilers. But I will say, he is one of the most brilliant MMCs I’ve ever read. Reading from his POV was mind-blowing. He’s experienced immense trauma in his childhood, which leads to a shift I can’t even talk about…. you just have to read it.
Honestly, I could sit here and write and write and write about him and never get bored. He is obsessive, truly unhinged, depraved, brilliant, intelligent-no beyond intelligent. He is so far beyond what you could ever expect. I adore this MMC. The struggles, the way he fights and emerges from it, the sacrifices… I truly could go on forever. My heart broke so many times for him.
FMC – Summer is such a dark and complex character. She’s experienced immense trauma herself, and it has changed her psyche on a fundamental level. She is an incredible FMC…her love, obsession, and devotion to the MMC are twisted, but the author makes it all make sense.
This book completely consumed me. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve put it down… you catch yourself thinking about it without even realising.
I read the reviews, I read the book description, I checked the tropes… and when I tell you I got beyond what I expected, believe me… you’ll get BEYOND what you can even imagine.
I had a feeling around 16% that the MMC wasn’t what he seemed, and it was revealed around 21%. I flipped the pages so effortlessly, and there wasn’t a single moment where I wasn’t truly engrossed.
The only negative? I’ll never get to read this book for the first time again. I envy all of you new readers who get to experience it fresh.
Rhea—this is truly a brilliant masterpiece. The way you wove this story together is just… genius.
If I could give this 6, 7, 8, 9, even 10 stars, I absolutely would.
If you like dark, twisted, complex characters with truly disturbing themes—I recommend this book.
If you enjoy reading dark romance - read this book!
** EDIT**
Just to note this book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. The ending does leave the “door open” for more but it’s not a cliffhanger 🖤
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
✨ Things you’ll find ✨
🖤 Dark Romance
💀 Stalking
🖤 Kidnapping
💀 Serial Killer
🖤 Cult/secret society
💀 Gothic university setting
🖤 UNHINGED AS F*CK MMC
💀 unhinged FMC
🖤 Complex mental health and trauma representation
💀 Obsessive possessive MMC
🖤 Obsessive possessive FMC
💀 Touch him/her and literally 💀
🖤 Dark and twisted love story
💀 Multi POV (not what you think 👀)
🖤 First person POV
(I could go on) 🤭
✨ My Review ✨
“You’re so fucking pretty with blood on your face,” he finally says, and I melt at those words. His teeth grind, his voice laced with acid. “I hate how pretty you are.”
“I’ll cut out your eyes, pretty girl,” he whispers.
⸻
* As always checked the TWs *
I don’t even know where to start. I’m utterly spellbound and bordering on speechless.
No matter how I write this review it will not do it justice.
Let me tell you…. you have NO IDEA what you’re getting yourself into when you pick up this book. It’s SO MUCH more than the description. I honestly can’t put into words how truly brilliant this book is.
The characters are so complex, and this was one of the most fascinating reads I’ve had in a long, long time.
RHEA… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?
MMC – I don’t want to give anything away, so it’s really hard to explain him without spoilers. But I will say, he is one of the most brilliant MMCs I’ve ever read. Reading from his POV was mind-blowing. He’s experienced immense trauma in his childhood, which leads to a shift I can’t even talk about…. you just have to read it.
Honestly, I could sit here and write and write and write about him and never get bored. He is obsessive, truly unhinged, depraved, brilliant, intelligent-no beyond intelligent. He is so far beyond what you could ever expect. I adore this MMC. The struggles, the way he fights and emerges from it, the sacrifices… I truly could go on forever. My heart broke so many times for him.
FMC – Summer is such a dark and complex character. She’s experienced immense trauma herself, and it has changed her psyche on a fundamental level. She is an incredible FMC…her love, obsession, and devotion to the MMC are twisted, but the author makes it all make sense.
This book completely consumed me. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve put it down… you catch yourself thinking about it without even realising.
I read the reviews, I read the book description, I checked the tropes… and when I tell you I got beyond what I expected, believe me… you’ll get BEYOND what you can even imagine.
I had a feeling around 16% that the MMC wasn’t what he seemed, and it was revealed around 21%. I flipped the pages so effortlessly, and there wasn’t a single moment where I wasn’t truly engrossed.
The only negative? I’ll never get to read this book for the first time again. I envy all of you new readers who get to experience it fresh.
Rhea—this is truly a brilliant masterpiece. The way you wove this story together is just… genius.
If I could give this 6, 7, 8, 9, even 10 stars, I absolutely would.
If you like dark, twisted, complex characters with truly disturbing themes—I recommend this book.
If you enjoy reading dark romance - read this book!
** EDIT**
Just to note this book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. The ending does leave the “door open” for more but it’s not a cliffhanger 🖤
March 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fave Quotes:
“You’re mine, Summer. You’ve always been mine. And if you let anyone else touch you, I’ll kill him.” SWOOON🫠
“I have to admit images of Summer sliced up are starting to turn me on.” UM THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS ATTRACTIVE AS I THOUGHT IT WAS🥵🤣
“She shouldn’t have feelings for me- everything about Summer and I is wrong, and that’s what makes it so special.”🥹🫶🏻
“I vividly imagine Misty’s eyes gouged out, and that thought brings a sweet smile to my face, even though it shouldn’t” Okay gurrllll we love a murderous FMC🤭
“We own you, Summer. We’ve owned your mind and soul since you were young… since the first day we found out you existed.” Ughhh I love them so much😍
“If Lincoln has another girl down here, I will be the one doing the slaughtering. And it won’t be her… I’ll mutilate him.” UM AS IT SHOULD BEEEE🤭
“It’s easier to fall in love with a monster than to admit you are one.” Periodddd.
“I’d sacrifice everything to feel emotions, but I’d give up my soul to experience a single second of loving her.” Falling more and more in love with Lincoln as I reread these quotes.
“Not a day will go by where I don’t want you, or think about you, or watch your every move. You’re the only reason I’m still alive. You are the only reason I want to live. We were meant to be together, baby, and I’ll slaughter this entire town if I can’t have you.” Mikeal, I’m afraid I love you too and I realize that might make me f*cked up but I just can’t help it🥹❤️
“I’m still him. He loved you so much, Summer, that in the final moments we fused, he gave me all of it. He gave me his conscience, his love, anger, remorse. I feel everything, baby, and now, I have to take accountability for my trauma.” SCREAMMINGGGGG I LOVE THEM SO MUCH😍😍
Review:
This book did not go how I expected it to go and ya know I’m not mad about it at all okay.
First off let’s talk about Summer. Summer is the FMC and she’s starting her first year at Kinsman University, a prestigious college known for their psychology department. I absolutely loved her internal battle between knowing the difference in what’s “right” and wanting what’s considered wrong. She is such a mess throughout the whole book fighting this internal battle and I love it. She was such a strong FMC and had been through some stuff and along the way she starts to embrace who she is as a person.
Next Lincoln, my manssss🥵 I absolutely love love love him. Like top 5 book boyfriend material okay, I don’t make the rules🤷🏻♀️ I absolutely love how he tries to protect Summer throughout this whole book but still doesn’t shelter her from anything and helps her come into herself as a person. I love how he’s a sociopath but he starts forming real emotions and falls in love with Summer🥹 ugh perfection honestly chefs kiss🤌🏻
Finally let’s get onto Mikeal, ugh my poor sweet baby boy Mikeal 🥹 honestly top tier book boyfriend as well and I know what does that say about me? Well honestly probably that I’m messed up in the head but we’ll ignore that part🤭 I loved him so much and the trauma he went through and the fact that he never processed it correctly broke my heart.
The plot? It was so good and kept me guessing. I’m trying not to give too much away but I’m now realizing why most of my reviews are pretty bland and generic hahah I absolutely loved the balance between thriller and romance that was in this book!! It focused on the romance while also not losing sight of the plot which is what I always look for especially in dark romance books. I never would’ve guessed half the stuff that went on in this book and I loved it. Definitely add to your TBR.
Fave Quotes:
“You’re mine, Summer. You’ve always been mine. And if you let anyone else touch you, I’ll kill him.” SWOOON🫠
“I have to admit images of Summer sliced up are starting to turn me on.” UM THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS ATTRACTIVE AS I THOUGHT IT WAS🥵🤣
“She shouldn’t have feelings for me- everything about Summer and I is wrong, and that’s what makes it so special.”🥹🫶🏻
“I vividly imagine Misty’s eyes gouged out, and that thought brings a sweet smile to my face, even though it shouldn’t” Okay gurrllll we love a murderous FMC🤭
“We own you, Summer. We’ve owned your mind and soul since you were young… since the first day we found out you existed.” Ughhh I love them so much😍
“If Lincoln has another girl down here, I will be the one doing the slaughtering. And it won’t be her… I’ll mutilate him.” UM AS IT SHOULD BEEEE🤭
“It’s easier to fall in love with a monster than to admit you are one.” Periodddd.
“I’d sacrifice everything to feel emotions, but I’d give up my soul to experience a single second of loving her.” Falling more and more in love with Lincoln as I reread these quotes.
“Not a day will go by where I don’t want you, or think about you, or watch your every move. You’re the only reason I’m still alive. You are the only reason I want to live. We were meant to be together, baby, and I’ll slaughter this entire town if I can’t have you.” Mikeal, I’m afraid I love you too and I realize that might make me f*cked up but I just can’t help it🥹❤️
“I’m still him. He loved you so much, Summer, that in the final moments we fused, he gave me all of it. He gave me his conscience, his love, anger, remorse. I feel everything, baby, and now, I have to take accountability for my trauma.” SCREAMMINGGGGG I LOVE THEM SO MUCH😍😍
Review:
This book did not go how I expected it to go and ya know I’m not mad about it at all okay.
First off let’s talk about Summer. Summer is the FMC and she’s starting her first year at Kinsman University, a prestigious college known for their psychology department. I absolutely loved her internal battle between knowing the difference in what’s “right” and wanting what’s considered wrong. She is such a mess throughout the whole book fighting this internal battle and I love it. She was such a strong FMC and had been through some stuff and along the way she starts to embrace who she is as a person.
Next Lincoln, my manssss🥵 I absolutely love love love him. Like top 5 book boyfriend material okay, I don’t make the rules🤷🏻♀️ I absolutely love how he tries to protect Summer throughout this whole book but still doesn’t shelter her from anything and helps her come into herself as a person. I love how he’s a sociopath but he starts forming real emotions and falls in love with Summer🥹 ugh perfection honestly chefs kiss🤌🏻
Finally let’s get onto Mikeal, ugh my poor sweet baby boy Mikeal 🥹 honestly top tier book boyfriend as well and I know what does that say about me? Well honestly probably that I’m messed up in the head but we’ll ignore that part🤭 I loved him so much and the trauma he went through and the fact that he never processed it correctly broke my heart.
The plot? It was so good and kept me guessing. I’m trying not to give too much away but I’m now realizing why most of my reviews are pretty bland and generic hahah I absolutely loved the balance between thriller and romance that was in this book!! It focused on the romance while also not losing sight of the plot which is what I always look for especially in dark romance books. I never would’ve guessed half the stuff that went on in this book and I loved it. Definitely add to your TBR.
August 17, 2025
dnf 20%
i wish someone killed fmc in the book. she was pathetic, frustrating and mean unnecessarily. she called off her roommate for disrespecting a dead girl being shown on the tv but she was the one who was masturbating to picture of the same dead girl?
she gave major pick me vibes.
i wish someone killed fmc in the book. she was pathetic, frustrating and mean unnecessarily. she called off her roommate for disrespecting a dead girl being shown on the tv but she was the one who was masturbating to picture of the same dead girl?
she gave major pick me vibes.
January 13, 2025
If Rhea writes it, I’m gonna read it.
April 16, 2025
LOVE. This is The Skulls x Urban Legend and had all of my favourite things; dark academia, masked stalker, secret society, serial k1ller on campus and the spice was SPICYYY. The setup for the prequel novels was perfect and I cannot wait to return to Kinsmen University! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
“Dark woods, a legendary slasher, a secret cult that kills people. What could possibly go wrong tonight?”
“Dark woods, a legendary slasher, a secret cult that kills people. What could possibly go wrong tonight?”
April 19, 2025
the psychology aspect to this book was fascinating! but boy oh boy was this an absolute roller coaster and MESSED UP. possessive and primal. i loved this!!
August 18, 2025
DNF. The writing wasn’t for me.
August 6, 2025
the way i crave & long to be cursed with the mark of death by shadowface is unhealthy
❥ “𝒊’𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊’𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓.”
secret societies/cults x urban legend x studying psychology at a university + professor x student
rhea you atee with this banger !!
this cover immediately drew me in ever since i added it to my tbr and i had to get into it, once i did i could NOT put it down !!
i’ll never not love a book that leaves me in a intertwined mindfuck
❥ “𝒊’𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒊 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊 𝒅𝒐, 𝒊’𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
lincoln & mikael, mans was absolutely primal, possessive & obsessive with multiple complex personalities. like how can you not want one man having a lethal urge to kill you and the other kill for you?!?! come onnn
it’s kinda difficult to say more things about them without giving too much away. you’ll have to experience them for yourself but hear me out when i say go get your hands on this book asap !!
me & summer have the most diabolical death fetish.
when she started to get murderyyyy and thinking of gouging out mistys eyeballs. so girlfriend coded
the evolvement of their love, trauma & pain was beyond top notch, i could read another 400+ pages and never get tired.
dear lord hold me back because shadowface 1979 is being released next year
❥ “𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆.” 𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒅.
“𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.”
i’m so entangled in them. may this kind of love haunt me ∞ 🖤
❥ “𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒉. 𝒘𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏.” [… or hell?]
❥ “𝒊’𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊’𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓.”
secret societies/cults x urban legend x studying psychology at a university + professor x student
rhea you atee with this banger !!
this cover immediately drew me in ever since i added it to my tbr and i had to get into it, once i did i could NOT put it down !!
i’ll never not love a book that leaves me in a intertwined mindfuck
❥ “𝒊’𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒊 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊 𝒅𝒐, 𝒊’𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
lincoln & mikael, mans was absolutely primal, possessive & obsessive with multiple complex personalities. like how can you not want one man having a lethal urge to kill you and the other kill for you?!?! come onnn
it’s kinda difficult to say more things about them without giving too much away. you’ll have to experience them for yourself but hear me out when i say go get your hands on this book asap !!
me & summer have the most diabolical death fetish.
when she started to get murderyyyy and thinking of gouging out mistys eyeballs. so girlfriend coded
the evolvement of their love, trauma & pain was beyond top notch, i could read another 400+ pages and never get tired.
dear lord hold me back because shadowface 1979 is being released next year
❥ “𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆.” 𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒅.
“𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.”
i’m so entangled in them. may this kind of love haunt me ∞ 🖤
❥ “𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒉. 𝒘𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏.” [… or hell?]
April 15, 2025
“𝓘’𝓭 𝓼𝓪𝓬𝓻𝓲𝓯𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘’𝓭 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓾𝓹 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓵 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓪 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓮𝓻.“
🥀ARC Review🥀
I don’t even know where to start. I am absolutely blown away by this book! It is like nothing I have ever personally read!! Summer follows her father’s footsteps and starts her college education at Kinsmen University to study psychology. There’s stories surrounding the college about secret societies and a dark entity Shadowface. During her first day a photo of a de@d girl was sent to the entire class and everything starts to unfold. Was her nameless monster the one they call Shadowface?
When I tell you this book threw me for a LOOP! I loved every single page! I never knew who to trust or what was gonna happen next. This book is so dark and has this dark academia feel along with morally grey characters. I want to keep this as vague as possible because going into this book blind will take you on an absolute ride and will have you saying “WHAT?!” In the best way possible!!
Check your trigger this book is DARK!!
🥀TROPES🥀
💀Masked Man 🖤Secret Society 💀Professor/student 🖤Razor Blades 💀Dark College Romance 🖤Revenge 💀Serial Unaliver 🖤Insane Spice 💀Complex Lore 🖤Psychological Thriller
🥀ARC Review🥀
I don’t even know where to start. I am absolutely blown away by this book! It is like nothing I have ever personally read!! Summer follows her father’s footsteps and starts her college education at Kinsmen University to study psychology. There’s stories surrounding the college about secret societies and a dark entity Shadowface. During her first day a photo of a de@d girl was sent to the entire class and everything starts to unfold. Was her nameless monster the one they call Shadowface?
When I tell you this book threw me for a LOOP! I loved every single page! I never knew who to trust or what was gonna happen next. This book is so dark and has this dark academia feel along with morally grey characters. I want to keep this as vague as possible because going into this book blind will take you on an absolute ride and will have you saying “WHAT?!” In the best way possible!!
Check your trigger this book is DARK!!
🥀TROPES🥀
💀Masked Man 🖤Secret Society 💀Professor/student 🖤Razor Blades 💀Dark College Romance 🖤Revenge 💀Serial Unaliver 🖤Insane Spice 💀Complex Lore 🖤Psychological Thriller
May 1, 2025
I had no idea what to expect from Rhea Ryan with this book but man it blew me away!! I was so impressed by how well she wrote the MMC. She pulled off the multiple personality thing so well! Have you seen that Split movie? I can't get over it. Did I find myself falling in love with him?........yes. No regrets. I never knew what was going to happen next and that ending left me shooketh!! LIKE WHAT!!! I need more. I am so excited for the next book in this series. If you haven't started it yet, you are in for a wild ride. Everytime I see someone with a potato sack mask in a show or movie, I think about this book. It's going to live rent free in my head forever.
March 6, 2025
This was absolutely mind blowing! 🤯 Please, please check TW’s before reading but in my mind this was a very clever put together psychological thriller. I was captivated right from Chapter One with the intense storyline. I’ve always been fascinated with psychology and this kept me enthralled!
The characters were complex but you could not help getting sucked into their world! The plot was fantastic, it kept me on the edge of my seat and the spice was off the charts. I really liked the build up to the ending, it was so good that I was biting my nails constantly. Fantastic read!
The characters were complex but you could not help getting sucked into their world! The plot was fantastic, it kept me on the edge of my seat and the spice was off the charts. I really liked the build up to the ending, it was so good that I was biting my nails constantly. Fantastic read!
May 2, 2025
This book was really good! It kept me interested & intrigued all of the way through. It amazes me how many dark tropes Rhea Ryan was able to add to 440 pages, fabulous job!
There are TW's attached to this book, please read those before jumping in. I loved the dark romance genre. Some of the dark tropes that I enjoyed are: Secret Society, Stalking, Serial Killers, Touch and Perish. There are MANY more.
The FMC is completely unhinged which was exciting. She kept me turning the pages. Reading this book will give you all of the dark depravity you need without a doubt.
There are TW's attached to this book, please read those before jumping in. I loved the dark romance genre. Some of the dark tropes that I enjoyed are: Secret Society, Stalking, Serial Killers, Touch and Perish. There are MANY more.
The FMC is completely unhinged which was exciting. She kept me turning the pages. Reading this book will give you all of the dark depravity you need without a doubt.
March 14, 2025
Summer + Lincoln + Mikael
-dark academia
-secret society
-revenge plot
-professor/student
-stalker/serial unaliver
-DID representation
wooowwwww omg this story took me for soooo many twists & turns & reallllyyyy pushed some darrrkkkneesss on these babies!! but really they were sooo perfect for each other, it was nasty & filthy & degrading & grossss....which obviously means it was PERFECTTTTT 😏😉
-dark academia
-secret society
-revenge plot
-professor/student
-stalker/serial unaliver
-DID representation
wooowwwww omg this story took me for soooo many twists & turns & reallllyyyy pushed some darrrkkkneesss on these babies!! but really they were sooo perfect for each other, it was nasty & filthy & degrading & grossss....which obviously means it was PERFECTTTTT 😏😉
May 4, 2025
“I’d sacrifice everything to feel emotions, but I’d give up my soul to experience a single second of loving her.”
OMG! This story was mind-blowing! It has left me utterly speechless and shocked over everything I just read. I had no idea how this story was going to go. I had many guesses and assumptions along the way but NOPE I was wrong. I had no idea how diabolical and unhinged this story was going to be.
The storyline was eerie, thrilling and intriguing. The characters are complex, damaged and totally unhinged.
Lincoln is such a brilliant man who makes you fall in love with him even though he’s unpredictable, depraved, and dangerous.
Summer is a twisted and messed up young woman. There is a darkness in her that she can’t escape but is brought closer to the surface every time she interacts with Lincoln.
“You’re mine, Summer. You’ve always been mine. And if you let anyone else touch you, I’ll kill him.”
The banter was perfect, the emotional turmoil oozed off the pages and the sexual tension was utterly delicious.
“It’s easier to fall in love with a monster than to admit you are one.”
I don’t want to give anything away because this is definitely a story you need to experience for yourself.
Brilliantly written with such amazing characters and with a storyline that had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails with anxiety and trying to keep my jaw from continually dropping to the floor!
It was so freaking good!!!
OMG! This story was mind-blowing! It has left me utterly speechless and shocked over everything I just read. I had no idea how this story was going to go. I had many guesses and assumptions along the way but NOPE I was wrong. I had no idea how diabolical and unhinged this story was going to be.
The storyline was eerie, thrilling and intriguing. The characters are complex, damaged and totally unhinged.
Lincoln is such a brilliant man who makes you fall in love with him even though he’s unpredictable, depraved, and dangerous.
Summer is a twisted and messed up young woman. There is a darkness in her that she can’t escape but is brought closer to the surface every time she interacts with Lincoln.
“You’re mine, Summer. You’ve always been mine. And if you let anyone else touch you, I’ll kill him.”
The banter was perfect, the emotional turmoil oozed off the pages and the sexual tension was utterly delicious.
“It’s easier to fall in love with a monster than to admit you are one.”
I don’t want to give anything away because this is definitely a story you need to experience for yourself.
Brilliantly written with such amazing characters and with a storyline that had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails with anxiety and trying to keep my jaw from continually dropping to the floor!
It was so freaking good!!!
April 15, 2025
•Shadowface• Rhea Ryan•
•Release Day: April 15, 2025•
“I’d sacrifice everything to feel emotions, but I’d give up my soul to experience a single second of loving her.”
Basically, if Rhea Ryan writes it, I’m going to read it and so should you! Shadowface is one of my most anticipated releases of 2025 and I was lucky enough to be chosen as an ARC reader.
The research this masterpiece must have required of Rhea is impressive. I feel like I learned more from Mikael, Lincoln, and Summer’s story than I did from the three college psych courses I took.
Shadowface is a dark college gothic lore romance centered on freshman Summer Landry. Summer begins college at Kinsmen University, her father’s Alma Mater, and is enrolled in the psychology course he literally wrote the book on. Things start to spiral quickly with the 20 year return of the town serial killer…and he has a preference for girls who look just like Summer, and just maybe she likes that aspect.
I could not put Shadowface down. As much as I tried not to love him, well, have you met any of Rhea’s other emotionally disturbed men? They MAKE you love them, flaws and all.
Get ready for an emotional ride like you have never experienced before, and then start counting the days with me until we meet
Shadowface: 1979!
Also, never looking at sticks the same…iykyk!
•Psychological Thriller
•Serial Unaliver
•Stalker
•Secret Society
•Split Personalities
•Mask Men
•Complex Lore
Rating: 🖤x5
Genre: Dark Gothic College Romance
Length: 440 pages
Audiobook: No
Series/Standalone: Book One
•Shadowface: 1979•coming soon!•
•Release Day: April 15, 2025•
“I’d sacrifice everything to feel emotions, but I’d give up my soul to experience a single second of loving her.”
Basically, if Rhea Ryan writes it, I’m going to read it and so should you! Shadowface is one of my most anticipated releases of 2025 and I was lucky enough to be chosen as an ARC reader.
The research this masterpiece must have required of Rhea is impressive. I feel like I learned more from Mikael, Lincoln, and Summer’s story than I did from the three college psych courses I took.
Shadowface is a dark college gothic lore romance centered on freshman Summer Landry. Summer begins college at Kinsmen University, her father’s Alma Mater, and is enrolled in the psychology course he literally wrote the book on. Things start to spiral quickly with the 20 year return of the town serial killer…and he has a preference for girls who look just like Summer, and just maybe she likes that aspect.
I could not put Shadowface down. As much as I tried not to love him, well, have you met any of Rhea’s other emotionally disturbed men? They MAKE you love them, flaws and all.
Get ready for an emotional ride like you have never experienced before, and then start counting the days with me until we meet
Shadowface: 1979!
Also, never looking at sticks the same…iykyk!
•Psychological Thriller
•Serial Unaliver
•Stalker
•Secret Society
•Split Personalities
•Mask Men
•Complex Lore
Rating: 🖤x5
Genre: Dark Gothic College Romance
Length: 440 pages
Audiobook: No
Series/Standalone: Book One
•Shadowface: 1979•coming soon!•
March 6, 2025
4⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rhea has done it again!! I really enjoyed her Pretty little island series so when I heard this book was coming out I had to read. But I got in on the ARC?!!! My first ARC?!?! So cool!!
This book was everything you could want from a dark romance. The first couple chapters I was hooked due to the psychology aspect regarding Summer and Lincoln in general. Both stories separately was so engaging but how they intertwined was great. Rhea has such a talent in writing dark romance that you really engage with the story and what happens with the characters.
This was my favorite dark romance of the year for sure!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rhea has done it again!! I really enjoyed her Pretty little island series so when I heard this book was coming out I had to read. But I got in on the ARC?!!! My first ARC?!?! So cool!!
This book was everything you could want from a dark romance. The first couple chapters I was hooked due to the psychology aspect regarding Summer and Lincoln in general. Both stories separately was so engaging but how they intertwined was great. Rhea has such a talent in writing dark romance that you really engage with the story and what happens with the characters.
This was my favorite dark romance of the year for sure!!
March 29, 2025
Oh my good god this book is a RIDE!! From the moment I picked it up I was hooked. The idea of a secret society and a serial killer in a dark college romance just blew my brain up! I loved experiencing everything the characters experienced and I’ve never had a book make me genuinely paranoid like this one did at some points. The way Rhea pulls you into the world and makes you feel like the main character is like nothing I’ve ever read. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know that loves a dark and psychologically thrilling college romance.
June 13, 2025
I spent this entire book rooting for somebody/anybody to kill the FMC. I despised her from beginning to end.
This story does not progress well. From the start, the FMC immediately starts jumping to conclusions, using very thin, tenuous threads connecting who she suspects is messaging her, with no context in the beginning that could lead the reader to following how the FMC comes up with these theories.
There were just so many points in this book where I thought about DNFing, which I have no issue doing normally. I guess I was hoping there would be some redeeming factors??? But alas, no.
And good grief, the FMC’s attitude…goes off on a new roommate, Misty, for supposedly disrespecting a dead girl being shown on TV, though not even a couple nights before she was masturbating to a pic of said dead girl??? Let’s not forget, the FMC being nasty about her new roommate being a blonde, but that’s okay because “I’m prettier”
Once again, the further I read, the more I despised the FMC…she is a nasty piece of work. A guy shows interest in her, she tells him she is not interested, calls him stupid, but then as soon as her new roommate, Misty, expresses interest, the FMC snaps at Misty: “He’s not into you; he’s into me”.
It took the FMC over a third of the way into the book to acknowledge she was being “mean”. Oh no, but wait, just kidding…back to being a twat & saying “I don’t like fake people”. Pot, meet kettle.
This girl. The FMC can’t really be written as that oblivious: “How did you know it was me?” Says the girl with white hair that’s not hidden cuz she’s wearing a mask that just covers her face. FFS.
There is simply nothing I liked or enjoyed about this FMC.
The only redeeming and slightly interesting part to this story was the DID characters.
This story does not progress well. From the start, the FMC immediately starts jumping to conclusions, using very thin, tenuous threads connecting who she suspects is messaging her, with no context in the beginning that could lead the reader to following how the FMC comes up with these theories.
There were just so many points in this book where I thought about DNFing, which I have no issue doing normally. I guess I was hoping there would be some redeeming factors??? But alas, no.
And good grief, the FMC’s attitude…goes off on a new roommate, Misty, for supposedly disrespecting a dead girl being shown on TV, though not even a couple nights before she was masturbating to a pic of said dead girl??? Let’s not forget, the FMC being nasty about her new roommate being a blonde, but that’s okay because “I’m prettier”
Once again, the further I read, the more I despised the FMC…she is a nasty piece of work. A guy shows interest in her, she tells him she is not interested, calls him stupid, but then as soon as her new roommate, Misty, expresses interest, the FMC snaps at Misty: “He’s not into you; he’s into me”.
It took the FMC over a third of the way into the book to acknowledge she was being “mean”. Oh no, but wait, just kidding…back to being a twat & saying “I don’t like fake people”. Pot, meet kettle.
This girl. The FMC can’t really be written as that oblivious: “How did you know it was me?” Says the girl with white hair that’s not hidden cuz she’s wearing a mask that just covers her face. FFS.
There is simply nothing I liked or enjoyed about this FMC.
The only redeeming and slightly interesting part to this story was the DID characters.
April 15, 2025
This book... this book was an absolute whirlwind in the best way. I was trying my best to figure out what was gonna happen before it happened, and- not so news flash- I was wrong. 😅😅 I honestly can't blame Summer for her feelings for SF because I would've left my window open too. 😉😉 If you like secret society, mystery, and "oh, sh!t!! Wait, what??" moments with your dark romance, then read this book. You won't regret it!! Highly recommend!!
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5/5🌶🌶🌶½
⚠️Check Tws and CWs!!⚠️
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5/5🌶🌶🌶½
⚠️Check Tws and CWs!!⚠️
April 28, 2025
The first half was very strong, I couldn’t put it down. Very dark, creepy and had me in a chokehold. The last half of the book could’ve been shorter. There were a few things that just didn’t need to be added and it lost my attention. It started to mix a mental illness with a bit of paranormal and that felt off to me so in the end I felt a little meh about it all and the way it wrapped up
April 10, 2025
A TOTAL MIND-BLOWING BOOK!!
I don’t even know where to begin to unravel all the mindf@ckery that was in this novel. So I will start by saying this….. Shadowface is the best psychological thriller romance I have EVER READ! It was so well written and very detailed. Rhea Ryan did her research and it has to have taken her down such a dark and disturbing rabbit hole, because that’s exactly what I fell through. I rabbit hole.
The character growth and evolving of this story was extraordinary. Summer had blocks in her memory that she just couldn’t access. Her father being the most well known scientist who wrote books on psychology with a couple of his colleagues. So when Summers father dies and she gets an invitation to attend the college he not only studied at, but also lived and grew up in the town the college is located. Kinnsmen University has sent her an acceptance letter for her to attend and study the psychology the same field as her father.
Unbeknownst to Summer there is more at play here than just an invitation to the university that he studied and taught.
Summer’s mother does not want her to go, but she wants to feel closer to her father and be where he spent most of his time.
So her first class she has Dr. T Garcia, and T.A. Lincoln Kennedy. Two of the most brilliant minds whom worked on the same psychology text as Summer’s father. When Lincoln looks at her it looks as though he is looking right through Summer.
As the book goes on and you find out what is actually happening at the University. Things start getting intense and scary. She remembers a boy from her childhood Mikael. Said he only was at her house once and she never saw him again. However she may not have seen him, but he sure saw her.
Now things start to slide into place as the puzzle pieces line up. She could have never even fathomed what was truly happening at that school or what was happening every time she see Lincoln. Although she swears his name is Mikeal.
She has to prove she belongs there and to make her father proud.
More twists and turns than a hairpin curve is what we get. I normally can figure out the story in the first 10 chapters, but Rhea stumped me. So much more…this is a beautifully created masterpiece and should be read very carefully and with your eye wide open.
‼️please check trigger warning‼️‼️ this is not a request. It has some very dark, mental health issues from trauma for being a boy. Trying to make a wrong right is proving to be very difficult. I am so ready for Shadowface 1979.
Thank you Rhea for taking me in this magnificent journey. I did fall in love with Mikeal and Lincoln I think u may the even fell in love with “fury”
I can not wait until 1979 and find out what happened to Didi, Kevin’s mother and her father in law that no longer has anything to do with them.
Questions, questions and MORE QUESTIONS.
💀read at your own risk, but please check the triggers 💀
I don’t even know where to begin to unravel all the mindf@ckery that was in this novel. So I will start by saying this….. Shadowface is the best psychological thriller romance I have EVER READ! It was so well written and very detailed. Rhea Ryan did her research and it has to have taken her down such a dark and disturbing rabbit hole, because that’s exactly what I fell through. I rabbit hole.
The character growth and evolving of this story was extraordinary. Summer had blocks in her memory that she just couldn’t access. Her father being the most well known scientist who wrote books on psychology with a couple of his colleagues. So when Summers father dies and she gets an invitation to attend the college he not only studied at, but also lived and grew up in the town the college is located. Kinnsmen University has sent her an acceptance letter for her to attend and study the psychology the same field as her father.
Unbeknownst to Summer there is more at play here than just an invitation to the university that he studied and taught.
Summer’s mother does not want her to go, but she wants to feel closer to her father and be where he spent most of his time.
So her first class she has Dr. T Garcia, and T.A. Lincoln Kennedy. Two of the most brilliant minds whom worked on the same psychology text as Summer’s father. When Lincoln looks at her it looks as though he is looking right through Summer.
As the book goes on and you find out what is actually happening at the University. Things start getting intense and scary. She remembers a boy from her childhood Mikael. Said he only was at her house once and she never saw him again. However she may not have seen him, but he sure saw her.
Now things start to slide into place as the puzzle pieces line up. She could have never even fathomed what was truly happening at that school or what was happening every time she see Lincoln. Although she swears his name is Mikeal.
She has to prove she belongs there and to make her father proud.
More twists and turns than a hairpin curve is what we get. I normally can figure out the story in the first 10 chapters, but Rhea stumped me. So much more…this is a beautifully created masterpiece and should be read very carefully and with your eye wide open.
‼️please check trigger warning‼️‼️ this is not a request. It has some very dark, mental health issues from trauma for being a boy. Trying to make a wrong right is proving to be very difficult. I am so ready for Shadowface 1979.
Thank you Rhea for taking me in this magnificent journey. I did fall in love with Mikeal and Lincoln I think u may the even fell in love with “fury”
I can not wait until 1979 and find out what happened to Didi, Kevin’s mother and her father in law that no longer has anything to do with them.
Questions, questions and MORE QUESTIONS.
💀read at your own risk, but please check the triggers 💀
June 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶.5
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Definitely read if you like something a bit different but still dark, twisted and a bit fucked up...
We are introduced to the MMC, Lincoln, and the FMC, Summer, two characters who are both a bit twisted in their own ways and far from innocent. There’s a heavy air of mystery surrounding them, with layers waiting to be unraveled as the plot delves deeper into the secret society haunting the college and town.
The author doesn’t keep you in the dark for long. By about 10% in, I already had a good idea of what was happening, and by 20%, my suspicions were confirmed. This book isn’t about trying to outsmart the reader or keep you guessing; it’s about the chaotic, unsettling events unfolding at the college and the secrets that drive them.
Summer is no naive or clueless heroine. She carries her own dark past and demons and approaches situations with a sharp, unfiltered mindset. She’s fearless, sometimes to the point where I found myself thinking, “Girl, don’t you dare do that... oh, you really just did.” She isn’t a princess or a damsel in distress; she’s fascinated, almost obsessed, with the college’s darker side and its buried secrets. Her fixation on Lincoln, her TA, borders on unhinged. He outwardly despises her while secretly longing for her, all while she’s pursued by a stalker who wants her dead. And yet, she finds the idea of dying strangely erotic. So bring it on, Shadowface.
Although there’s plenty of romance, spice, and some absolutely wild moments between Summer and Lincoln, the story offers much more than just their relationship. The mysteries of the college town run deep, and together they must confront the darkness that binds them both.
This was one of the free Stuff Your Kindle day books, and they are always a toss up for me, but this one definitely was gold.
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🩶 Morally Grey MMC 🩶
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ Death wish
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC & FMC
✅ Unhinged FMC & MMC
✅ College
✅ Secret Society
✅ Multiple POV’s (first person)
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ Virgin FMC (he was her first long time ago, and no one else since)
✅ Found Family
✅ He falls first
✅ Stalker
✅ Masked MMC
✅ 🔪 Play
✅ 🩸Bløød Play
✅ Serial Unaliver
✅ MINE
✅ HFN (but open)
🌶🌶🌶.5
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Definitely read if you like something a bit different but still dark, twisted and a bit f
We are introduced to the MMC, Lincoln, and the FMC, Summer, two characters who are both a bit twisted in their own ways and far from innocent. There’s a heavy air of mystery surrounding them, with layers waiting to be unraveled as the plot delves deeper into the secret society haunting the college and town.
The author doesn’t keep you in the dark for long. By about 10% in, I already had a good idea of what was happening, and by 20%, my suspicions were confirmed. This book isn’t about trying to outsmart the reader or keep you guessing; it’s about the chaotic, unsettling events unfolding at the college and the secrets that drive them.
Summer is no naive or clueless heroine. She carries her own dark past and demons and approaches situations with a sharp, unfiltered mindset. She’s fearless, sometimes to the point where I found myself thinking, “Girl, don’t you dare do that... oh, you really just did.” She isn’t a princess or a damsel in distress; she’s fascinated, almost obsessed, with the college’s darker side and its buried secrets. Her fixation on Lincoln, her TA, borders on unhinged. He outwardly despises her while secretly longing for her, all while she’s pursued by a stalker who wants her dead. And yet, she finds the idea of dying strangely erotic. So bring it on, Shadowface.
Although there’s plenty of romance, spice, and some absolutely wild moments between Summer and Lincoln, the story offers much more than just their relationship. The mysteries of the college town run deep, and together they must confront the darkness that binds them both.
This was one of the free Stuff Your Kindle day books, and they are always a toss up for me, but this one definitely was gold.
⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🩶 Morally Grey MMC 🩶
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ D
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC & FMC
✅ Unhinged FMC & MMC
✅ College
✅ Secret Society
✅ Multiple POV’s (first person)
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ Virgin FMC (he was her first long time ago, and no one else since)
✅ Found Family
✅ He falls first
✅ Stalker
✅ Masked MMC
✅ 🔪 Play
✅ 🩸Bløød Play
✅ Serial Unaliver
✅ MINE
✅ HFN (but open)
March 8, 2025
Wow.
I have been waiting for months to get to read this book!
This is truly a dark twisted romance….and I would read it again! The psychological research that went into this had to be extensive.
Again, it is a very DARK romance and has a lot of twists and turns, so be sure to check your trigger warnings. The beginning does have a lot of flashbacks which do help lay a foundation for what is to come.
🖤Possessive MMC
🖤Stalker
🖤secrete Society
🖤Dark College Romance
🖤TA/Student
🖤Psychological Thriller
🖤Revenge
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️- there is a lot of descriptive open door scenes but it is also balanced out with the plot of the story.
First person dual pov.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am beyond thankful for getting the opportunity to get to ARC read this book. Thank Rhea for allowing me this experience.
I have been waiting for months to get to read this book!
This is truly a dark twisted romance….and I would read it again! The psychological research that went into this had to be extensive.
Again, it is a very DARK romance and has a lot of twists and turns, so be sure to check your trigger warnings. The beginning does have a lot of flashbacks which do help lay a foundation for what is to come.
🖤Possessive MMC
🖤Stalker
🖤secrete Society
🖤Dark College Romance
🖤TA/Student
🖤Psychological Thriller
🖤Revenge
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️- there is a lot of descriptive open door scenes but it is also balanced out with the plot of the story.
First person dual pov.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am beyond thankful for getting the opportunity to get to ARC read this book. Thank Rhea for allowing me this experience.
March 8, 2025
UGH, I don’t even know where to begin with this crazy dark romance story.
The FMC, Summer is headstrong, determined, and probably should be more scared than she is.
The MMC, Lincoln is her college TA. Who doesn’t go unnoticed.
There is so much more to this story than what is lead on, this is my first book i’ve read from Rhea Ryan and she killed it.
I loved the incorporation of the psychology class and the information we learned about DID.
I felt like I was inside Mikaels head sometimes reading, and it’s so fascinating
I can’t wait for Shadowface 1979
The FMC, Summer is headstrong, determined, and probably should be more scared than she is.
The MMC, Lincoln is her college TA. Who doesn’t go unnoticed.
There is so much more to this story than what is lead on, this is my first book i’ve read from Rhea Ryan and she killed it.
I loved the incorporation of the psychology class and the information we learned about DID.
I felt like I was inside Mikaels head sometimes reading, and it’s so fascinating
I can’t wait for Shadowface 1979
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2025
Damn I love reading dark books. It's addictive and invigorating. Crazy psychosis in characters will forever be my favorite thing to read about. Trying to understand what's going to happen next, it just keeps you on your toes the whole time. I still don't know who my favorite was.. I don't think I could choose..ah I just loved it all.
April 7, 2025
It's one of my top reads of this year! This book was definitely not what I was expecting, and I'm so glad for that! This book blew my mind and had me stopping and walking around trying to figure and piece things together. You want to question everything you think you know? This book is for you! I'm obsessed with summers attitude🤣 don't even get me started on Mr. Hot professor! I cried, and I screamed, and I laughed. This book is full of emotions for sure. Must read!
May 2, 2025
oh my gosh, Rhea, I couldn't put it down once started fully! this book was beautifully written 🥹🫶💋. I fell in love with all of the characters, especially the main ones! the storyline, plot, and spice were off the hook with main characters, which you will have to read the book to find out who they are, and this amazing book deserves five-star! remember to look at the trigger warnings ⚠️ 🫶🖤🥹🫶🥵
May 4, 2025
This was a delicious read! I couldn't put it down. The characters are dark and unhinged i loved it. Absolutely loved the MMC and also that fact that Summer was also a strong FMC it made things more interesting. The plot was definitely enjoyable. Definitely recommend!
December 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
April 15, 2025
I was given the opportunity to read this as an ARC in return for an honest review:)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
☆ Stalker romance
☆ Professor (TA) x Student
☆ Mental Health rep (DID)
☆ Masked man
☆ Dark college romance
☆ High spice
☆ Secret Society
☆ Pitch black MMC
~~~~~~~
The story: There was so much thought put into this story! The whole idea of psychology and psychopathy being the main underlying theme of the book was such a good move and I have personally never seen anything like it. I have only taken one psychology course, but I learned enough about myself that I didn’t like being self aware lol ANYWAY! The setting was haunting, and was themed dark academia. Winter/fall vibes every day kinda dark academia hehe some of my favorite! The psychology aspect was done spectacularly and I was so impressed with how it was presented. I don’t know a lot about dissociative identity disorder, but from what I do know is that it takes a TON of trauma at a young age to make your brain create a whole system of fragmented personalities in order to protect your inner conscious of other traumatic events. Even that explanation was crappy, but Rhea did an incredible job on it!
The characters: MY GOODNESS THE CHARACTERS!! Summer was a little frustrating to deal with the first little bit of the book. The whole roommate situation got me grinding my molars a lil bit, but other than that she was a great character to read this book through! And LINCOLN OH MY MANNNNNN!! Well I feel I can’t go into depth with him because I would be talking about multiple characters, and I feel like you just have to experience the MMC to understand him. But he has dissociative identity disorder due to an incredibly traumatic childhood. The character development with both Summer and Lincoln is just insane and I found that their relationship (albeit very unconventional and unethical lol) was just a match made in heaven (or hell, depending on how you look at it lol) and they were just AHHHH I JUST LOVED IT!!
The spice: I rated this a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 on the pepper scale. I usually have the spice scene count but if I’m being honest I lost count lmaoooo and it was GOOD SPICE TOO!! Like new kink kinda good spice 👀 (not for me, but def for others and I get it lol- plz be careful) anyway! It was just a wild ride and I don’t mean figuratively. I mean it quite literally when referring to Summer lmao! Lincoln was gentle at times, and at others… let’s just say he’s a psychopath for a reason…
Overall, I really loved this and I can’t wait for the world to see it!! Thank you again Ms Ryan for the opportunity to read this, and I hope to read more from you in the future!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
☆ Stalker romance
☆ Professor (TA) x Student
☆ Mental Health rep (DID)
☆ Masked man
☆ Dark college romance
☆ High spice
☆ Secret Society
☆ Pitch black MMC
~~~~~~~
The story: There was so much thought put into this story! The whole idea of psychology and psychopathy being the main underlying theme of the book was such a good move and I have personally never seen anything like it. I have only taken one psychology course, but I learned enough about myself that I didn’t like being self aware lol ANYWAY! The setting was haunting, and was themed dark academia. Winter/fall vibes every day kinda dark academia hehe some of my favorite! The psychology aspect was done spectacularly and I was so impressed with how it was presented. I don’t know a lot about dissociative identity disorder, but from what I do know is that it takes a TON of trauma at a young age to make your brain create a whole system of fragmented personalities in order to protect your inner conscious of other traumatic events. Even that explanation was crappy, but Rhea did an incredible job on it!
The characters: MY GOODNESS THE CHARACTERS!! Summer was a little frustrating to deal with the first little bit of the book. The whole roommate situation got me grinding my molars a lil bit, but other than that she was a great character to read this book through! And LINCOLN OH MY MANNNNNN!! Well I feel I can’t go into depth with him because I would be talking about multiple characters, and I feel like you just have to experience the MMC to understand him. But he has dissociative identity disorder due to an incredibly traumatic childhood. The character development with both Summer and Lincoln is just insane and I found that their relationship (albeit very unconventional and unethical lol) was just a match made in heaven (or hell, depending on how you look at it lol) and they were just AHHHH I JUST LOVED IT!!
The spice: I rated this a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 on the pepper scale. I usually have the spice scene count but if I’m being honest I lost count lmaoooo and it was GOOD SPICE TOO!! Like new kink kinda good spice 👀 (not for me, but def for others and I get it lol- plz be careful) anyway! It was just a wild ride and I don’t mean figuratively. I mean it quite literally when referring to Summer lmao! Lincoln was gentle at times, and at others… let’s just say he’s a psychopath for a reason…
Overall, I really loved this and I can’t wait for the world to see it!! Thank you again Ms Ryan for the opportunity to read this, and I hope to read more from you in the future!!
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