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Water's Edge
"We all get what we deserve."
In the depths, Mattie Gibson feels infinite. There is no barrier between her, the water, and the universe. Returning souls to the vast expanse of nothingness is the only way to heal the festering wound inside of her.
It grows like an urge, rotting within, begging to be unleashed;
To drown them.
Those undeserving to breathe.
He is a cosmic agent of death, fueled by rage and the darkness at the core of all humanity. Burning through any and everything he touches, Ripp’s mission is to force gratitude for every ounce of oxygen in the lungs of those he encounters.
Until her—his queen of Death.
Ripp sees the beauty beneath Mattie’s chaos, her monster matching his very own and his darkness drawing her in, threatening to trap her in his all consuming void.
Mattie is the only one who can unravel him, who can bring him to his knees—for he knows he cannot have her, not without snuffing out her light.
Water’s Edge is a dark, paranormal romance with elements of horror inspired by Appalachian folklore. It explores what lies beneath the masks we show the world and the darkness that lurks there. This story is intended for readers 18 and over and has an unconventional HEA. Please check the content warning before you begin.
In the depths, Mattie Gibson feels infinite. There is no barrier between her, the water, and the universe. Returning souls to the vast expanse of nothingness is the only way to heal the festering wound inside of her.
It grows like an urge, rotting within, begging to be unleashed;
To drown them.
Those undeserving to breathe.
He is a cosmic agent of death, fueled by rage and the darkness at the core of all humanity. Burning through any and everything he touches, Ripp’s mission is to force gratitude for every ounce of oxygen in the lungs of those he encounters.
Until her—his queen of Death.
Ripp sees the beauty beneath Mattie’s chaos, her monster matching his very own and his darkness drawing her in, threatening to trap her in his all consuming void.
Mattie is the only one who can unravel him, who can bring him to his knees—for he knows he cannot have her, not without snuffing out her light.
Water’s Edge is a dark, paranormal romance with elements of horror inspired by Appalachian folklore. It explores what lies beneath the masks we show the world and the darkness that lurks there. This story is intended for readers 18 and over and has an unconventional HEA. Please check the content warning before you begin.
ebook
Published November 11, 2024
52 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Ash Redd
8 books67 followersAsh Redd is a swamp demon pretending to be a writer. She drags her readers into her own realm of dark and twisted romance. Expect to dive into the depths of the depravity of humanity and the supernatural. She enjoys all things spooky, strange, and unusual.
Ash lives on her small homestead with her family, a flock of chickens, and her pack of hellhounds. When she’s not not writing, she’s probably watching Twilight, for the thousandth time, or hockey.
Ash invites readers to embark on a journey through their own shadows, exploring the dark corners of the human heart and the unknown.
Ash lives on her small homestead with her family, a flock of chickens, and her pack of hellhounds. When she’s not not writing, she’s probably watching Twilight, for the thousandth time, or hockey.
Ash invites readers to embark on a journey through their own shadows, exploring the dark corners of the human heart and the unknown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
November 21, 2024
⭐️4.5/5
🌶️5/5
As a girl who lives in the Appalachia’s and grew up with all the rules mentioned in this book - and then some I truly enjoyed this book.
A skinwalker is called many things, it really is based off geography and local terminology. Either way the jest is the same wherever you fall. Don’t run, you hear a voice? No you didn’t. Keep calm, don’t look back.
I’m truly a sucker for these romance stories, the paranormal aspects, the idea of the monster gaining a soul for the human they grow to care for… it’s one of my favorite things.
I loved the character arcs for both MCs, and I enjoy that it was an HEA.
So that being said, if you’re looking for a paranormal romance based of Appalachia folklore, with a overly protective and possessive MMC who is obsessed with the FMC and is willing to do anything to ensure her safety and to ensure they get to be together for eternity. Where the FMC is a bad*ss unaliver who only unalives men who are women harassers , who becomes equally as obsessed and possessive of the MMC then this is for you.
🌶️5/5
As a girl who lives in the Appalachia’s and grew up with all the rules mentioned in this book - and then some I truly enjoyed this book.
A skinwalker is called many things, it really is based off geography and local terminology. Either way the jest is the same wherever you fall. Don’t run, you hear a voice? No you didn’t. Keep calm, don’t look back.
I’m truly a sucker for these romance stories, the paranormal aspects, the idea of the monster gaining a soul for the human they grow to care for… it’s one of my favorite things.
I loved the character arcs for both MCs, and I enjoy that it was an HEA.
So that being said, if you’re looking for a paranormal romance based of Appalachia folklore, with a overly protective and possessive MMC who is obsessed with the FMC and is willing to do anything to ensure her safety and to ensure they get to be together for eternity. Where the FMC is a bad*ss unaliver who only unalives men who are women harassers , who becomes equally as obsessed and possessive of the MMC then this is for you.
October 31, 2024
I was so excited to be an ARC reader for this book, so here is my honest opinion:
I usually don't read much paranormal romance, and not because I don't enjoy it, but mostly because sometimes i find it hard to follow. However, Ash made it SO easy and I absolutely loved this book. From the beginning, there were multiple pages explaining some of the slang that the characters use which was helpful to look back on while reading.
Waters Edge takes place in the Appalachian Mountains and is about Ripp & Mattie. The author set the scene so incredibly beautiful, I was at work reading most of it and I felt like i was there with them. The writing style was ethereal in the way she described the scenery and characters. I was in shock that this was this author's debut novel!!!
I am not going to spoil anything, as the book is not released yet, but 100% recommend reading this book, especially if you like paranormal romance.
Thank you, Ash for letting me be apart of the Arc team on this one <3
I usually don't read much paranormal romance, and not because I don't enjoy it, but mostly because sometimes i find it hard to follow. However, Ash made it SO easy and I absolutely loved this book. From the beginning, there were multiple pages explaining some of the slang that the characters use which was helpful to look back on while reading.
Waters Edge takes place in the Appalachian Mountains and is about Ripp & Mattie. The author set the scene so incredibly beautiful, I was at work reading most of it and I felt like i was there with them. The writing style was ethereal in the way she described the scenery and characters. I was in shock that this was this author's debut novel!!!
I am not going to spoil anything, as the book is not released yet, but 100% recommend reading this book, especially if you like paranormal romance.
Thank you, Ash for letting me be apart of the Arc team on this one <3
November 13, 2024
I fell in LOVE with this book. The setting is near and dear to my heart and the language used was spot on!
Mattie is our FMC and live alone in the woods. Creepy right? Not to her, the woods hold her past and a major secret she is keeping from others. Just wait until you discover it.
Ripp is everything you could want in an MMC and more. He is an old ancient magical creature who is hidden behind a human body.
I don't want to give much away to the plot but know this book is filled with the following: Appalachian fokelore, female rage, shadow daddy, serial unálivér, and a possessive MMC!
This book hooked me from the start, it was well written, and I can't wait to read more from this author!
Mattie is our FMC and live alone in the woods. Creepy right? Not to her, the woods hold her past and a major secret she is keeping from others. Just wait until you discover it.
Ripp is everything you could want in an MMC and more. He is an old ancient magical creature who is hidden behind a human body.
I don't want to give much away to the plot but know this book is filled with the following: Appalachian fokelore, female rage, shadow daddy, serial unálivér, and a possessive MMC!
This book hooked me from the start, it was well written, and I can't wait to read more from this author!
November 10, 2024
I am so excited to be an ARC reader for this book. I LOVED it, I could not put it down. I read it from cover to cover. When the dedication was "For anyone who only wants their darkness to be seen, not erased." I knew I was going to love it.
Water's Edge is set in the Appalachian Mountains and follows Ripp and Mattie. This is a wild ride from beginning to end. I highly recommend reading this book!
"I will eat every soul on this miserable plane of existence before I let anyone have yours."
"You're mine now, for all time, until the Earth is nothing more than bones crushed into dust."
Water's Edge is set in the Appalachian Mountains and follows Ripp and Mattie. This is a wild ride from beginning to end. I highly recommend reading this book!
"I will eat every soul on this miserable plane of existence before I let anyone have yours."
"You're mine now, for all time, until the Earth is nothing more than bones crushed into dust."
March 3, 2025
I was in the mood for something darkly romantic, eerie and paranormal, and this book delivered it all. Whilst the storyline felt a little rushed at times with a lot of things happening without explanation, and some repetition with the characters' actions and thoughts, I still really enjoyed the concept and overall atmosphere of the book. Mattie was an okay heroine, I did feel like she didn't have much depth, but combining her with Appalachian eldritch terror come to life, Ripp, and the pair instantly become much more interesting. I do wish their romance had a little more to it, aside from the well written spice scenes and being tangled together by fate. The ending is unconventionally happy, but I longer for it to be drawn out just a little more considering the circumstances. Overall, this book is a short, fast read and perfect for fans of 'Her Soul To Take'
3/5 🌟
3/5 🌟
November 11, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Welcome to Hellsmouth! Where the creature of the your wildest dreams taunt you by whispering sweet nothings in the dark forest but don’t look back or answer their calls unless you want to be captured.
I really enjoyed the Appalachian folklore and the Appalachian dialect in this story. It just made so authentic and I appreciated the “language notes” at the beginning of the book.
This book follows the melancholic story of Mattie, a lonely girl living in the cabin in woods surrounded by secrets and dead bodies she deposes in the lake by her home.
While Mattie is sacrificing her lasted kill in Devils Lake, she catches the attention of a dark woodland creature that is instantly attracted to the darkness residing in Mattie.
Ripp is the lovely woodland creature disguised as a human on the hunt for his prey and he is pleased to know that the his darkness rivals that of Mattie. It’s pretty safe to say that they were made for each other.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Welcome to Hellsmouth! Where the creature of the your wildest dreams taunt you by whispering sweet nothings in the dark forest but don’t look back or answer their calls unless you want to be captured.
I really enjoyed the Appalachian folklore and the Appalachian dialect in this story. It just made so authentic and I appreciated the “language notes” at the beginning of the book.
This book follows the melancholic story of Mattie, a lonely girl living in the cabin in woods surrounded by secrets and dead bodies she deposes in the lake by her home.
While Mattie is sacrificing her lasted kill in Devils Lake, she catches the attention of a dark woodland creature that is instantly attracted to the darkness residing in Mattie.
Ripp is the lovely woodland creature disguised as a human on the hunt for his prey and he is pleased to know that the his darkness rivals that of Mattie. It’s pretty safe to say that they were made for each other.
November 9, 2024
This book has taken me on a fog filled journey through the woods leaving me questioning what I just read and I enjoyed every minute. The spice level leaves me wanting to read more and yearning for this pair to work out. The energy between Ripp, your MMC, and Mattie, your FMC, is a shadowy molten mix of lust filled pleasure and desparate desire that can last for eternity and stretch your imagination on how it's even possible between an ancient entity and a human. This short read keeps you guessing about what is happening in present with the characters, while also trying to figure out the past and how it defines each of them. I definitely wanted to know more about Mattie's awful past, as it plays a big role in how she transforms into her present self. Hoping that future books will flesh that out a bit. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy a cross of paranormal and dark romance.
November 25, 2024
“𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗴𝗼, 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝗲. 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘁.”
Water’s Edge by Ash Redd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️ 🌶️
You want a Butcher & Blackbird vibe book but with a SHADOW DADDY?! This one is for you. This book had genuine horror in it. The details to the history, the culture, the characters, the plot— you name it: Ash DELIVERS. I read this book within 12 hours, because yes, I could not put it down. The writing was elegant and beautiful. I genuinely love the descriptions of everything throughout: adding in detail about a character as they did something, you could tell everything was truly well thought out. I can’t wait for this book to blow up, because when it does it’s going to be BIG.
Water’s Edge by Ash Redd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️ 🌶️
You want a Butcher & Blackbird vibe book but with a SHADOW DADDY?! This one is for you. This book had genuine horror in it. The details to the history, the culture, the characters, the plot— you name it: Ash DELIVERS. I read this book within 12 hours, because yes, I could not put it down. The writing was elegant and beautiful. I genuinely love the descriptions of everything throughout: adding in detail about a character as they did something, you could tell everything was truly well thought out. I can’t wait for this book to blow up, because when it does it’s going to be BIG.
November 27, 2024
This was devastingly beautiful. My poor heart.
Ripp and Mattie, what a freaking dream couple. 😍
I don't know how else to describe it. Matties pain and trauma, lord that poor girl. She went through so much and paid for so many things she never did. That ending nearly shattered me.
And Ripp. What a freaking shadow daddy if I have ever met one. The way he speaks to her and about her is ......EVERYTHING. he'd burn everything for her and my little heart couldn't swoon harder if I tried.
This author absolutely killed this in the best way. Read your trigger warning but oooooo so good. I can't wait to see what else this authors writes.
Ripp and Mattie, what a freaking dream couple. 😍
I don't know how else to describe it. Matties pain and trauma, lord that poor girl. She went through so much and paid for so many things she never did. That ending nearly shattered me.
And Ripp. What a freaking shadow daddy if I have ever met one. The way he speaks to her and about her is ......EVERYTHING. he'd burn everything for her and my little heart couldn't swoon harder if I tried.
This author absolutely killed this in the best way. Read your trigger warning but oooooo so good. I can't wait to see what else this authors writes.
November 26, 2024
First things first, the writing in this book was beautiful. I just love when writing is complex and makes you really think and dive deep into the story. This book hits that mark perfectly and makes it be a stand out story.
I would not have guessed this is a debut novel! The storyline is very unique to me. I’ve never read anything like it and it really hooked me from the get go! I do wish there was more background with Ripp and his kind as well as Mattie and her past but I’m hoping more gets unveiled as this series progresses. I just didn’t want the story to end with those 2, they were everything! I cannot wait for the next book! 😍
I would not have guessed this is a debut novel! The storyline is very unique to me. I’ve never read anything like it and it really hooked me from the get go! I do wish there was more background with Ripp and his kind as well as Mattie and her past but I’m hoping more gets unveiled as this series progresses. I just didn’t want the story to end with those 2, they were everything! I cannot wait for the next book! 😍
November 2, 2024
I haven’t read much paranormal hottness but this book didn’t disappoint!
Loved the folklore she brought to life to make your panties melt! Dark sinister vibes, not very dark as a dark reader id rate the dark level a 3 out of 5, but it was edgy, serial killers, cult life, and knife play was spot on ! Obsessed with Ripp having dark golden retriever vibes for a demon 🤤 He was perfect! Definitely looking forward to the next book !
Loved the folklore she brought to life to make your panties melt! Dark sinister vibes, not very dark as a dark reader id rate the dark level a 3 out of 5, but it was edgy, serial killers, cult life, and knife play was spot on ! Obsessed with Ripp having dark golden retriever vibes for a demon 🤤 He was perfect! Definitely looking forward to the next book !
November 12, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
🌲 ᴀᴘᴘᴀʟᴀᴄʜɪᴀɴ ꜰᴏʟᴋʟᴏʀᴇ
🩸 ꜱᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴜɴᴀʟɪᴠᴇʀ ꜰᴍᴄ
💀 ᴘᴏꜱꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ & ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴅᴀᴅᴅʏ
🔥 ꜰᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴀɢᴇ
🔪 ᴘᴏɪɴᴛʏ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ
🏃♂️ ʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀꜱᴇꜱ ʜᴇʀ
If you love paranormal dark romance read this book!!! I could not put this book down. I'm obsessed with the characters Mattie is morally gray so is ripp their darkness together is everything!!!! This is an incredible debut novel!!! I cannot wait to see what's next in the series 🖤
🌶️🌶️
🌲 ᴀᴘᴘᴀʟᴀᴄʜɪᴀɴ ꜰᴏʟᴋʟᴏʀᴇ
🩸 ꜱᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴜɴᴀʟɪᴠᴇʀ ꜰᴍᴄ
💀 ᴘᴏꜱꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ & ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴅᴀᴅᴅʏ
🔥 ꜰᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴀɢᴇ
🔪 ᴘᴏɪɴᴛʏ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ
🏃♂️ ʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀꜱᴇꜱ ʜᴇʀ
If you love paranormal dark romance read this book!!! I could not put this book down. I'm obsessed with the characters Mattie is morally gray so is ripp their darkness together is everything!!!! This is an incredible debut novel!!! I cannot wait to see what's next in the series 🖤
March 10, 2025
I’m actually blown away by this book. I picked it up since Ash is going to be at a convention I’m going to, but went into the book totally blind. I absolutely loved it. At first, I thought I was just reading a wicked story, then magic was thrown in, some dark romance, spice, and boom I was a goner. I kept getting legitimately pissed off when I got interrupted and had to stop reading. Do yourself a favor and read this one.
November 30, 2024
This book was quite the ride and I did not want to get off. There are so many things to love about this book.
The Appalachian folklore and dialect made the story authentic.
This story follows Mattie, a lonely girl who lives in a cabin in the woods. She is a bit dark and that is what attracts Ripp.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Appalachian folklore and dialect made the story authentic.
This story follows Mattie, a lonely girl who lives in a cabin in the woods. She is a bit dark and that is what attracts Ripp.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 19, 2025
4.5⭐️
I love the writing style! The story was dark and creepy but also cute and sweet. I can’t wait to read future books from this author.
I love the writing style! The story was dark and creepy but also cute and sweet. I can’t wait to read future books from this author.
November 9, 2024
"𝑵𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒓𝒖𝒏, 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆."
This is Ash's debut, but im like debut where!! This book is well put together, I love the storyline, the spooky/ eldritch terror/ Appalachian vibes, the characters, the mystery, and the writing style.
Mattie and Ripps story is chaotically beautiful. There story will forever hold a place in my heart. Mattie was trying to outrun her past literally and figuratively, but when you come from the type of background she has, it proves to be difficult in a small town. Ripp was one of the first to truly see her and take her for who she is and loves her anyways. And that is why I love these two so much they love each other through everything! This book will forever hold a special place in my heart!
🌲 𝙰𝙿𝙿𝙰𝙻𝙰𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙵𝙾𝙻𝙺𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙴
🩸 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙻 𝚄𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙼𝙲
💀 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴 & 𝙾𝙱𝚂𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙳𝙰𝙳𝙳𝚈
🔥 𝙵𝙴𝙼𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙰𝙶𝙴
🗡 𝙿𝙾𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚈 𝙾𝙱𝙹𝙴𝙲𝚃 𝙿𝙻𝙰𝚈
🏃🏻 𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚂𝙴𝚂 𝙷𝙴𝚁
This is Ash's debut, but im like debut where!! This book is well put together, I love the storyline, the spooky/ eldritch terror/ Appalachian vibes, the characters, the mystery, and the writing style.
Mattie and Ripps story is chaotically beautiful. There story will forever hold a place in my heart. Mattie was trying to outrun her past literally and figuratively, but when you come from the type of background she has, it proves to be difficult in a small town. Ripp was one of the first to truly see her and take her for who she is and loves her anyways. And that is why I love these two so much they love each other through everything! This book will forever hold a special place in my heart!
🌲 𝙰𝙿𝙿𝙰𝙻𝙰𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙵𝙾𝙻𝙺𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙴
🩸 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙻 𝚄𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙼𝙲
💀 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴 & 𝙾𝙱𝚂𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙳𝙰𝙳𝙳𝚈
🔥 𝙵𝙴𝙼𝙰𝙻𝙴 𝚁𝙰𝙶𝙴
🗡 𝙿𝙾𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚈 𝙾𝙱𝙹𝙴𝙲𝚃 𝙿𝙻𝙰𝚈
🏃🏻 𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚂𝙴𝚂 𝙷𝙴𝚁
November 5, 2024
I really enjoyed the lore that she created! I loved that is was set Appalachia Mountains range. I really like Ripp & Maddie. I enjoyed how Maddie was a morally great character but she’s wasn’t over the top is her darkness. I want to learn more about the cult and witch!
Thank you for letting me be an ARC reader!
Thank you for letting me be an ARC reader!
November 30, 2024
5/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
This book was the something different that I needed and WOW! I LOVED IT! Ash Redd killed it! It was amazing to help ARC read this book and this is my personal honest review
Stalker ✔️
Folklore ✔️
You’re mine ✔️
Serial killer FMC ✔️
Paranormal romance ✔️
Appalachian mountains ✔️
The ease in the way I tore through this book is crazy! Ash Redd did such an amazing job making this book interesting and easy to read. The spice is so steamy and well written…but there is still an amazing plot/story that is not taken over by the spice. Please check your trigger warnings because your mental health matters. You would have no idea this is her debut novel!
“I will eat every soul on this miserable plane of existence before I let anyone have yours.”
Ripp and Mattie are magnetic and interesting characters. Ripp is the shadow daddy everyone wants in their lives. He is the morally black character that will do ANYTHING for his girl, shadowy, steamy, head over heels for Mattie….like when like when he is crawling to her and shadows are involved in spicy time yes! I loved seeing him change and develop. Mattie is a bad ass FMC that takes absolutely no crap from any man!
“Do you remember what I said I’d do when I caught you little bug?”
This book is absolutely for readers who love dark romance, spice, mystery, thriller, and folklore this is for you! Even if some of these things are new to you like they were for me (folklore spicy romance) this would be a great place to start!
4/ 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
This book was the something different that I needed and WOW! I LOVED IT! Ash Redd killed it! It was amazing to help ARC read this book and this is my personal honest review
Stalker ✔️
Folklore ✔️
You’re mine ✔️
Serial killer FMC ✔️
Paranormal romance ✔️
Appalachian mountains ✔️
The ease in the way I tore through this book is crazy! Ash Redd did such an amazing job making this book interesting and easy to read. The spice is so steamy and well written…but there is still an amazing plot/story that is not taken over by the spice. Please check your trigger warnings because your mental health matters. You would have no idea this is her debut novel!
“I will eat every soul on this miserable plane of existence before I let anyone have yours.”
Ripp and Mattie are magnetic and interesting characters. Ripp is the shadow daddy everyone wants in their lives. He is the morally black character that will do ANYTHING for his girl, shadowy, steamy, head over heels for Mattie….like when like when he is crawling to her and shadows are involved in spicy time yes! I loved seeing him change and develop. Mattie is a bad ass FMC that takes absolutely no crap from any man!
“Do you remember what I said I’d do when I caught you little bug?”
This book is absolutely for readers who love dark romance, spice, mystery, thriller, and folklore this is for you! Even if some of these things are new to you like they were for me (folklore spicy romance) this would be a great place to start!
November 21, 2024
First and foremost, can we take a minute to appreciate the fact that this book had a list of pages you could find spicy scenes on? I love an organized author queen.
Second, absolutely enjoyed this ride and the story of Ripp and Mattie. Its shocking that this is a debut novel because it was so good. If you love a strong FMC who embraces her darkness, this is the book for you. In addition, who doesn’t like an obsessed paranormal dark daddy? I know I do. I only wish I had more of their story. Ash did an incredible job of building Maddie’s world, and I loved all of the side characters. I can’t wait to read the next book and get more of the story.
#Folklore
#Serial Killer
#Appalacian Mountains
#Paranormal Romance
Second, absolutely enjoyed this ride and the story of Ripp and Mattie. Its shocking that this is a debut novel because it was so good. If you love a strong FMC who embraces her darkness, this is the book for you. In addition, who doesn’t like an obsessed paranormal dark daddy? I know I do. I only wish I had more of their story. Ash did an incredible job of building Maddie’s world, and I loved all of the side characters. I can’t wait to read the next book and get more of the story.
#Folklore
#Serial Killer
#Appalacian Mountains
#Paranormal Romance
November 21, 2024
Oh, I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy, and boy, this was an intriguing pull you in read.
Ash did an amazing job, smutt finder, language notes! I mean, it has everything you could ever ask for in a book!
I am not one for paranormal dark romance, but I enjoyed this book so much. The end had my heart breaking for Mattie! I just want to read more about her and Ripp... This is a must read!
Ash did an amazing job, smutt finder, language notes! I mean, it has everything you could ever ask for in a book!
I am not one for paranormal dark romance, but I enjoyed this book so much. The end had my heart breaking for Mattie! I just want to read more about her and Ripp... This is a must read!
December 3, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I was honored to receive an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This was a deliciously dark romance in an ominous world, including Eldritch horrors and karma for men who were pieces of $h1t. I loved it.
Some of the spice wasn’t my yum but it was still nicely spicy.
I’m curious to see how the rest of the series goes and look forward to reading the next books. Ripp and Mattie are gloriously fated mates I’d love to see again 🖤
Thank you to Ash Redd and her team for the ARC!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I was honored to receive an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This was a deliciously dark romance in an ominous world, including Eldritch horrors and karma for men who were pieces of $h1t. I loved it.
Some of the spice wasn’t my yum but it was still nicely spicy.
I’m curious to see how the rest of the series goes and look forward to reading the next books. Ripp and Mattie are gloriously fated mates I’d love to see again 🖤
Thank you to Ash Redd and her team for the ARC!
November 21, 2024
A new MUST READ - IMO.
This is the perfect example of feminine Rage, I will take no objections on this. 😈
Mattie came in swinging & she didn’t come to play.
If you love fierce, resilient & badass FMC’s? You’ll love her.
“Let me clip those dirty wings of yours, little bug. Tie yourself to me, and I’ll give you forever. No one will ever make you feel like less again.”
Just don’t piss her off, her taste for 🩸is unabashed & unbridled.
She takes no one’s 💩 - will 10/10 drop you like a fly.
Ripp? Oh, he’s a daddy for sure. Cuz hot diggity dawg… Panty dropper. 🥵
“I don’t normally fuck my food before I eat it. But there’s something about you I can’t resist. Tell me, Mattie, what is that darkness inside you? I can see it there, just behind the rage in your eyes.”
I can’t wait for the 2nd book in the series.
What you’ll find between these pages.
🌲APPALACHIAN FOLKLORE🌲
SERIAL UNALIVER FMC
POSSESSIVE & OBSESSIVE MMC
FEMALE RAGE
POINTY OBJECTS
PRIMAL
It’s spicy, dark, depraved & very much avenging angel vibes but make it dark romance style.
Did I mention he’s also shadow daddy? No? Well, here we go. 🥵
10/10 recommend!
This is the perfect example of feminine Rage, I will take no objections on this. 😈
Mattie came in swinging & she didn’t come to play.
If you love fierce, resilient & badass FMC’s? You’ll love her.
“Let me clip those dirty wings of yours, little bug. Tie yourself to me, and I’ll give you forever. No one will ever make you feel like less again.”
Just don’t piss her off, her taste for 🩸is unabashed & unbridled.
She takes no one’s 💩 - will 10/10 drop you like a fly.
Ripp? Oh, he’s a daddy for sure. Cuz hot diggity dawg… Panty dropper. 🥵
“I don’t normally fuck my food before I eat it. But there’s something about you I can’t resist. Tell me, Mattie, what is that darkness inside you? I can see it there, just behind the rage in your eyes.”
I can’t wait for the 2nd book in the series.
What you’ll find between these pages.
🌲APPALACHIAN FOLKLORE🌲
SERIAL UNALIVER FMC
POSSESSIVE & OBSESSIVE MMC
FEMALE RAGE
POINTY OBJECTS
PRIMAL
It’s spicy, dark, depraved & very much avenging angel vibes but make it dark romance style.
Did I mention he’s also shadow daddy? No? Well, here we go. 🥵
10/10 recommend!
November 12, 2024
First I want to thank Ash Redd for asking me to be a part of her ARC team, it was so fun!
I'm 50/50 on paranormal romances. They either bore me right away and I can't follow along, or they keep me on my toes and I can read the book pretty fast! This one was DEFINITELY the second one! I highly recommend reading this book. It's a quick read too if you're looking for something fast, maybe not what you normally read, and will get you out of a slump!
The mix of spice and the mystery in this story is just *chefs kiss*. It made putting the book down hard as you want to know what happens. Ash is great at describing, where you can put a picture in your head, so I could easily picture myself in those Appalachian woods.
I'd say the spice was about a 3! It didn't take away from the story at all, which is nice! Sometimes if a book is just pure spice, it's boring. I'd much rather have a story line, and this definitely had one!
Bravo Ash 👏 😁
I'm 50/50 on paranormal romances. They either bore me right away and I can't follow along, or they keep me on my toes and I can read the book pretty fast! This one was DEFINITELY the second one! I highly recommend reading this book. It's a quick read too if you're looking for something fast, maybe not what you normally read, and will get you out of a slump!
The mix of spice and the mystery in this story is just *chefs kiss*. It made putting the book down hard as you want to know what happens. Ash is great at describing, where you can put a picture in your head, so I could easily picture myself in those Appalachian woods.
I'd say the spice was about a 3! It didn't take away from the story at all, which is nice! Sometimes if a book is just pure spice, it's boring. I'd much rather have a story line, and this definitely had one!
Bravo Ash 👏 😁
January 4, 2025
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME, GIRL?! I am a sucker for Ripp and Mattie! They’re perfection and justified in their actions idc idc 🤣🤣🤣
This debut blew me away! Ash is a wizard with words and storytelling! And girllll, those spice scenes had me panting! Can you write me in next time?! Like why’d you do me like that?! 😩😭😏 I was a feral beast like Ripp is for Mattie and vice versa!
I loved the way you wrote Ripp’s magic and described it. It was so visceral and life-like! I was a sucker for his mouth and that first scene when he t!es her up! I was a puddle. A mess. An absolute disaster.
The way you weaved this story was gorgeous. I could see everything so clearly in my head. I was there with them. They’re fully alive. I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to write these two. That’s a headspace I’d like to be in 😈
You wrote one of my all-time favorite reads and I am SALIVATING for more!! Also thanks for making me cry with that shoutout at the end of the book! That was cool and rude at the same time 🤣🥹
I love you. I am proud of you. I want more. GIMMEGIMMEGIMME! Now everyone go read Water’s Edge! It’s on KU and Amazon, you heathens! But you can’t have Ripp. He’s mine now 🫡
This debut blew me away! Ash is a wizard with words and storytelling! And girllll, those spice scenes had me panting! Can you write me in next time?! Like why’d you do me like that?! 😩😭😏 I was a feral beast like Ripp is for Mattie and vice versa!
I loved the way you wrote Ripp’s magic and described it. It was so visceral and life-like! I was a sucker for his mouth and that first scene when he t!es her up! I was a puddle. A mess. An absolute disaster.
The way you weaved this story was gorgeous. I could see everything so clearly in my head. I was there with them. They’re fully alive. I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to write these two. That’s a headspace I’d like to be in 😈
You wrote one of my all-time favorite reads and I am SALIVATING for more!! Also thanks for making me cry with that shoutout at the end of the book! That was cool and rude at the same time 🤣🥹
I love you. I am proud of you. I want more. GIMMEGIMMEGIMME! Now everyone go read Water’s Edge! It’s on KU and Amazon, you heathens! But you can’t have Ripp. He’s mine now 🫡
March 4, 2025
This book is like Death's Obsession with a pinch of Her Soul to Take and I mean it in the best possible way
I loved both main characters and their relationship. The moment I read in the TWs that the couple would have a toxic relationship and both mc's are dark I knew I'd love everything about this book😍
I loved both main characters and their relationship. The moment I read in the TWs that the couple would have a toxic relationship and both mc's are dark I knew I'd love everything about this book😍
June 24, 2025
Drenched in Darkness, Bound by Lore
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice/Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Prose: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I downloaded Water’s Edge by Ash Redd on a whim, lured in by the little things—language translations, a smut directory (yes, you read that right), a killer playlist, and a heartfelt disclaimer that this is all fiction and meant for entertainment. And oh, does it entertain. The author’s attention to detail before the first chapter even starts made me curious enough to dive in headfirst. I’m so glad I did.
Appalachian lore? Check. Creepy lake? Check. Serial-killing female lead with unresolved trauma? Absolutely check.
We meet Mattie as a child in the prologue, hiding from an abusive father by slipping into the waters of Devil’s Pool. Flash forward twenty years—bam—she’s a killer, and she’s using that same lake to dispose of bodies. And that lake? It's not just water. It’s watching.
Enter Ripp. An ancient cryptid creature who’s all dark magic and predator energy wrapped in human form. Think: if a soul eater had a six-pack and a breeding kink. The connection between Mattie and Ripp is immediate, dark, and primal. He perceives her kills as offerings. She doesn't know this yet, but it makes for a delicious game of hunter vs hunter. Except one of them is a literal monster and the other is metaphorically monstrous.
Their chemistry? Off. The. Charts. Their first scene together? Frenetic, dangerous, filthy—in all the best ways. Knife play, bondage, blood. But written with care and purpose. This isn’t spice for spice’s sake—it drives the story. Ripp is dominating and ancient, Mattie is guarded and unhinged, and their dynamic is wild. He’s her mirror—her chaos, her undoing, her reflection in the water.
The Appalachian setting is eerie and immersive, with lore warnings that gave me chills. The pacing is fast (perfect after my recent string of slow burns), and the writing carries a haunting beauty. Redd has a talent for threading grief, rage, trauma, and power through every page, and turning it into something unexpectedly poetic.
This book is a story of darkness—how it eats at us, how it defines us, and how we can choose to let parts of us die in order to live freely. I related to Mattie more than I expected (not the murder part, I swear). But her emotional journey? Her quiet desperation? Her need to just breathe? That hit deep.
If you're into dark fantasy, mythic monsters, feral women, and erotic tension that bites, Water’s Edge is absolutely worth the dive. Book two can’t come soon enough.
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice/Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Prose: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I downloaded Water’s Edge by Ash Redd on a whim, lured in by the little things—language translations, a smut directory (yes, you read that right), a killer playlist, and a heartfelt disclaimer that this is all fiction and meant for entertainment. And oh, does it entertain. The author’s attention to detail before the first chapter even starts made me curious enough to dive in headfirst. I’m so glad I did.
Appalachian lore? Check. Creepy lake? Check. Serial-killing female lead with unresolved trauma? Absolutely check.
We meet Mattie as a child in the prologue, hiding from an abusive father by slipping into the waters of Devil’s Pool. Flash forward twenty years—bam—she’s a killer, and she’s using that same lake to dispose of bodies. And that lake? It's not just water. It’s watching.
Enter Ripp. An ancient cryptid creature who’s all dark magic and predator energy wrapped in human form. Think: if a soul eater had a six-pack and a breeding kink. The connection between Mattie and Ripp is immediate, dark, and primal. He perceives her kills as offerings. She doesn't know this yet, but it makes for a delicious game of hunter vs hunter. Except one of them is a literal monster and the other is metaphorically monstrous.
Their chemistry? Off. The. Charts. Their first scene together? Frenetic, dangerous, filthy—in all the best ways. Knife play, bondage, blood. But written with care and purpose. This isn’t spice for spice’s sake—it drives the story. Ripp is dominating and ancient, Mattie is guarded and unhinged, and their dynamic is wild. He’s her mirror—her chaos, her undoing, her reflection in the water.
The Appalachian setting is eerie and immersive, with lore warnings that gave me chills. The pacing is fast (perfect after my recent string of slow burns), and the writing carries a haunting beauty. Redd has a talent for threading grief, rage, trauma, and power through every page, and turning it into something unexpectedly poetic.
This book is a story of darkness—how it eats at us, how it defines us, and how we can choose to let parts of us die in order to live freely. I related to Mattie more than I expected (not the murder part, I swear). But her emotional journey? Her quiet desperation? Her need to just breathe? That hit deep.
If you're into dark fantasy, mythic monsters, feral women, and erotic tension that bites, Water’s Edge is absolutely worth the dive. Book two can’t come soon enough.
November 25, 2024
I rarely reach for paranormal dark romances, as I don't think they are my thing, but so far the few I've read have appealed to me a lot, and Ash Redd's "Water's Edge" is no exception.
I can't deny that it was the darkness in this story that originally attracted me to the book. However, there were so many more factors that kept my attention on it and made me like it so much.
I'll start by saying that the writing style is great. Detailed and insightful in the story and the characters, depicting the situation in detail, and showing everything the reader needs to feel the feelings and emotions of the characters, as well as to perceive and, above all, feel the place where they are.
"But damaged people are dangerous, Sheriff. We know how to survive the fires of hell and make it feel like home."
As I said before, I really liked how dark the story was, and how it made me feel depressed while imputing a feeling of hopelessness, of suffocation by the place and the power in the forest, which made me feel like I was there myself. The author has simply done a brilliant job in the show not only of the situation, but also of the surrounding atmosphere.
No longer interested in simply just consuming her, I need her to be mine. I need her fate to be intertwined with mine until I begin where she ends.
I can't deny that it was strange to me how just the moment Ripp saw Mattie, he felt attraction to her and suddenly she was the only thing in his head, but then it is explained where this came from, so it's not so unexpected and rigged.
Even if her consciounsness doesn't registers in yet, her soul recognizes its match in my shadow.
Otherwise, their relationship develops quite quickly, but I didn't feel them hasty or forced, on the contrary actually - I think it happens at the perfect pace for the story. Their erotic scenes, which are not few, are so good. After a certain moment, I realized that they filled the book and yet, I did not feel them coming in excess, simply because they are placed in such a way that the plot is not lost between them.
The dynamics are constant. The action does not stop developing and there is not a moment of stagnation in the plot. It keeps the reader interested all the time.
But I wanted to know a little bit more about Mattie's past and what she went through with her family, because most of the things are mentioned, but we don't have a clear idea of what exactly her father did to her, and more about his evil deeds.
Other than that, the characters are very well built for such a short novel. And the image of Mattie was even more interesting to me with its unusualness, because I don't remember ever coming across a similar female character in other books.
I would certainly continue with the rest of the books in the series when they come out, as well as with the author's other books, as she managed to impress me.
~~~
Rating: 4/5
~~~This book was provided to me by Ash Redd for my honest opinion.~~~
I can't deny that it was the darkness in this story that originally attracted me to the book. However, there were so many more factors that kept my attention on it and made me like it so much.
I'll start by saying that the writing style is great. Detailed and insightful in the story and the characters, depicting the situation in detail, and showing everything the reader needs to feel the feelings and emotions of the characters, as well as to perceive and, above all, feel the place where they are.
"But damaged people are dangerous, Sheriff. We know how to survive the fires of hell and make it feel like home."
As I said before, I really liked how dark the story was, and how it made me feel depressed while imputing a feeling of hopelessness, of suffocation by the place and the power in the forest, which made me feel like I was there myself. The author has simply done a brilliant job in the show not only of the situation, but also of the surrounding atmosphere.
No longer interested in simply just consuming her, I need her to be mine. I need her fate to be intertwined with mine until I begin where she ends.
I can't deny that it was strange to me how just the moment Ripp saw Mattie, he felt attraction to her and suddenly she was the only thing in his head, but then it is explained where this came from, so it's not so unexpected and rigged.
Even if her consciounsness doesn't registers in yet, her soul recognizes its match in my shadow.
Otherwise, their relationship develops quite quickly, but I didn't feel them hasty or forced, on the contrary actually - I think it happens at the perfect pace for the story. Their erotic scenes, which are not few, are so good. After a certain moment, I realized that they filled the book and yet, I did not feel them coming in excess, simply because they are placed in such a way that the plot is not lost between them.
The dynamics are constant. The action does not stop developing and there is not a moment of stagnation in the plot. It keeps the reader interested all the time.
But I wanted to know a little bit more about Mattie's past and what she went through with her family, because most of the things are mentioned, but we don't have a clear idea of what exactly her father did to her, and more about his evil deeds.
Other than that, the characters are very well built for such a short novel. And the image of Mattie was even more interesting to me with its unusualness, because I don't remember ever coming across a similar female character in other books.
I would certainly continue with the rest of the books in the series when they come out, as well as with the author's other books, as she managed to impress me.
~~~
Rating: 4/5
~~~This book was provided to me by Ash Redd for my honest opinion.~~~
November 17, 2024
ARC reader. This means I received the book from the author, and while I usually try to honor any requests accompanying ARC copies, I believe that, above all, readers deserve my honest opinion (no requests made for this one). Therefore, my review and rating are in no way affected by any external requests and reflect my true experience with the book.
For anyone who only wants
their darkness to be seen,
not erased.
Never stay out after dark.
Never look up into the trees.
If you hear someone call to you in the woods, you didn't.
Never run unless you want to be chased.
"Water's Edge" has been my first paranormal romance, and honestly I was completely hooked.
I love the dual POV from Mattie and Ripp. I've never before come across a book that delves so deeply into the perspective of the paranormal being, and it was a unique experience.
Mattie is a complex character, filled with childhood trauma and female rage, which she unleashes several times during the book on well-deserving a**holes.
Ripp is an eldritch horror/elder god, and he falls first — and hard. His chapters made me really curious and are genuinely fun to read. He is extremely protective and, of course, morally dark gray.
Overall, the book has great rhythm and a well-balanced pace, except for a few moments when it leans more heavily on spice than plot progression. However, the impact is minimal, and these scenes are still enjoyable as they aren’t overly drawn out.
The Appalachian vibes give the story a unique atmosphere. To me, it has echoes of "True Blood" or "AHS Roanoke Nightmare" in some ways, with its dark and eerie aesthetic, its own folklore, and its isolated landscapes, forests, and lakes that feel like living, breathing characters themselves. Together, these elements evoke a sense of primal connection and constant danger.
As for extras, the book includes a playlist, a smut guide that indicates where to find the spicy scenes (or what to skip if that’s not your thing), and an extensive list of trigger warnings so readers can know what to expect and feel comfortable. I especially appreciated this, as some topics may not be sensitive for me but could be for others — it's an amazing effort and something I often find lacking in other books.
All in all, this was a great experience — beautifully written, light and fun to read, but also captivating and leaving you with a sense of eerie discomfort, dread, and harshness. I definitely feel lucky to have discovered this book and am eagerly anticipating more from Ash.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
For anyone who only wants
their darkness to be seen,
not erased.
Never stay out after dark.
Never look up into the trees.
If you hear someone call to you in the woods, you didn't.
Never run unless you want to be chased.
"Water's Edge" has been my first paranormal romance, and honestly I was completely hooked.
I love the dual POV from Mattie and Ripp. I've never before come across a book that delves so deeply into the perspective of the paranormal being, and it was a unique experience.
Mattie is a complex character, filled with childhood trauma and female rage, which she unleashes several times during the book on well-deserving a**holes.
Ripp is an eldritch horror/elder god, and he falls first — and hard. His chapters made me really curious and are genuinely fun to read. He is extremely protective and, of course, morally dark gray.
Overall, the book has great rhythm and a well-balanced pace, except for a few moments when it leans more heavily on spice than plot progression. However, the impact is minimal, and these scenes are still enjoyable as they aren’t overly drawn out.
The Appalachian vibes give the story a unique atmosphere. To me, it has echoes of "True Blood" or "AHS Roanoke Nightmare" in some ways, with its dark and eerie aesthetic, its own folklore, and its isolated landscapes, forests, and lakes that feel like living, breathing characters themselves. Together, these elements evoke a sense of primal connection and constant danger.
As for extras, the book includes a playlist, a smut guide that indicates where to find the spicy scenes (or what to skip if that’s not your thing), and an extensive list of trigger warnings so readers can know what to expect and feel comfortable. I especially appreciated this, as some topics may not be sensitive for me but could be for others — it's an amazing effort and something I often find lacking in other books.
All in all, this was a great experience — beautifully written, light and fun to read, but also captivating and leaving you with a sense of eerie discomfort, dread, and harshness. I definitely feel lucky to have discovered this book and am eagerly anticipating more from Ash.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
November 25, 2024
I was SO excited for this ARC. It has all sorts of things I love: feminine rage, an Appalachian setting, folklore horror elements, cult vibes. I was all in. And those things were definitely there...but they got really sold short (quite literally) by the too-fast pacing and shallow on-page exploration of the characters' inner worlds.
I think this is a case of my expectations not matching what the story really was. I was hoping for the setting and the folklore to feature heavily; from the description, I was envisioning True Detective Season 1 meets paranormal dark romance. Though those vibes are there, the story itself barely even scratched the surface of how the murdering and cult and folklore tie in. Where I desperately wanted to know more about Mattie's background and the ways the magic worked, the focus of the story was very much on the romance. Even where the focus was on the romance, though, I still feel like I wanted more: more exposition, more explanation of the characters' internal processes, more of the hinted-at depth actually explored aloud. Where it's a real frustration is that I think all that could have been there, but everything moved too fast, rushing from one plot point to the next instead of pausing to dig in.
The pacing is quick. That's not to my taste as a slow burn girlie, but usually doesn't ruin a book for me. But in this instance, the quickness blew past all the stuff I actually wanted more of here. Which is a bummer because I love the concept; the bones are so good!
There were a few other small things that bumped my rating down further. There were some character inconsistencies and plot holes. Some repetitive words and phrases; a lot of abrupt transitions in scene, especially flipping from non-spicy to spicy scenes.
There were fanfic-y verbage and not-like-other-girls-isms, which isn't a negative for me (I love me a fanfic from time to time) but is worth noting for review purposes.
All that said though, I feel like I need to reiterate how much I loved this conceptually—how good this could be if it were reworked and drawn out just a tad more. The climax/ending of the story and dream sequences are highlights; the symbolism and emotion in those were great. I wish I got to know these characters and the world as well as I suspect Ash does.
I think this is a case of my expectations not matching what the story really was. I was hoping for the setting and the folklore to feature heavily; from the description, I was envisioning True Detective Season 1 meets paranormal dark romance. Though those vibes are there, the story itself barely even scratched the surface of how the murdering and cult and folklore tie in. Where I desperately wanted to know more about Mattie's background and the ways the magic worked, the focus of the story was very much on the romance. Even where the focus was on the romance, though, I still feel like I wanted more: more exposition, more explanation of the characters' internal processes, more of the hinted-at depth actually explored aloud. Where it's a real frustration is that I think all that could have been there, but everything moved too fast, rushing from one plot point to the next instead of pausing to dig in.
The pacing is quick. That's not to my taste as a slow burn girlie, but usually doesn't ruin a book for me. But in this instance, the quickness blew past all the stuff I actually wanted more of here. Which is a bummer because I love the concept; the bones are so good!
There were a few other small things that bumped my rating down further. There were some character inconsistencies and plot holes. Some repetitive words and phrases; a lot of abrupt transitions in scene, especially flipping from non-spicy to spicy scenes.
There were fanfic-y verbage and not-like-other-girls-isms, which isn't a negative for me (I love me a fanfic from time to time) but is worth noting for review purposes.
All that said though, I feel like I need to reiterate how much I loved this conceptually—how good this could be if it were reworked and drawn out just a tad more. The climax/ending of the story and dream sequences are highlights; the symbolism and emotion in those were great. I wish I got to know these characters and the world as well as I suspect Ash does.
November 26, 2024
Appalachian folklore meets wendigo folklore meets Her Soul To Take....this is roughly how I can best describe this story.
There was a lot of interesting elements presented in this storyline. What initially pulled me in was the mystique that surrounds Appalachian folklore and dark magic.
It starts off as a tale of a young woman who is coping with her traumatic childhood in a very unconventional way...by living her life as a serial killer, deep in the Appalachian mountains.
The story turns paranormal when her burial ground aka Devil's Pool is mistaken as offerings to an ancient creature of the woods, aka Ripp, our MMC.
We are introduced to a complex plotline that slowly unravels. I was pretty impressed by all of the unfolding elements in such a short read (around 200 pgs). Not only are we given the romantic storyline and lots of spice but also Mattie's need to cope with 2 very separate portions of her life, namely her life as a killer and her life as a normal, all be it, socially awkward waitress.
There's definitely a twist in the plotline which stands separate from the romance. It's best to experience it completely blind. It actually made the ending extremely interesting and I honestly hadn't seen it coming.
As for the spice, there was a ton of it right from the very beginning. Ripp and Mattie had a very hot chemistry. And the scenes were basically like dedicated chapters.
Tropes for the spice included the following:
Primal play
Stalker
Touch her and die
Shadow daddy
BDSM (bondage)
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Other elements of note:
Appalachian mountain range/ woods
Paranormal: wendigo/fae/demon
Folklore and folk magic
Cult aspects and references/ offerings
Serial killer
Unconventional HEA
Darkness scale 🌒
Read this if you liked: Her Soul To Take by Harley Larouix
Quotes:
"To be with me is to embrace death. Embrace terror and every dark piece of your soul."
"I need to devour my little bug again, but if my restraint slips even a little, I'll suck her soul right out of her sweet pussy."
"It's like a piece of my soul is living outside my body. Fragmented. You stole that piece. Broke it off and left nothing but sharp edges."
There was a lot of interesting elements presented in this storyline. What initially pulled me in was the mystique that surrounds Appalachian folklore and dark magic.
It starts off as a tale of a young woman who is coping with her traumatic childhood in a very unconventional way...by living her life as a serial killer, deep in the Appalachian mountains.
The story turns paranormal when her burial ground aka Devil's Pool is mistaken as offerings to an ancient creature of the woods, aka Ripp, our MMC.
We are introduced to a complex plotline that slowly unravels. I was pretty impressed by all of the unfolding elements in such a short read (around 200 pgs). Not only are we given the romantic storyline and lots of spice but also Mattie's need to cope with 2 very separate portions of her life, namely her life as a killer and her life as a normal, all be it, socially awkward waitress.
There's definitely a twist in the plotline which stands separate from the romance. It's best to experience it completely blind. It actually made the ending extremely interesting and I honestly hadn't seen it coming.
As for the spice, there was a ton of it right from the very beginning. Ripp and Mattie had a very hot chemistry. And the scenes were basically like dedicated chapters.
Tropes for the spice included the following:
Primal play
Stalker
Touch her and die
Shadow daddy
BDSM (bondage)
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Other elements of note:
Appalachian mountain range/ woods
Paranormal: wendigo/fae/demon
Folklore and folk magic
Cult aspects and references/ offerings
Serial killer
Unconventional HEA
Darkness scale 🌒
Read this if you liked: Her Soul To Take by Harley Larouix
Quotes:
"To be with me is to embrace death. Embrace terror and every dark piece of your soul."
"I need to devour my little bug again, but if my restraint slips even a little, I'll suck her soul right out of her sweet pussy."
"It's like a piece of my soul is living outside my body. Fragmented. You stole that piece. Broke it off and left nothing but sharp edges."
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