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The Dark Rose: A Dark Sapphic Captivity Romance
‘You want to consume me. You want to rip apart the very seams of me...’
Barely into her fifth year, Persis’s life is altered forever when she stumbles upon two very strange sights in the middle of the night—the hacked-up bodies of her parents and the rageful young woman who killed them.
Witness to the murder and a liability as an untrained juvenile vampire, the woman abducts Persis, sequestering her away to a tower by the sea where she grows roses alongside her more sinister profession.
Fifteen years pass in that tower, with no more interaction from her captor beyond the single rose she receives each birthday, and with only Ada for company—her food source, occasional lover, and only friend.
But then, on her twentieth birthday, amid a tempestuous storm and a ripening moon, the Dark Rose returns to reclaim her captive…
THE DARK ROSE is a gothic sapphic standalone romance set in a shared fantasy world. Certain situations and characters will make more sense having read PRECIOUS RED PEARLS first, where we first meet the Dark Rose, though this isn't necessary. Specific TWs can be found inside the cover.
Barely into her fifth year, Persis’s life is altered forever when she stumbles upon two very strange sights in the middle of the night—the hacked-up bodies of her parents and the rageful young woman who killed them.
Witness to the murder and a liability as an untrained juvenile vampire, the woman abducts Persis, sequestering her away to a tower by the sea where she grows roses alongside her more sinister profession.
Fifteen years pass in that tower, with no more interaction from her captor beyond the single rose she receives each birthday, and with only Ada for company—her food source, occasional lover, and only friend.
But then, on her twentieth birthday, amid a tempestuous storm and a ripening moon, the Dark Rose returns to reclaim her captive…
THE DARK ROSE is a gothic sapphic standalone romance set in a shared fantasy world. Certain situations and characters will make more sense having read PRECIOUS RED PEARLS first, where we first meet the Dark Rose, though this isn't necessary. Specific TWs can be found inside the cover.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2024
27 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 21, 2025
Liked the first book of the series but this one felt too nonconsensual imo
October 13, 2024
2.5 stars. Alas! This was just okay. I really loved the first book in this series, and as soon as I saw this was out, I snapped it up. But this was just... not as good. In every way. In my opinion, at least. It's a dark captor/captive romance between a young vampire who watched her parents be brutally murdered, and the woman who killed them. Persis has spent most of her life locked up in a tower, only visited by a caretaker, and receiving nothing from her captor except a rose on each birthday. But then on her 20th birthday, Lidia comes for her.
Really great premise for a dark romance, and I was absolutely sold on it. But I really felt nothing for this romance. I didn't mind how dark it was, and I was prepared for the dysfunction and the consent issues. But it's a romance, and I need to feel some kind of connection between the characters, and I truly did not. I get that it's hate to love, and I get that it's a novella, but I felt no progression. There was just a lot of hatefucking, and then a very abrupt turn towards feelings. I know that some of my feelings towards this are based on very subjective things. Some of the sex scenes were just really not my thing. (Like, the underwater/drowning scene? I cannot think of a universe in which I'd find that sexy.) Even as smut, this was just kind boring, because it was all very explicit without being descriptive at all, and hardly ever like, lingering on the scene and the emotions, whether those emotions were hatred or burgeoning attraction or whatever. It felt very perfunctory. Like damn have y'all never heard of foreplay?
The book also does a thing I find REALLY annoying in paranormal books, where a person's fantastical side or whatever is treated like a separate entity. You mostly see it with werewolves or other shifters, where the person refers to 'their wolf' having instincts and urges and wants of their own. I think it's silly and goofy, but whatever. This, however, was probably my first time seeing it with vampires? Or maybe second time. Anyway, I find that even sillier. And since I found it so silly, it did affect my enjoyment. It's always a tiny jumpscare. Like, wait, are you talking about a different person -- no. Just your ~inner vampire~. Lol. It's a silly roadblock to enjoyment, but I am who I am.
The worldbuilding just felt flat and kind of cheesy, and the world didn't feel as rich as it did in the first book. Again, I didn't care about their romance, I didn't care about the hatefucking. One thing I did enjoy was the part Ada played in their lives? I won't spoil it, but I was happy about the part she played in their relationship. The fact that she was there is probably one of the things that kept me from hating the book. I enjoyed her chemistry with Persis and Lidia separately more than I liked them with each other. The plot was okay; not as engaging as I'd have liked. We learn some things about Lidia's past and her nature, but at the end, things still feel nebulous and unfinished. The writing had more typos and mistakes than the first book, and felt less polished. Honestly, I might have talked myself into an even lower rating, but we did get some cameos that I enjoyed.
I would still definitely read from this author again, but this was a bit of a letdown, all in all.
Really great premise for a dark romance, and I was absolutely sold on it. But I really felt nothing for this romance. I didn't mind how dark it was, and I was prepared for the dysfunction and the consent issues. But it's a romance, and I need to feel some kind of connection between the characters, and I truly did not. I get that it's hate to love, and I get that it's a novella, but I felt no progression. There was just a lot of hatefucking, and then a very abrupt turn towards feelings. I know that some of my feelings towards this are based on very subjective things. Some of the sex scenes were just really not my thing. (Like, the underwater/drowning scene? I cannot think of a universe in which I'd find that sexy.) Even as smut, this was just kind boring, because it was all very explicit without being descriptive at all, and hardly ever like, lingering on the scene and the emotions, whether those emotions were hatred or burgeoning attraction or whatever. It felt very perfunctory. Like damn have y'all never heard of foreplay?
The book also does a thing I find REALLY annoying in paranormal books, where a person's fantastical side or whatever is treated like a separate entity. You mostly see it with werewolves or other shifters, where the person refers to 'their wolf' having instincts and urges and wants of their own. I think it's silly and goofy, but whatever. This, however, was probably my first time seeing it with vampires? Or maybe second time. Anyway, I find that even sillier. And since I found it so silly, it did affect my enjoyment. It's always a tiny jumpscare. Like, wait, are you talking about a different person -- no. Just your ~inner vampire~. Lol. It's a silly roadblock to enjoyment, but I am who I am.
The worldbuilding just felt flat and kind of cheesy, and the world didn't feel as rich as it did in the first book. Again, I didn't care about their romance, I didn't care about the hatefucking. One thing I did enjoy was the part Ada played in their lives? I won't spoil it, but I was happy about the part she played in their relationship. The fact that she was there is probably one of the things that kept me from hating the book. I enjoyed her chemistry with Persis and Lidia separately more than I liked them with each other. The plot was okay; not as engaging as I'd have liked. We learn some things about Lidia's past and her nature, but at the end, things still feel nebulous and unfinished. The writing had more typos and mistakes than the first book, and felt less polished. Honestly, I might have talked myself into an even lower rating, but we did get some cameos that I enjoyed.
I would still definitely read from this author again, but this was a bit of a letdown, all in all.
November 21, 2025
3/5
alright this one left me a little too disappointed.
Besides a lot of things,this book had a great potential and I feel like it could had been developed better without Ava in it. I am not into the whole sharing thing ,so it was a whole turn off ,maybe some people would like it better ,it certainly wasn't for me.
But I do know for sure I will be giving my money left and right at everything this author writes
alright this one left me a little too disappointed.
Besides a lot of things,this book had a great potential and I feel like it could had been developed better without Ava in it. I am not into the whole sharing thing ,so it was a whole turn off ,maybe some people would like it better ,it certainly wasn't for me.
But I do know for sure I will be giving my money left and right at everything this author writes
September 26, 2025
I loved the first one, I loved this one. Sometimes the top reviews are 2 stars and its just because a few too many people who the book wasn't for found the book! This definitely feels like one of those times. It says what it is on the tin! A little bit of oooooooooh are we going there omg we ARE fucked up familial-dynamic-adjacent twistiness in the mix can just make it more fun!! Let 👏 sapphic 👏 authors 👏 write 👏 fucked 👏 up 👏 stuff!!!
Love the easy-breezy timeless-feeling writing style, love the ladies, love the blood and the fangs and the glimpses of a very interestingly co-mingled fantasy world, having a blast with the spice, etc, etc, etc!
Honestly the sex scene was probably my fav of the bunch. I love when we throw in a little bit of the inherent violence of nature into our spicytimes, and there were some fantastic bits of unexpected description in the on-land outdoors scenes too. Getting to see our favs from book one again ? Yay!
Anyway as a card carrying member of the club honestly Ada was a show-stealer (and a heart-stealer). if anything had happened to her I would have killed everyone in this review (docked a star) and then myself. if we don't get to see her again in a future installation im gonna be crushed!!
Love the easy-breezy timeless-feeling writing style, love the ladies, love the blood and the fangs and the glimpses of a very interestingly co-mingled fantasy world, having a blast with the spice, etc, etc, etc!
Honestly the sex scene was probably my fav of the bunch. I love when we throw in a little bit of the inherent violence of nature into our spicytimes, and there were some fantastic bits of unexpected description in the on-land outdoors scenes too. Getting to see our favs from book one again ? Yay!
Anyway as a card carrying member of the club honestly Ada was a show-stealer (and a heart-stealer). if anything had happened to her I would have killed everyone in this review (docked a star) and then myself. if we don't get to see her again in a future installation im gonna be crushed!!
October 16, 2024
The premise of this book really intrigued me, but I had no idea how weird I would feel about the whole thing.
Persis, a vampire, is taken and locked into a tower at age 5 by the Dark Rose, the woman who killed her parents. She then is taken care of by an older woman named Ada, who comes to the tower daily to feed her and take care of her for 15 years. On the day of her 20th birthday, the Dark Rose, now known as Lidia, comes to take her out of the tower. The three women end up living together in a nearby cottage.
I got about 45% of the way through this book before deciding to DNF. The sex in this book made me feel wholeheartedly wrong. The very beginning of the book informs us readers that the caretaker, Ada, has been fucking Persis since the day she turned 18, despite the age gap and caretaker role she has been in for 15 years since Persis was FIVE. They don't say how old Ada is, but she seems to have arthritis and gray hair, and even Lidia asks Persis if she "enjoys fucking old women." Ick.
Furthermore, everyone continues to have sex despite the fact that Persis allegedly hates Lidia for killing her parents. I love smut and I've read things that blur the lines of morality but I seriously cannot believe that Persis would constantly find herself getting turned on by Lidia while also hating her so much. I also find it weird that they almost force Persis into having sex with them at any given time and it feels rapey to me, not sexy. Lidia is oddly sexual and even in her most painful moments (her changes) she seems to want sex more than anything. I feel like this was much less sexy than I really hoped for.
Also, at 40% through the book, they still have not given an actual reason for why they locked Persis up or even took her out of the tower in the first place. Maybe I could keep reading and figure it out, but it seems like the plot is so thin that it doesn't feel worth it to me. It honestly doesn't make sense as to why Lidia never came to see Persis at all over 15 years.
At the end of the day, this book just didn't do it for me. I felt uneasy reading it and the sex felt so many levels of wrong. I will admit i am weird about age gap in the first place and did not know how this would be going in. I hope others can enjoy it a bit more!
Persis, a vampire, is taken and locked into a tower at age 5 by the Dark Rose, the woman who killed her parents. She then is taken care of by an older woman named Ada, who comes to the tower daily to feed her and take care of her for 15 years. On the day of her 20th birthday, the Dark Rose, now known as Lidia, comes to take her out of the tower. The three women end up living together in a nearby cottage.
I got about 45% of the way through this book before deciding to DNF. The sex in this book made me feel wholeheartedly wrong. The very beginning of the book informs us readers that the caretaker, Ada, has been fucking Persis since the day she turned 18, despite the age gap and caretaker role she has been in for 15 years since Persis was FIVE. They don't say how old Ada is, but she seems to have arthritis and gray hair, and even Lidia asks Persis if she "enjoys fucking old women." Ick.
Furthermore, everyone continues to have sex despite the fact that Persis allegedly hates Lidia for killing her parents. I love smut and I've read things that blur the lines of morality but I seriously cannot believe that Persis would constantly find herself getting turned on by Lidia while also hating her so much. I also find it weird that they almost force Persis into having sex with them at any given time and it feels rapey to me, not sexy. Lidia is oddly sexual and even in her most painful moments (her changes) she seems to want sex more than anything. I feel like this was much less sexy than I really hoped for.
Also, at 40% through the book, they still have not given an actual reason for why they locked Persis up or even took her out of the tower in the first place. Maybe I could keep reading and figure it out, but it seems like the plot is so thin that it doesn't feel worth it to me. It honestly doesn't make sense as to why Lidia never came to see Persis at all over 15 years.
At the end of the day, this book just didn't do it for me. I felt uneasy reading it and the sex felt so many levels of wrong. I will admit i am weird about age gap in the first place and did not know how this would be going in. I hope others can enjoy it a bit more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
A Captivating second in a series.
I knew I would love this going in. The first book has had me in a stranglehold since the first line. This follow up does not dissapoint. A wonderful story of the formidable Black Rose. Spice as expected from this author and series, so wonderfully written. Holly Hawthorne does not disappoint in her storytelling, and I long for more.
I knew I would love this going in. The first book has had me in a stranglehold since the first line. This follow up does not dissapoint. A wonderful story of the formidable Black Rose. Spice as expected from this author and series, so wonderfully written. Holly Hawthorne does not disappoint in her storytelling, and I long for more.
January 15, 2025
This book was dark and twisted in ways I'm not sure that the author even intended. I really enjoyed the story and everything in it. I just couldn't get over Ada's relationships with Persis and Lidia. She was almost a parental figure for one, and definitely a parental figure for the other...and yet it became sexual when they were "old enough." That's really the biggest element keeping this from being five stars like the previous book in the series was.
The romance is complicated. It isn't a single romance, but a twisted triad. There is Ada, the food source of Persis and the one who raised her, Persis the young vampire, and then Lidia, The Dark Rose assassin and general sourpuss. I'm not opposed to multi-partner romances, but this one is messy. And it doesn't ever get less messy and confusing even by the end of the book. There isn't actually a lot of romance, and I'm not really sure how any of them feel for each other other than a general affection and attraction. I wish there was more emotional development between everyone.
There is a third act breakup of sorts. It doesn't last long in the book, and I'm not sure exactly how long chronologically, but not too long. No one really apologizes for anything or changes who they are. Lidia does admit that she needs Persis, but that's about it.
The romance is complicated. It isn't a single romance, but a twisted triad. There is Ada, the food source of Persis and the one who raised her, Persis the young vampire, and then Lidia, The Dark Rose assassin and general sourpuss. I'm not opposed to multi-partner romances, but this one is messy. And it doesn't ever get less messy and confusing even by the end of the book. There isn't actually a lot of romance, and I'm not really sure how any of them feel for each other other than a general affection and attraction. I wish there was more emotional development between everyone.
There is a third act breakup of sorts. It doesn't last long in the book, and I'm not sure exactly how long chronologically, but not too long. No one really apologizes for anything or changes who they are. Lidia does admit that she needs Persis, but that's about it.
December 12, 2024
4/5🌶️
•sapphic
•enemies to lovers
•vampires
•one bed
•forced proximity
“She’s the drug I can’t get enough of, the one rotting my insides even though it tastes so sweet.”
i feel this book fell a little short 😢 i just wanted more. i loved Lidia and Persis dynamic tho. their banter and sexual tension was really good. but i did not like the dynamic with Ada…cause if you really think about…she’s known both women since they were 5ish…🤠 immmm scared.
I wish we would have gotten more details, i wish things were explained a little better and i really wish we had gotten more of Lidia and Persis just loving eachother. (the hate sex was fire tho)
i lovedddddd getting scenes with everyone at the end tho. Pearl and Morvanna🥹 i miss them
quotes🩸
‘Even when you hate me, you want me.’
‘My beast never feels so close to the surface than when I’m fucking you,’
‘I would search for you,’ I whisper. I find her hand and hold it to my chest. ‘I would rip apart the jails to get you.’
•sapphic
•enemies to lovers
•vampires
•one bed
•forced proximity
“She’s the drug I can’t get enough of, the one rotting my insides even though it tastes so sweet.”
i feel this book fell a little short 😢 i just wanted more. i loved Lidia and Persis dynamic tho. their banter and sexual tension was really good. but i did not like the dynamic with Ada…cause if you really think about…she’s known both women since they were 5ish…🤠 immmm scared.
I wish we would have gotten more details, i wish things were explained a little better and i really wish we had gotten more of Lidia and Persis just loving eachother. (the hate sex was fire tho)
i lovedddddd getting scenes with everyone at the end tho. Pearl and Morvanna🥹 i miss them
quotes🩸
‘Even when you hate me, you want me.’
‘My beast never feels so close to the surface than when I’m fucking you,’
‘I would search for you,’ I whisper. I find her hand and hold it to my chest. ‘I would rip apart the jails to get you.’
May 11, 2025
I liked this novel but also had a hard time rating it. I had high expectations following the first in the series (Precious Red Pearls) which I absolutely adored, and this one didn’t quite measure up. Now I’m wondering if I am being too hard on it as a result.
This novel was well written. The worldbuilding was well done and builds off the first novel. This could be read as a standalone, however is better if you read the first one (another dynamic I like in my books). I liked all the individual components (characters, setting, plot) but just didn’t see it all come together for me. I think the biggest weak point for me is the relationship/romance between the two main protagonists, which for me was the main point of the novel. I just didn’t really feel it. The transition from prisoner filled with hate to love interest just didn’t land for me this time, which was disappointing. All the components WERE there, I could follow the rational for the shifting feelings and outlook on the situation, but something was missing for me.
I still liked this book, and if you enjoyed the first one then I would say this is worth the read.
My Rating: “B+”
Converted Rating: 4-Stars
This novel was well written. The worldbuilding was well done and builds off the first novel. This could be read as a standalone, however is better if you read the first one (another dynamic I like in my books). I liked all the individual components (characters, setting, plot) but just didn’t see it all come together for me. I think the biggest weak point for me is the relationship/romance between the two main protagonists, which for me was the main point of the novel. I just didn’t really feel it. The transition from prisoner filled with hate to love interest just didn’t land for me this time, which was disappointing. All the components WERE there, I could follow the rational for the shifting feelings and outlook on the situation, but something was missing for me.
I still liked this book, and if you enjoyed the first one then I would say this is worth the read.
My Rating: “B+”
Converted Rating: 4-Stars
October 26, 2024
Loved it
Loved this as much as the 1st book, maybe even more, I can't wait to see if there are more books to come. Both lidia and persis 's stories made me feel a whole range of emotions, which I admit I don't normally feel with books, but I'm glad how the book ended. The author writes really well, its detailed and the smut is fantastic. Looking forward to reading more of Holly's books
Spoiler below.
As soon as we were told what had happened in lidias past to make her the special breed of monster that she is, part of me wondered/hoped, that if she was to drink persis's blood would the transition be completed? As technically she has her parents blood? Who knows maybe that is the next book?
Loved this as much as the 1st book, maybe even more, I can't wait to see if there are more books to come. Both lidia and persis 's stories made me feel a whole range of emotions, which I admit I don't normally feel with books, but I'm glad how the book ended. The author writes really well, its detailed and the smut is fantastic. Looking forward to reading more of Holly's books
Spoiler below.
As soon as we were told what had happened in lidias past to make her the special breed of monster that she is, part of me wondered/hoped, that if she was to drink persis's blood would the transition be completed? As technically she has her parents blood? Who knows maybe that is the next book?
October 6, 2025
Absolutely not, no maam, no thanks.
I read the first one and liked it well enough, so I thought I would give this one a try.
But there is something absolutely disgusting about a little 5 year old girl being kidnapped and from the time she is 5 until she is 20 only interacting with one lady, her care taker. And then when she is 18 the care taker starts to "pleasure" her... absolutely not.
A TW for that should have been included.
Not to mention the FMC is literally 20 and her care taker is an old lady with arthritis who literally has days she can't even lift a tea cup up.
I of course an DNF-ing
I read the first one and liked it well enough, so I thought I would give this one a try.
But there is something absolutely disgusting about a little 5 year old girl being kidnapped and from the time she is 5 until she is 20 only interacting with one lady, her care taker. And then when she is 18 the care taker starts to "pleasure" her... absolutely not.
A TW for that should have been included.
Not to mention the FMC is literally 20 and her care taker is an old lady with arthritis who literally has days she can't even lift a tea cup up.
I of course an DNF-ing
October 15, 2024
Dark and Red...
A painful and angry intro of this amazing novel, but not as intense as book 1. A 5🌟 for a brilliant, captivating novel that's so heartwretching. Emotional and physical abuse had me in 😢 , as our FMC's had to go threw. Will there be a follow up for book 3? Hope so, because it kind of ended upruptly with no finality of the FMC's relationship and Red's monthly problem. A bit disappointed in the lack of spicy and steamy moments between the FMC's.
A painful and angry intro of this amazing novel, but not as intense as book 1. A 5🌟 for a brilliant, captivating novel that's so heartwretching. Emotional and physical abuse had me in 😢 , as our FMC's had to go threw. Will there be a follow up for book 3? Hope so, because it kind of ended upruptly with no finality of the FMC's relationship and Red's monthly problem. A bit disappointed in the lack of spicy and steamy moments between the FMC's.
October 29, 2024
Enjoyable follow up to Precious Red Pearls. The relationship between the two women and the captive child is explained along with the realities of materials that made up dildos in the time period of carriages and castles.
Books set in the past are not a regular read for me, but this series was recommended in a sapphic book group, and I am glad I followed the advice and went on this journey with Holly Hawthorne.
Books set in the past are not a regular read for me, but this series was recommended in a sapphic book group, and I am glad I followed the advice and went on this journey with Holly Hawthorne.
September 4, 2025
Good book
This book is about the Dark Rose. Is she vampire or a wolf one will never know. She gets her name for the garden she tends. She captured a young vampire girl for fifteen years. With the help of Ada a older woman that is Persis while she is in the tower. A good story but a bit much for me
This book is about the Dark Rose. Is she vampire or a wolf one will never know. She gets her name for the garden she tends. She captured a young vampire girl for fifteen years. With the help of Ada a older woman that is Persis while she is in the tower. A good story but a bit much for me
October 12, 2024
Loved
Darkness may consume us but it is the paths we lead that brings light onto our journey. Bringing us a happy ever after.
Darkness may consume us but it is the paths we lead that brings light onto our journey. Bringing us a happy ever after.
October 15, 2024
🏰🌹🥀🧛♀️🩸🌕
December 27, 2024
3 stars. Didn't hate this but book one was much better.
November 7, 2024
this was just a fun read very early wattpad days vibe would reread
October 16, 2025
I'm disgusted.
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