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Fair's Fair #2
Fall
It didn’t feel real until they showed up at my door—without their masks.
When they knock, I let them in. Even though I know I should slam the door in their faces and call the cops. I know I shouldn’t be this curious, especially after what happened at the warehouse.
But I can’t bring myself to turn them away.
Nor can I bring myself to tell the police what really happened, no matter how many times they ask or how forcefully they press. What started as thrilling quickly turns into something darker. Something I’m not sure I’m ready for.
Something I won’t be able to walk away from if I don’t act soon.
Too bad they’re willing to do anything to keep me from leaving.
They’ll tear down everything in my life until all I have left is them—and the twisted world they’re offering. They’ll threaten my friends, bind me to them in ways I can’t escape. If they get caught, I get caught too.
After all, fair’s fair, right?
Please read the content warnings at the beginning of the book. This book is dark, with content that could bother some readers. FALL is a short, spicy Halloween novella. It’s MMF, and book 2 in the Fair's Fair trilogy. It is extremely dark.
When they knock, I let them in. Even though I know I should slam the door in their faces and call the cops. I know I shouldn’t be this curious, especially after what happened at the warehouse.
But I can’t bring myself to turn them away.
Nor can I bring myself to tell the police what really happened, no matter how many times they ask or how forcefully they press. What started as thrilling quickly turns into something darker. Something I’m not sure I’m ready for.
Something I won’t be able to walk away from if I don’t act soon.
Too bad they’re willing to do anything to keep me from leaving.
They’ll tear down everything in my life until all I have left is them—and the twisted world they’re offering. They’ll threaten my friends, bind me to them in ways I can’t escape. If they get caught, I get caught too.
After all, fair’s fair, right?
Please read the content warnings at the beginning of the book. This book is dark, with content that could bother some readers. FALL is a short, spicy Halloween novella. It’s MMF, and book 2 in the Fair's Fair trilogy. It is extremely dark.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2025
449 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Merlin
37 books2,095 followersAJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
February 8, 2025
well, that’s the question, isn’t it? how do you prove to two murderers that you won’t- you can’t- betray them?
i missed my deranged throuple <3 these men could praise me into doing anything and everything
i missed my deranged throuple <3 these men could praise me into doing anything and everything
January 27, 2025
It was a straight continuation from Haunt and it was so good! I know my girl Noa can handle anything, even after being forced in that situation 🫣. I can’t wait for the next book!
February 3, 2025
I was completely clueless that this book would be picking up right from where Haunt ended, but it was such a pleasant surprise!
I will read anything and everything that AJ Merlin writes without missing a beat because they have become one of my favourite authors of all time. Everything that they come up with just hits the spot and has me OBSESSED even after I finish reading
This was such a short and fast paced read, but again, you need to have read Haunt for everything to make sense.
Without giving too much away, our girl Noa goes to the wrong halloween haunt and ends up with two serial killers on her tail that are kinda obsessed with her. Things got very steamy and intense in book 1, and this one follows with the guys trying to find a way to get Noa to keep their secret (so they don’t have to kill her)
I read this in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down, I NEEDED to know what was going to happen with every fiber of my being, and when I finished reading it I was left with even more questions that I started with, which was great…
Was not expecting that ending at all, or for the guys to just let it go and let Noa go back to her ‘normal’ life. Really thought that they were just going to keep her hostage for the rest of her life as their little play thing, so now I’m even more excited to see how things are going to conclude in book 3!
This mini series is definitely worth a read if you like the serial killer romance sub genre, really dark romances and hella steamy scenes that leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about yourself.
I will read anything and everything that AJ Merlin writes without missing a beat because they have become one of my favourite authors of all time. Everything that they come up with just hits the spot and has me OBSESSED even after I finish reading
This was such a short and fast paced read, but again, you need to have read Haunt for everything to make sense.
Without giving too much away, our girl Noa goes to the wrong halloween haunt and ends up with two serial killers on her tail that are kinda obsessed with her. Things got very steamy and intense in book 1, and this one follows with the guys trying to find a way to get Noa to keep their secret (so they don’t have to kill her)
I read this in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down, I NEEDED to know what was going to happen with every fiber of my being, and when I finished reading it I was left with even more questions that I started with, which was great…
Was not expecting that ending at all, or for the guys to just let it go and let Noa go back to her ‘normal’ life. Really thought that they were just going to keep her hostage for the rest of her life as their little play thing, so now I’m even more excited to see how things are going to conclude in book 3!
This mini series is definitely worth a read if you like the serial killer romance sub genre, really dark romances and hella steamy scenes that leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about yourself.
February 3, 2025
Jan 2025
Kindle edition
Huh, thought this one was a duet, oh well. Not too sure about this one. Its definitely on the darker side and more of a uh well that happened. Noa continues to dig herself into a deeper hole with the guys with kidnapping and a calculated escape attempt. Cliffhanger ending with Noa now an unwilling accomplice. Curious what happens next and the beating her mental state might take.
Kindle edition
Huh, thought this one was a duet, oh well. Not too sure about this one. Its definitely on the darker side and more of a uh well that happened. Noa continues to dig herself into a deeper hole with the guys with kidnapping and a calculated escape attempt. Cliffhanger ending with Noa now an unwilling accomplice. Curious what happens next and the beating her mental state might take.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2025
Maybe I don't want this to happen to me...
Book 2 of the Fair's Fair series is here! Book one, Haunt, was a Halloween novella that ended with the MMCs at the door of the FMC the next day and book two picks up exactly where we left off.
The beginning is so fun, I was so excited like omg the guys are back and came to see Noa, so happy for her!! Next thing my girls kidnapped... oh um I thought this was the HEA part?
It twas not the HEA part.
This book managed to make me feel all the emotions of Noa, the FMC, while reading which sounds fun but the ending of this book had Noa questioning if she was going into shock and I was too, just sitting there afterwards just numb. Honestly I liked that it brought that out but at the same time I'm feral for book 3 because how are they, Val and Kieran the MMCs, going to fix this?
As for the spice, AJ is always going to bring the spice and it usually comes with a little fear included for fun. I can't believe there was a time in my life where I didn't get the appeal of a primal scene or the kink itself. I'm not saying chase me through the woods, but I can see the appeal cause that scene was HOT. Also the way Kieran and Val basically use Noa however because they know that she's going to like it even though she's saying no... making me look at myself differently 😌
Thank you to aj merlin for allowing me to be on the ARC team 🥰
Book 2 of the Fair's Fair series is here! Book one, Haunt, was a Halloween novella that ended with the MMCs at the door of the FMC the next day and book two picks up exactly where we left off.
The beginning is so fun, I was so excited like omg the guys are back and came to see Noa, so happy for her!! Next thing my girls kidnapped... oh um I thought this was the HEA part?
It twas not the HEA part.
This book managed to make me feel all the emotions of Noa, the FMC, while reading which sounds fun but the ending of this book had Noa questioning if she was going into shock and I was too, just sitting there afterwards just numb. Honestly I liked that it brought that out but at the same time I'm feral for book 3 because how are they, Val and Kieran the MMCs, going to fix this?
As for the spice, AJ is always going to bring the spice and it usually comes with a little fear included for fun. I can't believe there was a time in my life where I didn't get the appeal of a primal scene or the kink itself. I'm not saying chase me through the woods, but I can see the appeal cause that scene was HOT. Also the way Kieran and Val basically use Noa however because they know that she's going to like it even though she's saying no... making me look at myself differently 😌
Thank you to aj merlin for allowing me to be on the ARC team 🥰
June 1, 2025
some dialogue was insanely cringy but i overall loved how this unraveled and the ending has me running to start the last in the trilogy
*spoiler-ish?*
harrow/kieran still owns me
*spoiler-ish?*
harrow/kieran still owns me
January 18, 2026
Oh my god. Primal play.
This novella leans fully into dark intensity and does not apologize for it. The dynamic is feral, the tension is constant, and the praise? Immaculate. Absolute praise kings energy throughout!!!
What really sets Fall apart is the relationship between the two MMCs. Their chemistry is unhinged in the best way, sharp, dangerous, and charged. It’s not good cop / bad cop. It’s more like bad villain / worse villain, and that imbalance somehow makes everything hit harder.
The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is heavy, and the power dynamics are crystal clear. This is one of those reads where you don’t want softness, you want edge, control, and intensity, and Fall delivers exactly that.
Dark, primal, and completely unapologetic.
This novella leans fully into dark intensity and does not apologize for it. The dynamic is feral, the tension is constant, and the praise? Immaculate. Absolute praise kings energy throughout!!!
What really sets Fall apart is the relationship between the two MMCs. Their chemistry is unhinged in the best way, sharp, dangerous, and charged. It’s not good cop / bad cop. It’s more like bad villain / worse villain, and that imbalance somehow makes everything hit harder.
The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is heavy, and the power dynamics are crystal clear. This is one of those reads where you don’t want softness, you want edge, control, and intensity, and Fall delivers exactly that.
Dark, primal, and completely unapologetic.
March 25, 2025
Ekkk these men !!
They were never going to just leave her at the hunt !
They are utterly unhinged but wow are they awsome can she finally escape those men or will she actually miss them ,?
They were never going to just leave her at the hunt !
They are utterly unhinged but wow are they awsome can she finally escape those men or will she actually miss them ,?
May 20, 2025
dark cereal munchers/ Non Co N/ dub/ 2H and 1 h
Book two picks up where book 1 ends! I am not gonna lie I could barely put this down.
In this book we’re seeing a slightly less dark side of the Hs …. And then more of their darkness bc I mean that’s who they are lol.
Drugging
Dub con
Primal/chase
Asphyxiation
Biting/marking
Love the dirty talk
Get a bit more background on the haunt from book 1 and the guys.
Whew the mouth on Val 🤤
““You should be so grateful to us because no one else on this entire planet could satisfy your depraved needs, you know? But don’t worry, Noa.” He sounds almost soothing for a moment, but his words are undermined by his fingers being so tight that I’m definitely about to black out. “I’ll always be here to fuck you in all the ways you need. Over and over and over.””
And then Kieran in his like daddy-ish vibe but he’s soooo controlling it’s easy to see he’s the “alpha” alpha in the dynamic. This was the gentle words of course lol.
“Easy, darling,” Kieran murmurs when I stiffen ever so slightly. “You’re being so good for me. You take me perfectly and you know how to do this. Just relax for me, all right? Let me do all the work to fuck your pretty face.”
This one ends much the same. It’s an ending to this book but def know theirs more to come. I’m diving into book 3. lol
Book two picks up where book 1 ends! I am not gonna lie I could barely put this down.
In this book we’re seeing a slightly less dark side of the Hs …. And then more of their darkness bc I mean that’s who they are lol.
Drugging
Dub con
Primal/chase
Asphyxiation
Biting/marking
Love the dirty talk
Get a bit more background on the haunt from book 1 and the guys.
Whew the mouth on Val 🤤
““You should be so grateful to us because no one else on this entire planet could satisfy your depraved needs, you know? But don’t worry, Noa.” He sounds almost soothing for a moment, but his words are undermined by his fingers being so tight that I’m definitely about to black out. “I’ll always be here to fuck you in all the ways you need. Over and over and over.””
And then Kieran in his like daddy-ish vibe but he’s soooo controlling it’s easy to see he’s the “alpha” alpha in the dynamic. This was the gentle words of course lol.
“Easy, darling,” Kieran murmurs when I stiffen ever so slightly. “You’re being so good for me. You take me perfectly and you know how to do this. Just relax for me, all right? Let me do all the work to fuck your pretty face.”
This one ends much the same. It’s an ending to this book but def know theirs more to come. I’m diving into book 3. lol
July 29, 2025
This was a continuation of Haunt and Noa couldn’t get rid of these two guys even if she wanted. They have to make her do something unspeakable to make sure she doesn’t rat them out. Val is definitely my favorite 🤭 I’ll be reading the next one for sure!
October 31, 2025
Not as good at the first one. Took me a while to get through. Gonna push myself to read the last one so I can finish the story, but no promises.
Still waiting for the MMF content that was promised, btw. Not even a hint of it in this one. 🫥
Still waiting for the MMF content that was promised, btw. Not even a hint of it in this one. 🫥
January 30, 2025
4.5⭐️
This book picks up exactly where Haunt left off and was far less gory.
The boys need a way to make sure Noa won’t turn anyone in and their way ended up being exactly what I guessed it’d be.
The ending, in my opinion, is similar to the ending of Haunt in the way that it’s not really a cliffhanger but it still makes me excited to read the next book.
I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
This book picks up exactly where Haunt left off and was far less gory.
The boys need a way to make sure Noa won’t turn anyone in and their way ended up being exactly what I guessed it’d be.
The ending, in my opinion, is similar to the ending of Haunt in the way that it’s not really a cliffhanger but it still makes me excited to read the next book.
I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
June 1, 2025
6 stars
October 18, 2025
It's not you, it's me. DNF at 64% (but I did read the recap).
August 13, 2025
Called that ending.
October 11, 2025
4.5 stars
October 27, 2025
Jumping straight from where we left off in the last book, loved that because we didn't miss anything.
This is definitely for people who can handle some messed up stuff, on that note I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read more!!
This is definitely for people who can handle some messed up stuff, on that note I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read more!!
January 28, 2025
Ever wondered what it would be like to meet a masked incredibly hot and attractive serial killer and become their newest obsession? To meet them at what you thought was an innocent Halloween Haunt only to then wake up the next day safe and sound in your bed??? Believing it all to be some weird nightmare except, your sore and there are marks and bruises on your body from an intensely pleasurable night? Then to have them suddenly they turn up unmasked at your house acting as if everything is normal? No? How about two of them?
Noa is our fmc and she's a halloween lover, loving watching all the the gory horror movies and strange and frightening paranormal tv shows but it's safe to say she hoped this would all stay on the tv rather than suddenly enter real life. Her entire life has entered the Twilight Zone, she's scared for her life and just wants to return to normal and forget about what happened only to bask in her luck that she managed to escape whole. Until these strange dark men kidnap her to a secluded cottage in the forest and force her to do something she reallllly doesn't want to do in order to ensure her silence. Something that may well break her into pieces.
This is a dark read and there is not much consent from our fmc other than she does end up enjoying things that are forced upon her, secretly enjoys it, learning new kinks and more about herself and her slightly more darker inclinations. But what happens when the two alluringly dark men take it a step too far? I need the next book to be longer, these short stories are killing me with the anticipation and I just need more. I need the next book because it was cruel to leave it there! If you want to take a step into the darker side of the romance genre then have a go at this one!
Noa is our fmc and she's a halloween lover, loving watching all the the gory horror movies and strange and frightening paranormal tv shows but it's safe to say she hoped this would all stay on the tv rather than suddenly enter real life. Her entire life has entered the Twilight Zone, she's scared for her life and just wants to return to normal and forget about what happened only to bask in her luck that she managed to escape whole. Until these strange dark men kidnap her to a secluded cottage in the forest and force her to do something she reallllly doesn't want to do in order to ensure her silence. Something that may well break her into pieces.
This is a dark read and there is not much consent from our fmc other than she does end up enjoying things that are forced upon her, secretly enjoys it, learning new kinks and more about herself and her slightly more darker inclinations. But what happens when the two alluringly dark men take it a step too far? I need the next book to be longer, these short stories are killing me with the anticipation and I just need more. I need the next book because it was cruel to leave it there! If you want to take a step into the darker side of the romance genre then have a go at this one!
January 29, 2025
“I could devour you happily. Every part of you, until there’s nothing left but bones.”
Arc Review for Fall (Fair’s Fair #2) by A.J. Merlin!
Overall Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 4/5 🌶️
Not my first A.J. Merlin and certainly never to be the last! The second book on Merlin’s Fair’s Fair trilogy, I enjoyed this quick, depraved & spicy read! I sped-read the first book in the series before starting this one (and I loved it), and this one was just as good as that one! I feel so much fun & good stuff happened in this book that I just couldn’t put it down! It was super action-packed, spicy, and intense, to say the least! Everything I could ever want in a dark, serial killer romance(even some good fluffy moments from our stabby men and their girl too!) I can’t wait to see how the end of the trilogy will turn out!
Merlin’s books are always a favorite of mine to read - as gory + twisted as they can be, I don’t know what it is about them but they’re such comfort reads for me and i’m always devouring them + loving every second of experiencing Merlin’s book universes.
What to expect in Fall:
🕯️ mmf romance
🕯️ serial killers
🕯️ quick & spicy novella
🕯️ girl obsessed men
🕯️ primal/breeding kink
🕯️ lowkey enemies to lovers
🕯️ dark romance
🕯️ really hot serial killers
🕯️ romantic suspense x mystery
Thank you to A.J. Merlin and her team for allowing me to be an arc reader for this new release & providing me with an advanced reader copy of Fall in exchange for an honest review! 🤍 I received an ARC copy of Fall and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Fall releases January 30th, 2025!
Arc Review for Fall (Fair’s Fair #2) by A.J. Merlin!
Overall Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 4/5 🌶️
Not my first A.J. Merlin and certainly never to be the last! The second book on Merlin’s Fair’s Fair trilogy, I enjoyed this quick, depraved & spicy read! I sped-read the first book in the series before starting this one (and I loved it), and this one was just as good as that one! I feel so much fun & good stuff happened in this book that I just couldn’t put it down! It was super action-packed, spicy, and intense, to say the least! Everything I could ever want in a dark, serial killer romance(even some good fluffy moments from our stabby men and their girl too!) I can’t wait to see how the end of the trilogy will turn out!
Merlin’s books are always a favorite of mine to read - as gory + twisted as they can be, I don’t know what it is about them but they’re such comfort reads for me and i’m always devouring them + loving every second of experiencing Merlin’s book universes.
What to expect in Fall:
🕯️ mmf romance
🕯️ serial killers
🕯️ quick & spicy novella
🕯️ girl obsessed men
🕯️ primal/breeding kink
🕯️ lowkey enemies to lovers
🕯️ dark romance
🕯️ really hot serial killers
🕯️ romantic suspense x mystery
Thank you to A.J. Merlin and her team for allowing me to be an arc reader for this new release & providing me with an advanced reader copy of Fall in exchange for an honest review! 🤍 I received an ARC copy of Fall and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Fall releases January 30th, 2025!
January 30, 2025
Another great short read. I have been waiting for this follow up and it didn't disappoint. AJ is so great at taking the FMC and making her relatable. She's never your stereotypical bombshell goddess who wears fancy clothes and looks like a million bucks and has a snooty personality. Her FMC's are usually raw faced or minimal. With crazy hair situations who love leggings and over sized novelty hoodies with beat up sneakers. And the FMC's love animals and don't have super fabulous jobs with boatload of money who waste it away on everything they see. They have real world jobs and face real world problems. Their real and the men they come across love these features about them. It's attractive and they want that in their women. AJ also has a way of taking deep dark desires that people don't usually talk about and brings them out and makes you feel okay for having them. And she definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat with suspense with the possibilities in her books. This was no different.
Noa having just spent the scariest night of her life, fighting to see her way out of the Haunt wakes up thinking the worst was behind her, until she gets visitors at her door.
In this short Noa goes through more crazy suspenseful drama, fights herself at every turn on the feelings and non feelings she has through it all. But once again we are left with a cliffy that has us yelling at AJ for more. And I for one, can't wait for more of Noa's journey, what will happen between her and her men? What secrets was she hiding about her past? What secrets are the guys hiding? I can't wait to find out.
Noa having just spent the scariest night of her life, fighting to see her way out of the Haunt wakes up thinking the worst was behind her, until she gets visitors at her door.
In this short Noa goes through more crazy suspenseful drama, fights herself at every turn on the feelings and non feelings she has through it all. But once again we are left with a cliffy that has us yelling at AJ for more. And I for one, can't wait for more of Noa's journey, what will happen between her and her men? What secrets was she hiding about her past? What secrets are the guys hiding? I can't wait to find out.
June 14, 2025
I wasn’t planning to fall into book two and spiral immediately into book three. But AJ Merlin said, “lol, that’s cute,” and proceeded to tear my soul out page by page—with zero remorse and maximum filth.
Let’s be clear: you absolutely need to read book one first. This isn’t a cute little duet you can bounce around in. This is a descent. Book one introduces the darkness. Fall grabs you by the throat and says, “Ready or not, let’s get twisted.”
This installment is Noa’s true breaking point—her fall, and damn, what a delicious fall it is. Kieran and Val (formerly Harrow and Ravage, because yes, even their names got sexier) drag her into the deep end of herself. This isn’t about choosing one man over the other. It’s about choosing to stop fighting the darkness inside her—the one that likes being called a slut, craves breath play, and aches to surrender.
And guess what? I was cheering for it. Not once did I think “girl, run.” I was thinking “girl, ruin me too.” The writing is just that good. AJ Merlin dances on the blade of morally gray, making you fall for murderers and excuse chaos like it’s foreplay. The intensity starts on page one and does. not. let. up.
It’s dark. It’s hot. It’s twisted. It’s brilliant. That ending? I’m still recovering. I had a plan to pace myself, but that’s gone. Book three is already whispering to me and I know I’m about to answer like the depraved little reader I am.
Let’s be clear: you absolutely need to read book one first. This isn’t a cute little duet you can bounce around in. This is a descent. Book one introduces the darkness. Fall grabs you by the throat and says, “Ready or not, let’s get twisted.”
This installment is Noa’s true breaking point—her fall, and damn, what a delicious fall it is. Kieran and Val (formerly Harrow and Ravage, because yes, even their names got sexier) drag her into the deep end of herself. This isn’t about choosing one man over the other. It’s about choosing to stop fighting the darkness inside her—the one that likes being called a slut, craves breath play, and aches to surrender.
And guess what? I was cheering for it. Not once did I think “girl, run.” I was thinking “girl, ruin me too.” The writing is just that good. AJ Merlin dances on the blade of morally gray, making you fall for murderers and excuse chaos like it’s foreplay. The intensity starts on page one and does. not. let. up.
It’s dark. It’s hot. It’s twisted. It’s brilliant. That ending? I’m still recovering. I had a plan to pace myself, but that’s gone. Book three is already whispering to me and I know I’m about to answer like the depraved little reader I am.
February 2, 2025
Probably more like a 2.5. I was disappointed as I thought this was a duet. I hate getting to the end of a book and finding out I have to wait for another one, especially when a book is as short as this one. I understand that writers want to make money, but the constant splitting up of a single story in order to keep hitting readers for more money is rather obnoxious. That being said...
It ended on another cliffhanger. I really do hate those. At least the next installment is coming at the end of the month.
It ended on another cliffhanger. I really do hate those. At least the next installment is coming at the end of the month.
March 29, 2025
Thoughts / Synopsis : um… Ravage and Harrow are messing with my mind. They were ruthless serial unalivers, now they are being sweet… well, sort of anyway 🫣🤭🤣
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot / Storyline 👩🏻💻: 📑📑📑📑
Heat / Burn (slow / fast): 🐢🐇🐇🐇
Darkness: 🖤🖤🖤
Red Flags: 🚩🚩🚩🚩
Kinks: 🫦🫦🫦
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥵🤭🥵🫣🥵😢🥰
Ending: unfinished / cliffhanger
POV: 🏃🏻♀️{single}
⚠️⚠️⚠️spoilers - whole story***
Ravage / Val and Harrow / Kieran come back to Noa’s apartment to “check on” her. They are there to see if they can trust her not to tell what happened. They dr%g her and take her to a cabin in the woods. They taunt her and make spicy time with her. The woods scene… 🧑🏻🍳 💋
Nero, the “host / ring leader” from the night before, comes and basically tells them they have to figure it out with Noa.
They tell Noa she has to unalive someone. She is adamantly refusing the whole time saying she can’t. Kieran hold her hang while chopping down on the bad guy.
She becomes catatonic essentially and they take her back to her apartment. They warn her if she goes to the police, no one will believe her.
She says by and they tell her they will be back.
When they leave, she breaks down on her bed.
CLIFFHANGER…
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot / Storyline 👩🏻💻: 📑📑📑📑
Heat / Burn (slow / fast): 🐢🐇🐇🐇
Darkness: 🖤🖤🖤
Red Flags: 🚩🚩🚩🚩
Kinks: 🫦🫦🫦
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥵🤭🥵🫣🥵😢🥰
Ending: unfinished / cliffhanger
POV: 🏃🏻♀️{single}
⚠️⚠️⚠️spoilers - whole story***
Ravage / Val and Harrow / Kieran come back to Noa’s apartment to “check on” her. They are there to see if they can trust her not to tell what happened. They dr%g her and take her to a cabin in the woods. They taunt her and make spicy time with her. The woods scene… 🧑🏻🍳 💋
Nero, the “host / ring leader” from the night before, comes and basically tells them they have to figure it out with Noa.
They tell Noa she has to unalive someone. She is adamantly refusing the whole time saying she can’t. Kieran hold her hang while chopping down on the bad guy.
She becomes catatonic essentially and they take her back to her apartment. They warn her if she goes to the police, no one will believe her.
She says by and they tell her they will be back.
When they leave, she breaks down on her bed.
CLIFFHANGER…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2025
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN 2-3 STARS. But the fmc and mmc both use the term unaliving and that was an instant 1 star, no coming back. I was mad. The only reason I didn't immediately dnf is because it's a short read.
This is actually incredibly disappointing on so many levels.
I liked the first one enough to grab this one immediately. This one was just... Not it. The masked killers have taken off their masks and now they're just... Kind of annoying guys. They don't even have the same dynamic with each other anymore. I started skimming a third of the way in, because it was boring. I spent more time going "you've been kidnapped and your cats are all alone for an unknown amount of time" rather than be concerned even a little about the main characters. I was really bothered about the cats being left and the fmc didn't even really care.
It's way less smut than the last one, and what's there is just a repeat of the last book but less interesting. Oh no she's being choked. Again. Big surprise.
Every time one of the mmcs called the fmc princess, I was only able to go "Oh *pwincess*" and it ruined the whole fucking thing forever.
All of the main characters just felt annoying. I didn't feel this way for the first book, but this one was just... Not great.
This is actually incredibly disappointing on so many levels.
I liked the first one enough to grab this one immediately. This one was just... Not it. The masked killers have taken off their masks and now they're just... Kind of annoying guys. They don't even have the same dynamic with each other anymore. I started skimming a third of the way in, because it was boring. I spent more time going "you've been kidnapped and your cats are all alone for an unknown amount of time" rather than be concerned even a little about the main characters. I was really bothered about the cats being left and the fmc didn't even really care.
It's way less smut than the last one, and what's there is just a repeat of the last book but less interesting. Oh no she's being choked. Again. Big surprise.
Every time one of the mmcs called the fmc princess, I was only able to go "Oh *pwincess*" and it ruined the whole fucking thing forever.
All of the main characters just felt annoying. I didn't feel this way for the first book, but this one was just... Not great.
November 29, 2025
So dark, so deep, in one little novella
4.5⭐️’s
3 🌶️’s
This one is definitely not as spicy or as gory as the first but it goes deep. That is the main reason it gets 4.5 (that and the writing is just kinda annoying to read at times) rounded up to 5. We meet Ravage and Harrow for their true selves and learn more about their pasts. They are complicated characters with many shades of cruel and kind. This book is both sexy and heart-wrenching because of the dark themes that were more plot driven than smut driven, a nice deviation from the first that kept things interesting. To be honest, in terms of smut, it was pretty limited and very similar to the first book in some ways.
Overall, I loved it because it took the story of what happened in the haunt to the next level in a dramatic and emotional way. The shock factor and thrill of the first one is what hooked me into that one but the depth of emotion and story telling kept me reading here.
Kinks/Triggers
🩸kidnapping/force proximity
🩸morally grey MMCs
🩸primal/if i catch you …
🩸dub-con
🩸MFM action
🩸mild degradation
🩸SA and abuse
4.5⭐️’s
3 🌶️’s
This one is definitely not as spicy or as gory as the first but it goes deep. That is the main reason it gets 4.5 (that and the writing is just kinda annoying to read at times) rounded up to 5. We meet Ravage and Harrow for their true selves and learn more about their pasts. They are complicated characters with many shades of cruel and kind. This book is both sexy and heart-wrenching because of the dark themes that were more plot driven than smut driven, a nice deviation from the first that kept things interesting. To be honest, in terms of smut, it was pretty limited and very similar to the first book in some ways.
Overall, I loved it because it took the story of what happened in the haunt to the next level in a dramatic and emotional way. The shock factor and thrill of the first one is what hooked me into that one but the depth of emotion and story telling kept me reading here.
Kinks/Triggers
🩸kidnapping/force proximity
🩸morally grey MMCs
🩸primal/if i catch you …
🩸dub-con
🩸MFM action
🩸mild degradation
🩸SA and abuse
January 27, 2025
TITLE: Fall
GENRE: Dark Romance
AUTHOR: AJ Merlin
TROPE: Serial Killer Romance, MMF
TYPE: Trilogy (Fair’s Fair Series Book 2)
POV: First Person
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers
What I liked:
✔️ A quick, dark & spicy read
✔️ Noa’s character (love her!)
✔️ Fast pace read
✔️ MMF
✔️ Dark Serial Killer theme
✔️ Primal MMC
What I didn’t like:
❌ It was over too soon! 😭
❌ I can’t wait for book 3 🖤
Haunt (Book 1) should be read before starting Fall, as Fall picks up right where Haunt leaves off. If you were a fan of the Cat & Mouse series by HD Carlton, you would enjoy this short, dark, spicy read with feral men. I was so engrossed in wanting to find out what was next for Noa, Harrow (Kieran) & Ravage (Val) that I pretty much-ignored anything else until I could finish reading. I will absolutely reread this series, making it worthy of 5 / 5 stars. Please, AJ Merlin, don’t make me wait too long for book three in the trilogy. 🖤
GENRE: Dark Romance
AUTHOR: AJ Merlin
TROPE: Serial Killer Romance, MMF
TYPE: Trilogy (Fair’s Fair Series Book 2)
POV: First Person
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers
What I liked:
✔️ A quick, dark & spicy read
✔️ Noa’s character (love her!)
✔️ Fast pace read
✔️ MMF
✔️ Dark Serial Killer theme
✔️ Primal MMC
What I didn’t like:
❌ It was over too soon! 😭
❌ I can’t wait for book 3 🖤
Haunt (Book 1) should be read before starting Fall, as Fall picks up right where Haunt leaves off. If you were a fan of the Cat & Mouse series by HD Carlton, you would enjoy this short, dark, spicy read with feral men. I was so engrossed in wanting to find out what was next for Noa, Harrow (Kieran) & Ravage (Val) that I pretty much-ignored anything else until I could finish reading. I will absolutely reread this series, making it worthy of 5 / 5 stars. Please, AJ Merlin, don’t make me wait too long for book three in the trilogy. 🖤
February 4, 2025
Picking up from the exciting end to Haunt, Fall dives straight into the scorching tension between FMC Noa and MMCs Ravage (Val) and Harrow (Kieran). I love the moral complexities that Merlin brings to her stories and characters. Getting to know the unmasked versions of the morally black serial killers that captured and captivated Noa in the first novella was a wild, thrilling ride, and I appreciated how much insight I was able to glean into their pasts and motivations through the narrative and their interactions. The banter between the three MCs was excellent, as was the chemistry—I am an absolute goner for primal play, so the spice in this one had me positively melting. I’m eagerly awaiting the third instalment of the trilogy.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
4.5⭐ ~ 4🌶️ ~ 2💔
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
🖤 Serial killers
🖤 Stalkers
🖤 “Ours”
🖤 “Good girl”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱
🖤 Primal play
🖤 Hand necklaces and breath play
🖤 MMF
🖤 Morally grey/black characters with a hint of vigilantism
🖤 “Princess” and “Darling”
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
4.5⭐ ~ 4🌶️ ~ 2💔
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
🖤 Serial killers
🖤 Stalkers
🖤 “Ours”
🖤 “Good girl”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱
🖤 Primal play
🖤 Hand necklaces and breath play
🖤 MMF
🖤 Morally grey/black characters with a hint of vigilantism
🖤 “Princess” and “Darling”
January 30, 2025
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fall is book 2 in the Fair’s Fair trilogy and follows on directly from book 1 which was Haunt.
I really enjoyed Haunt but I loved Fall.
Noa gets a knock at her door the morning after the Haunt only to find Ravage and Harrow ( we do find out their real names later on in this book), mask less on her doorstep after tormenting and using and abusing her the night before…
What do they want? Well, a lot of things. They want to know if she can keep a secret about what she saw at Haunt…..to make sure she keeps her mouth shut in the most twisted way possible….and they want her, they want to keep Noa. Forever.
I think I’m not well because two questionable killers who say all the right things (depending which mood they’re in) and know how to leave a face imprint in a mattress?? I mean…I don’t mind it 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 …….but just in case you do, check your Trigger Warnings, I have literally none. Zero.
I definitely recommend this book
3🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fall is book 2 in the Fair’s Fair trilogy and follows on directly from book 1 which was Haunt.
I really enjoyed Haunt but I loved Fall.
Noa gets a knock at her door the morning after the Haunt only to find Ravage and Harrow ( we do find out their real names later on in this book), mask less on her doorstep after tormenting and using and abusing her the night before…
What do they want? Well, a lot of things. They want to know if she can keep a secret about what she saw at Haunt…..to make sure she keeps her mouth shut in the most twisted way possible….and they want her, they want to keep Noa. Forever.
I think I’m not well because two questionable killers who say all the right things (depending which mood they’re in) and know how to leave a face imprint in a mattress?? I mean…I don’t mind it 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 …….but just in case you do, check your Trigger Warnings, I have literally none. Zero.
I definitely recommend this book
August 30, 2025
Direct quote from the book:
{My voice breaks, and I hate the sudden pressure of tears behind my eyes that I have to fight to blink away. “And now you want to unalive me in the woods.” “I do not want to unalive you in the woods,” Kieran disagrees.}
Ma’am you’re writing about serial killers and serious dub con/non con. Why are you censoring yourself??? This isn’t even tiktok slang. People use words like unalive so the app doesn’t ban them or have their video taken down.
After I read that sentence I had to just sit down in silence lol. Because what the hell is going on 😭. What is this language??? Again I understand using slang to reflect the current time but this isn’t slang. I CANNOT take this book seriously after that. Which sucks because I like to finish series and there’s another book left. But I just can’t read another book by this author. This might seem like an over exaggeration to some people but I don’t think it is.
{My voice breaks, and I hate the sudden pressure of tears behind my eyes that I have to fight to blink away. “And now you want to unalive me in the woods.” “I do not want to unalive you in the woods,” Kieran disagrees.}
Ma’am you’re writing about serial killers and serious dub con/non con. Why are you censoring yourself??? This isn’t even tiktok slang. People use words like unalive so the app doesn’t ban them or have their video taken down.
After I read that sentence I had to just sit down in silence lol. Because what the hell is going on 😭. What is this language??? Again I understand using slang to reflect the current time but this isn’t slang. I CANNOT take this book seriously after that. Which sucks because I like to finish series and there’s another book left. But I just can’t read another book by this author. This might seem like an over exaggeration to some people but I don’t think it is.
January 30, 2025
“I should tell them to leave. I should call the cops and spill my guts about what they’d done. What I absolutely shouldn’t be doing is trying to remember if I picked up my dirty laundry from my bedroom floor so they won’t think I’m a mess of a person.”
I am so enthralled by this story! Fall picks up exactly where Haunt left off, with Ravage and Harrow showing up unmasked at Noa’s door. This part of the story shows a different side of their personalities that Noa didn’t really get to see the night they met and it is a battle to determine whether this new side is genuine or just a new set of masks. They say they are trying to determine if they can trust Noa enough to leave her alive after everything she witnessed, but that does not seem to be their only motive for showing back up in her life. Forced proximity and primal play? Sign me up! I am loving this and can’t wait for the final installment of the trilogy.
I am so enthralled by this story! Fall picks up exactly where Haunt left off, with Ravage and Harrow showing up unmasked at Noa’s door. This part of the story shows a different side of their personalities that Noa didn’t really get to see the night they met and it is a battle to determine whether this new side is genuine or just a new set of masks. They say they are trying to determine if they can trust Noa enough to leave her alive after everything she witnessed, but that does not seem to be their only motive for showing back up in her life. Forced proximity and primal play? Sign me up! I am loving this and can’t wait for the final installment of the trilogy.
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