In Darkness We Dare: A Dark Second Chance Romance

by Lauren Marcie

One night. One twisted game. One million dollars.
One ruthless daredevil in my way.

I’ve spent my whole life being the perfect good girl. But when my parents cut me off after one mistake, I think my future is over.
Until I get invited to The Mortalis Society.
The underground club where depraved adrenaline-junkies dare each other to their limits.
Tonight, they’re holding a twisted, life-or-death competition with a million-dollar prize.
That prize seems like my last shot at salvation—until I find out Asher Stone is competing too. The boy I used to love. The boy who shattered my heart. Now he’s grown into a monster of a man, and he’s obsessed with ruining me.
But I won’t let him. Not this time. I’ll risk my heart, my soul, and my body to win.
Unless Asher breaks me first.

In Darkness We Dare is a second chance, dark romance novella.

This book contains content that may be upsetting to some readers. Please view the content warnings on the author's website before reading.

Genres: Dark Romance, Second Chance, Novella, Enemies To Lovers

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2024

About the author

Lauren Marcie is a dark romance author who’s fallen utterly in love with all things morally grey. She’s obsessed with villains, plot twists, badass heroines, and the anti-heroes who can’t resist them. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her planning her Halloween costume way too early or staging impromptu photoshoots of her cat.

You can find her here!

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Reviews

[Meka 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me of the movie Nerve but much spicer!

Blair and Ashe are total opposites but at the same time still perfect for each other. The rich girl ballerina and the poor morally grey boy from a broken home/background.

This is the perfect novella if you’re looking for a good plot and some good spice.

Overall

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[cloudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

after the author’s dr. jekyll and mr. hyde reimagining dark romance novel, she raised the bar and delivered a nearly flawless squid game meets the nerve inspired novella. the stakes were high, the tension was gripping. i found myself fully immersed in the story, to the point where i got anxious as if i was the one living it. the only thing i can point out is the fact that i wish this was a full-length novel, aside from that? perfection.

* i received an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review

[destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

a quicky while poisonous snakes are wrapping themselves around our bodies ? SHIIIIT I’M DOWN ☝🏼🥴

i loved the past and present chapters between asher and blair so much. seeing how they were such great friends and how their relationship came to be and everything that happened after was just beautiful yet so sad 😔🫀

dark second chance romance, rich ballerina fmc x poor morally gray mmc, stalking, squid game vibes, trials, secret society, violence, miscommunication trope, best friends to enemies to lovers, fear play, snake play, dual past/present pov 💜

blair is stuck between wanting to escape the hold her family has on her and being an obedient daughter she was raised to be. she doesn’t want to be in a loveless marriage just for the sake of her family’s reputation. so when she receives an invitation to what she thought was a party, she sneaks out and her whole night takes a turn when the boy who broke her heart shows up !!

asher tried to remove blair from his life in every way when he thought she used him. he wants nothing to do with her and hates her guts. but when they both meet again at the warehouse, he realizes that he still obsesses over her. he’s going to take what he wants and nothing is going to stop him.

at the warehouse they are to complete different levels of trials and compete with other players to win a million dollars. blair wants this just as much as asher does. but when they end up on the radar of the organizers of these games, holy fucking shit i couldn’t breathe !!!!

i got so anxious at one point i was literally biting my fucking nails omg. this had me so interested right from the very beginning. asher and blair are so cute together. their past moments had me crying and during the present too. something about second chance romances + miscommunication trope just always has me fucking crying like a new born baby 😭

they were such polar opposites but have so much in common at the same time. they both thrive on getting that adrenaline rush. and when they met as teenagers they always felt that pull towards each other. asher is known as the bad boy and goes to a different school. the rich and snobby look down on him and talk shit about him. but blair doesn’t listen to the gossip. she’s a rich girl and comes from a family of perfectionists. they both have such different backgrounds. but the more they spend time with each other, the harder they fall for each other.

🌶️🌶️

[lovetrulyashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what this book is……….. a short dark romance with 3.5🌶️? I really enjoyed it! There’s not world shattering writing but it’s great for its category. I like a quick short read like this as a palette cleanser for me before I start a long series!

☑️ games/trials
☑️ 2nd chance love
☑️ dark romance / dark spice
☑️ thrill seeker
☑️ good girl/bad boy
☑️ MMC who will kill for her

[Spiced Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Darkness We Dare 🐍

Rating: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Characters: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Plot: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was an ARC and given to me for free.
All reviews are entirely honest and my own opinion.

Did I expect this to be as good as it was? Absolutely not. But gods, this book had me screaming, giggling and more than slightly panicking as I made my way through the chapters. The setting, the characters, the spice. Yes please! 

In Darkness We Dare is a fast paced second chance dark romance. The plot was what triggered my interest and I immediately knew that I wanted to read it. The writing style is quick and easy, flowing nicely through out the book. None of the scenes feel dragged out, and it just fits together really nicely.

The two main characters are so incredibly interesting! I loved them to bits! Both of them are on the morally grey side. If you've been reading my reviews for longer, you know how much I love my morally grey characters. Given, my absolute favourites are morally black. Asher comes incredibly close to this, though. He has a soft spot for the people he loves, but other than that he's very cruel. And I love him all the more for it.

It is a spicy read, a little longer than the novella's I usually pick up, but all the better for it. I would have liked a few more after math scenes - I am a sucker for those - but the book felt like it was a really good length!

Lauren Marcie has a writing style that really vibes with me. It was very easy to read and I just blew through the book. The first two chapters were a little dry, but as soon as things got going... Well, they certainly got going, let's just say that!! The pace picks up after the first two chapters, so I am very happy that I made my way through them. Because this book definitely didn't disappoint.

It just has all the right things for me. The smut scenes are spicy as hell, Asher is incredibly hot and Blair's more innocent nature (she's not all innocent, though) really balances that out amazingly. It's dark and twisted, people are dying left and right, there is emotional turmoil and a relationship that is bordering on being toxic. All the yes!

Something I absolutely adored was the time jumps. It just made so much sense story-wise, and it added so much depth to what otherwise would have been a dry and bloody story with some spice thrown into the mix. It made the story come alive. The story line is intense, both in the present and the past. At first, the time jumps took a little getting used to, because the little '17 years' or 'present' was often lost to me because I was reading so fast (I really wanted to know what happened next, I was hooked!). Definitely an amazing read.

This novella was everything that I was hoping for and more. I absolutely loved it to bits! At first, I rated it four stars. But eventually I changed my rating to five because it was just that good. It is one of those books that you haven't finished, but the book has finished you. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I vibed incredibly well with their writing style and simply adored it. 

Good bits:
- Fast paced, but well balanced
- Rich character backgrounds
- A life-or-death situation that's spinning out of control
- Lauren's writing style was a joy to read
- I just love Asher so much!

Bad bits:
- The first two chapters are a bit dry
- This format takes some getting used to

I loved this book so much and will be recommending it to everyone who is looking for a quick second chance dark romance, with some bully vibes and a rich character history. This book was an emotional rollercoaster and I am all here for it!

[Anna Rundall · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱***𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵."   
  
Truth or Dare, except dare is the only option? Deathly consequences around every corner? Competing against the boy you used to love who broke your heart but thinks you broke his?  
  
𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝  .  
*𝐀𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭*  
  
This is a fast paced novella that follows the dangerous night of games hosted by the secret society known as Mortalis. Blair Bennett wants to win the prize money because her rich parents control every aspect of her life and she wants out. She didn't expect to see Asher Stone- the poor rebel boy she loved when she was younger. Unlike Blair, these games aren't new to Asher, this is his life.  
  
Listen, this man is conflicted from the moment he spots her. Hate but obsession radiate from his body meaning one hot-tattooed possessive mmc. Not surprising considering their past. Blair is the "rich girl" who falls for the bad boy who shows how exciting life can be with some risks in it- so to speak. She does have some cool ass moments during the various challenges, props to her because I could never.  
  
The flashback chapters were great for showing how they met, how they connected to that adrenaline junkie lifestyle behind everyone's back, and what caused their relationship to crumble. I know not everyone likes timeline changes but I personally like them.   
  
In terms of spice/smut there are several scenes between Asher and Blair. When it comes to dark romance the spice hits different and man did I devour each moment🔥

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fast paced and intense as the events happen all in one night in this dark romance novella.
Blair needs an escape from her suffocating life, and when she gets a mysterious invite she runs at the chance. But she doesn't realise it's a secret society, and now she's a player in their hunger games style dare contest.
She's also confronted with Asher, the boy that both broke and stole her heart, and fills her with fear and lust. Now she has to compete against him.
This is dark, dramatic, and filled with intense spicy encounters as their heated tension wins over.
I also loved the dual POV, and the flashbacks that piece together the events of their childhood up to the deadly games they now face.
It's a night to face your fears, push past your limits, fight to survive, even with the manipulative whispers of the society making you doubt what to trust

[Morte · Rating 3 out of 5]

• Childhood Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
• Second Chance Dark Romance
• Dark Topics
• Squid Game Vibes

In Darkness We Dare was a surprise for me, as I did not expect to love this one as much as I did. It had major Squid Game Vibes and I was living for it. There were some bits I enjoyed a little less, and I think this book would have done better as a full length instead of a Novella, but it was enjoyable none the less.

This book was pretty well-written, though some scenes felt a bit disjointed because of the speed things were happening. Emotions swayed a little too fast and moments shifted within a few sentences. This book would have benefitted from being a little longer. The characters fell a little flat due to the length as well. They were so interesting, I would have loved it if it delved a little deeper.

Still an enjoyable read! But it would have been so much better as a full length book.

[Neia Quaintance · Rating 4 out of 5]

It gives Squid Game Vibes

Blair is in an arranged marriage to Wes, but she has always loved Asher, the one that broke her heart. After one night Blair is cut off and she doesn't know what she is gonna do. Blair enters the competition at the Mortalis Society of life or death and a million dollars to win. They gotta face 3 dares that will test blood, mind, and soul. Now Asher can't let the one girl he has always loved die, so he is stuck between saving her or winning the money, which is why he is there. Asher is here to win the money to help pay for his grandma's medical care, and he is still in love with Blair but also wants her to pay for what she did to him break his heart. Will Asher make sure Blair survives the challenges, or will Asher watch her burn. This is a very good novella.

[Jess McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed!

I really enjoyed this one! I read it pretty quick as it caught my attention. I love that it went from present to past to show how Blair and Asher's relationship developed. These two are total opposites and may be toxic together (in the best kind of way), but they're worse apart.

I loved the concept of the story, very squid games-esque. I was on the edge of my seat and couple times, just waiting to see what was going to happen. It is a novella, but I'd read way more about these two!

[Jenny See · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s so twisted, dark, and completely unexpected. Blair and Asher’s story is well written, the characters are wonderful, the story has twists and surprises to keep you on the edge of your seat, and the spice… HOT!! Do yourself a favor and read this book!

[Books with Jen B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is everything I needed to get out of my book slump! It is fast paced, spicy as hell and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! I love how seamlessly the author weaved in the backstory of the main characters. It fills you in on the characters’ history without detracting from the intense storyline. The prologue pulls you in and hooks you from the start and will have your jaw on the floor! Blair and Asher’s chemistry is off the charts and even though I hated Asher for the majority of the book, I was still rooting for them. If you are looking for a quick read that you won’t want to put down this is it!! I am not going to lie, I was sad when it ended. Lauren, I want more Blaire and Asher PLEASE!!!

[Danielle Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ballerina meets bad boy!!

Ballerina meets bad boy for one hell of a book!! Loved it!! Now to go see what other books Lauren Marcie has written to dive into next...

There are few minor typos toward the last few chapters but they take nothing from the story line ☺️

[amour.edition · Rating 4 out of 5]

ɪɴ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴇ | ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ

•novella
•second chance
•time jumps
•life or death competition
•primal play
•snake pit smex show 😏

A quick fast paced read of one life changing night aswell as moments from the past that creep up again. Blair Bennett & Asher Stone were the perfect good girl & bad guy you always love, they have tension and some built up feelings towards one another.

𝚆𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚔 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚍𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚜?

I really enjoyed this read, I love love love Lauren’s writing. She has a way to building the suspense and twisting plots that have you devouring her book! Anything with primal play is a winner for me 😌 Asher is unhinged… but 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙧.

[jor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book just started out hot, and I couldn't get enough. A fast-paced, dark romance with incredible spice. I loved the intense chemistry between the MCs, and I'm obsessed with Lauren's writing style, which constantly kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I received an advance review copy from Book Sirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. *

In Darkness We Dare is what happens when the childhood game of Truth or Dare takes a deadly & adrenaline filled turn.

After a tragic mistake, Blair is cut off by her controlling Bel Air parents and forced to go along with what they say in hopes of finding a way to achieve her desired future. It's all she can do until one day she receives an invite to The Mortalis Society. The invite grabs her attention with one simple piece of information, the prize is one million dollars. That type of money will help her not only get away from her parents but will also help her achieve the future she so highly desires.

Nothing about the competition is what she had pictured & the cherry on top of the chaotic cake? Asher Stone, the boy she used to love and who destroyed her.

Asher wants nothing more than to win the prize. It would help him with a lot of things, including taking care of his grandmother. He is sure this is his time to shine, that is until he sees Blair in the group of competitors. What is she doing here? And damn she is just as beautiful as he remembers. He hates her, so why is she so distracting? Asher will do anything to destroy her so he can walk away with the prize money.

Nothing goes as either of them planned & the Mortalis Society notices the way the interact, using it to fuel the show.

In Darkness We Dare is a faced paced Enemies to Lovers Second Chance Dark Romance. It is beautifully written & forces you to keep flipping the page. I could not put it down and ended up finishing it in roughly a day.

Lauren did such a fabulous job with In Darkness We Dare & wrote it in such a way that flowed wonderfully. The time jump scenes were not distracting as they can be in some books. The back & forth between past & present was done perfectly and helped the reader get to know Blair & Asher and understand how they came to be the people they currently are. It showed how they grew together as children and ultimately how they ended up falling apart.

I highly recommended picking this novella up BUT I also highly insist that you check all trigger warnings before diving in.

Spice Rating: 4/5 🌶️

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Marcie delivers an electrifying dark romance in In Darkness We Dare, a novella that masterfully blends high-stakes danger, searing chemistry, and a truly unique storyline. This isn’t just about the epic spice—though there’s plenty of that to go around. It’s an adrenaline-fueled journey through a perilous game that pushes its characters to their limits.

Blair is an incredibly compelling protagonist, balancing vulnerability with fierce determination. Her transformation throughout the novella is as gripping as the twisted dares she faces. And then there’s Asher Stone. The boy who broke her heart is now a ruthless, magnetic force determined to see her fail—or so it seems. Their second-chance romance crackles with tension, resentment, and undeniable heat, making every interaction between them both deliciously painful and wildly intoxicating.

Marcie doesn’t hold back in crafting a story that’s as unique as Blair’s signature bows. The dark, dangerous ambiance of The Mortalis Society is expertly woven into the narrative, making it a character in its own right. And the dares? Utterly nerve-wracking and brilliantly written.

If you’re a fan of high-octane drama, emotional rollercoasters, and a second-chance romance with sharp edges and sizzling spice, In Darkness We Dare will have you hooked from start to finish. Marcie proves she’s a master of crafting dark, dangerous, and utterly unforgettable love stories.

[Nikki B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blair and Asher was exactly the story I needed today!!! Blair leads a life that is being fully controlled by her parents. They want to dictate who she talks to, where she goes, where she goes to school, even who she marries. In a game of truth or dare with her friends, she's dared to talk to Asher. Asher has a reputation surrounding him with rumors stating that he's selling drugs and murdered his parents. This however, doesn't deter Blair. They develop a friendship and even start to fall for each other until she sustains an injury. Her parents find out about Asher and makes her stop speaking to him. Years later, they both find themselves entangled in a competition where winner takes a million dollar prize. Asher, hating Blair for ghosting him the way she did tries to convince himself that he doesn't care that she's there. But as the game goes on, they find themselves drawn to each other more and more until, she betrays him yet again.
This story held my attention all the way through and I didnt stop reading until it was done. I didnt want it to end. I loved every moment!! This is a definite must read!!!

[Michelle Ottey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow ! Oh wow ! I loved this so much. I really enjoyed the flashbacks from when they were younger compared to now. I think it really allowed us to see more about the characters. I loved how the characters were polar opposites but still somehow connected through this thing they both enjoy. The darkness and the games were so fun, throw in the spicy and hot interactions between them and it made for such an amazing read. The fmc Blair was so cool, I loved seeing her thrive and fight for what she wants while battling with what she knows she needs. The mmc Asher was so dark and sexy, I loved reading about and his love/hate relationship with Blair. The twists and turns in this story were super cool especially once the games ended and what proceeded at the end. It was super fun. In terms of spice, there was a lot, it was frequent and detailed and dark and dirty. It was 4.5/5 in terms of spice. Overall, gosh I need more so much more. I loved it, it was so dark and twisty and fun. It’s a 5/5 for me and I would recommend it to anyone who loves dark romance.

[Itzel Aguilera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dangerous came of truth or dare. The stakes? Most likely your life. But if you win then you take $1M dollars. Blair may be from a wealthy socialite family but that doesn’t mean she’s free. And this money means her freedom but there she is. In these dangerous games from this secret society looking like the preppy socialite she is in the middle of the toughest people of the underground.

And there he is. The boy who she’s known since 15 but now he’s no longer a boy. He’s a dangerous man you can easily kill her in these games. Doesn’t matter that he already broke her heart all those years ago. He’s affecting her like never before.

It’s been several years since they stopped talking to each other but Asher never stopped looking after her. She may have broken her promise of ‘forever’ but he won’t let her forget it. He’ll make her pay for breaking his heart while winning the money for his sick grandmother.

But even after all these years, they have a connection and what’s better than rekindling feelings while being high on adrenaline.

But it’s not only them playing the game. There’s others who will gladly kill her for it.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

IN DARKNESS WE DARE is a mind warp of a book and it is soooo good. It’s like The Hunger Games with sex and without the dystopian plot. Asher and Blair are both contestants in a deadly game of dares. They have a tragic history and were each other’s first love. This is their second chance and it has more triggers than an NRA convention, including graphic violence, blood, unaliving others, dub con, and fluids, with a side of dysfunctional families and betrayal. Tropes include First Love, Second Chance, May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor, Truth or Dare, Secret Relationship, Opposites Attract, Rich Girl/Poor Boy, Hate to Love You, Enemies to Lovers, Safe Stalking. The sex is super hot and includes primal play and exhibitionism.
The MMC is an Alpha Antihero, while the FMC is a good girl only on the outside. I loved the book because it was hot, suspenseful, and very, very twisted in the best kind of way. Only for 18+ readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I will recommending to anyone who needs rec! I really enjoyed the ride this book took me on. I loved how the story went from present to the past in order to give the back story between Asher and Blair. She gets invited to play a life or death game for money, which she needed in order to get away from her controlling parents. She's always been the good girl but she enjoys the thrill of walking the line of life and death from time to time. Something she used to do with Asher when they were teenagers. However, after an accident she pushed him away, then her mother threatened Asher so she had to stay away from him. Walking into the game, Asher is there to play as well. There is alot on the line for both of them, but will they be able to make it out? Will they be able to work through their past to help each other get out of there? Trust is a hard thing to earn back when they both feel betrayed.

[Lanie Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit. She’s done it again folks. A book I read in one sitting, truly a great story.
If you like Where the crawdads sing and Squid Game, throw in some dark romance and some very sexy scenes. You’ll love this read.
Blair: A ballerina who thinks she’s lost it all between an injury and a controlling family.
Asher: a bad boy who is from the wrong side of the tracks.

A lovely story about choices and free will, I loved the premise of the book. Taking place over the course of one night, mixed with flashbacks I think this novel truly gives you a good sense of the characters. Theri relationships come across strong in the book and the trust built between the couple and the reader is one that is shattered in the best way.

I highly recommend this read to anyone who may enjoy a dark romance with a significant amount of violence please give this a read. Lauren Marcie never fails to disappoint!

I am thankful I was able to read this book as an ARC

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark romance book so read the trigger warnings. Blair is the MFC. She comes from an upscale family and really wants to get out of there. We get a peak at Blair at the start of the book when she was younger and meets bad boy, Asher. She seemed to young and naïve, but I loved their first meeting, but it ends and her heart is broken. Now, she gets an invitation to a secret Mortalis Society event. It’s a survival game with a prize of $1000000. She sneaks out of the house to go. She seems totally out of her league when she sees the other players (sort of a bunch of hoodlums). Now, I’m caught up in the story and I can’t put it down. Even better, Asher is there! I loved the story. I love Blair and Asher and want to read more with them. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Darkness We Dare is a dark, bully romance.

I really liked how these two had a bit of history with a big misunderstanding. We flip flop between the past and the present which made it that we were questioning why things were happening the way they were, just to see what happened in the past and get the answers to our questions. This was a short read, but it was so good. It could've been longer and we could've seen more of the events happening, but I didn't feel like we were overly missing anything. I'm just greedy and wanted more from these two.

This was an exceptional read. Highly recommend!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kept me hooked the whole time. This may be a short novella, but it’s not lacking in suspense, drama, or spice! Lauren Marcie creates amazing characters with so much depth you can’t help but feel connected to them. I loved seeing the push and pull between Asher and Blair throughout the games and the flashbacks add so much to their relationship plus they are placed well throughout the story and not overdone. Lauren makes you feel like you’re in the games with the way she writes and I felt like I was watching them myself. So glad I found Lauren Marcie’s books and can’t wait to read more of them!


Thank you to Laurent Marcie and Booksirens for the ARC!🖤

[Sian curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now where do I begin I need this man to be real !! He's a bit of me but wow the book from the start to the end had me absolutely hooked I loved how it was all put in to a story the thrill or the game was amazing and omg I just wish there was more Ithis has been such a favourite to me it absolutely needs to be read if not ur missing out but I just loved the thrill of it all and the difference between the characters or the so called differences but really the 1 character was just the same as the other it was just that they hid there true them behind a fake front but I'm so glad I got to read this

[Vivien Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced story where the characters play deadly games put on by a secret society called Mortalis. Whoever wins this twisted game gets one million dollars. After Blair's parents cut her off, she is determined to win the money. Except she doesn't know yet that she'll be competing against Asher, the boy who broke her heart. This is a very dark second chance romance with many triggers, so check warnings. The story does go back and forth between the past and present and you get to see Blair and Asher's history together. This story was really great with edge of your seat excitement and hot spicy scenes.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride! I have read another novel by this author and enjoyed it. This novella did not disappoint. I love a dark good second chance romance. This novella just checked alot of boxes for me. I was excited to jump into this novella. From the first page to the last this novella captured my attention and held on tight. What a wild ride! Wow, Blair and Ashe's story grabbed a hold of my attention and held on tight. Wow, their chemistry was so good! I was on the edge of my seat reading, and didn't want to put this novella down because I needed to know what was happening next. I can hardly wait to see what this author has coming next.

[Kay Hertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Fans self* that. Was. HOT!

Danger, death, gore, smeggsy goodness...

This short story has it ALL!

Plot: 5📍
Spice: 4❤️‍🔥
Overall: 5⭐

Absolutely not a story for the faint of heart but so good!!

Dark romance, enemies to lovers, deadly competition, and a wide variety of villains -all faced down by our two morally gray MCs in roughly half a day!

And the spice was SPICY!

I would have happily read this story for another 200 pages!

Another absolutely dark deliciously decant romance by Ms. Marcie!