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Portrait of a Dead Girl #1
Lady Hell
Ushered into an arranged marriage with Bramwell Hellthorne, the lonely Lord of Valen, Belle finds herself wandering the wicked walls of an eerie, gothic manor on a cliffside far from the shores of home.
When Belle's sister experiences a demonic possession and slips into insanity following her visit to the mansion, Belle's beliefs of religion, spirituality, and the unknown are suddenly tested, and Hellthorne Manor begins to haunt both Belle's dreams and her reality.
With walls that weep tears of blood, pipes that whisper an untold tune, and a haunted portrait that dances between different locations, daily life within her new home shifts into a waking nightmare.
By the time Belle realizes that both the manor and her husband may have a bit more than just a few bones hidden away, it's too late, and her remains may just rot away with the rest.
When Belle's sister experiences a demonic possession and slips into insanity following her visit to the mansion, Belle's beliefs of religion, spirituality, and the unknown are suddenly tested, and Hellthorne Manor begins to haunt both Belle's dreams and her reality.
With walls that weep tears of blood, pipes that whisper an untold tune, and a haunted portrait that dances between different locations, daily life within her new home shifts into a waking nightmare.
By the time Belle realizes that both the manor and her husband may have a bit more than just a few bones hidden away, it's too late, and her remains may just rot away with the rest.
560 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2025
52 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 23, 2025
🕯️ GOTHIC. LUSTY. DISORIENTING. 💀 A dark manor, strange rituals, and tangled desires set the stage for a gothic tale full of atmosphere and ambition. When Belle is forced into an arranged marriage with the enigmatic Lord Hellthorne, she finds herself trapped in a crumbling estate where the walls whisper, the dead linger, and love might be the most dangerous force of all. While it didn’t fully come together for me, I was intrigued by the world it tried to build and the emotions it aimed to stir.
This one was a tough read for me, and not in the way I hoped. I went into Lady Hell genuinely excited. The cover, the gothic premise, the eerie manor and supernatural threads... it all sounded like something I’d love. But I struggled to stay grounded in the story, and while I kept hoping it would eventually click, it just never quite did.
The writing style is richly descriptive, which fits the gothic tone, but the prose often swung between overly flowery and oddly simplistic. There were moments that caught me—lines or imagery that worked—but just as often, a beautifully built scene would be undercut by clunky or stilted dialogue that didn’t feel natural or emotionally grounded.
One thing that consistently pulled me out of the story was the way characters were referred to and spoken about. There was a heavy reliance on generic terms like “woman” and “girl,” often used in place of actual names or deeper character insight, and it started to feel impersonal and repetitive. That same repetition showed up in the prose too, particularly in how Belle’s body was described. Words like “bony,” “small,” and “lithe” came up again and again, even in scenes where they didn’t feel emotionally relevant or necessary. She’s described as having a “tiny voice,” and at one point, after an intimate scene, she’s referred to as “the tiny girl” and “little redheaded girl”—moments that felt especially unsettling in context. That kind of language was one of the things that crossed a threshold for me, pushing past characterization into something that felt infantilizing and uncomfortable.
This became hard to ignore because a large part of the story fixates on Belle’s smallness: her frame, her voice, her presence; and while the book does address her disordered eating, the repeated descriptions felt excessive to the point of discomfort. There’s a line between acknowledging a character’s illness and unintentionally romanticizing the symptoms, and this sometimes tipped into the latter. It left me wondering what the intention was, and if the weight of that storyline might have landed better with more interiority and nuance.
The story's frequent, abrupt perspective shifts left me disoriented; more than once I had to pause and work out whose internal voice I was hearing. That uncertainty kept the already-fragile emotional arcs from feeling immersive and the sudden POV jumps combined with the tonal inconsistencies, unnatural dialogue, ans repetitive language, made it hard to stay grounded in the world or form any lasting connection with the characters.
The story aims for third-person omniscient, a mode that can be powerful when handled with care, but to me, the execution falls short. The absence of a strong narrative voice turns the constant perspective changes into mere head-hopping, so I struggled to track events or focus on a single thread long enough to invest emotionally. Because the tone and structure never settle, the novel feels scattered rather than cohesive.
Romance also plays a major role here, but I had trouble buying into it. Relationships seemed to form quickly, and much of the emotional language leaned heavily on lust while calling it love. The sex scenes themselves were vividly written, but often felt abrupt or disconnected from the characters’ arcs. The tone often shifted quickly, from horror to lust to emotional trauma, which made it harder for any one moment to fully land. I think I was hoping for something more emotionally layered or slow-burning... especially in a story where intimacy and trauma intersect so closely.
The plot itself felt tangled. There are so many moving pieces: religious mythology, demonic forces, memory loss, secret pregnancies, murder; that instead of building suspense, I often felt lost. Major reveals sometimes came out of nowhere or lacked the grounding needed to make them feel impactful. Characters often experienced intense events (death, hauntings, revelations) without much emotional follow-up, which left those moments feeling hollow. That sense of disorientation pulled me out of the story more than once.
All that said, I really do see the creative vision behind this. Alyssa Page clearly had a bold concept and a strong aesthetic in mind, and there’s something compelling about the world she’s reaching for. For me personally, the execution didn’t come together in a way that fully worked, but I can see the pieces that might really click for other readers. I found myself wishing for more emotional depth, a clearer sense of the world’s structure, and more time spent developing the relationships and stakes. Still, I’d be interested to see how her voice grows over time, because there’s real imagination here, and I think her future work could resonate more with me.
I think Lady Hell would still work for readers who enjoy gothic romance with a heavy dose of supernatural drama, dark family secrets, and lust-driven relationships. If you’re drawn to atmospheric settings, morally ambiguous characters, and stories that lean into intensity, this would be worth checking out. 🩶
Thank you to Purple Fern Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This one was a tough read for me, and not in the way I hoped. I went into Lady Hell genuinely excited. The cover, the gothic premise, the eerie manor and supernatural threads... it all sounded like something I’d love. But I struggled to stay grounded in the story, and while I kept hoping it would eventually click, it just never quite did.
The writing style is richly descriptive, which fits the gothic tone, but the prose often swung between overly flowery and oddly simplistic. There were moments that caught me—lines or imagery that worked—but just as often, a beautifully built scene would be undercut by clunky or stilted dialogue that didn’t feel natural or emotionally grounded.
One thing that consistently pulled me out of the story was the way characters were referred to and spoken about. There was a heavy reliance on generic terms like “woman” and “girl,” often used in place of actual names or deeper character insight, and it started to feel impersonal and repetitive. That same repetition showed up in the prose too, particularly in how Belle’s body was described. Words like “bony,” “small,” and “lithe” came up again and again, even in scenes where they didn’t feel emotionally relevant or necessary. She’s described as having a “tiny voice,” and at one point, after an intimate scene, she’s referred to as “the tiny girl” and “little redheaded girl”—moments that felt especially unsettling in context. That kind of language was one of the things that crossed a threshold for me, pushing past characterization into something that felt infantilizing and uncomfortable.
This became hard to ignore because a large part of the story fixates on Belle’s smallness: her frame, her voice, her presence; and while the book does address her disordered eating, the repeated descriptions felt excessive to the point of discomfort. There’s a line between acknowledging a character’s illness and unintentionally romanticizing the symptoms, and this sometimes tipped into the latter. It left me wondering what the intention was, and if the weight of that storyline might have landed better with more interiority and nuance.
The story's frequent, abrupt perspective shifts left me disoriented; more than once I had to pause and work out whose internal voice I was hearing. That uncertainty kept the already-fragile emotional arcs from feeling immersive and the sudden POV jumps combined with the tonal inconsistencies, unnatural dialogue, ans repetitive language, made it hard to stay grounded in the world or form any lasting connection with the characters.
The story aims for third-person omniscient, a mode that can be powerful when handled with care, but to me, the execution falls short. The absence of a strong narrative voice turns the constant perspective changes into mere head-hopping, so I struggled to track events or focus on a single thread long enough to invest emotionally. Because the tone and structure never settle, the novel feels scattered rather than cohesive.
Romance also plays a major role here, but I had trouble buying into it. Relationships seemed to form quickly, and much of the emotional language leaned heavily on lust while calling it love. The sex scenes themselves were vividly written, but often felt abrupt or disconnected from the characters’ arcs. The tone often shifted quickly, from horror to lust to emotional trauma, which made it harder for any one moment to fully land. I think I was hoping for something more emotionally layered or slow-burning... especially in a story where intimacy and trauma intersect so closely.
The plot itself felt tangled. There are so many moving pieces: religious mythology, demonic forces, memory loss, secret pregnancies, murder; that instead of building suspense, I often felt lost. Major reveals sometimes came out of nowhere or lacked the grounding needed to make them feel impactful. Characters often experienced intense events (death, hauntings, revelations) without much emotional follow-up, which left those moments feeling hollow. That sense of disorientation pulled me out of the story more than once.
All that said, I really do see the creative vision behind this. Alyssa Page clearly had a bold concept and a strong aesthetic in mind, and there’s something compelling about the world she’s reaching for. For me personally, the execution didn’t come together in a way that fully worked, but I can see the pieces that might really click for other readers. I found myself wishing for more emotional depth, a clearer sense of the world’s structure, and more time spent developing the relationships and stakes. Still, I’d be interested to see how her voice grows over time, because there’s real imagination here, and I think her future work could resonate more with me.
I think Lady Hell would still work for readers who enjoy gothic romance with a heavy dose of supernatural drama, dark family secrets, and lust-driven relationships. If you’re drawn to atmospheric settings, morally ambiguous characters, and stories that lean into intensity, this would be worth checking out. 🩶
Thank you to Purple Fern Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 1, 2025
This cover is really cool, but it just goes absolutely nowhere. The author is so hell bent on drawing a sexual triangle and scandal that she just repeats the same things. It comes off as she is trying to0 hard to drawn people in. GET ON WITH IT!
May 22, 2025
Really enjoyable! Belle finds herself the the wife to royalty. its a marriage of convenience in a strange manor, to a strange husband. he allows her freedoms that she wouldnt normally take, but finds herself in a trouble situation that doesn't include him. Bramwell has secrets, he's not interested in sex and just needs a wife for appearances. there was a lot going on in this. horror, romance, fantastical elements all wrapped up in a gothic feeling story.
the head hopping was a little jarring for me. you'd be in one characters brain one moment and another's the next with no clear distinction. the chapter art was cool. the menage was hot.
trigger warnings for anorexia among many other things.
I received this ARC from netgalley but all my thoughts are my own.
the head hopping was a little jarring for me. you'd be in one characters brain one moment and another's the next with no clear distinction. the chapter art was cool. the menage was hot.
trigger warnings for anorexia among many other things.
I received this ARC from netgalley but all my thoughts are my own.
March 10, 2025
"She could never get close enough. Their flesh would be flush—suctioned—and she'd still want more. If only she could pry open the cavity of his chest, crawl right in, nuzzle her head against the steady drum of his heart."
3.5 rounded up. Lady Hell is a story about the odd daughter of a fisherman named Belle—a poverty-stricken woman sold off into marriage with royalty Bramwell Hellthorne.
Bramwell, who initially seems to be a kind, respectful gentleman, starts causing suspicions a year or two into their marriage. He'd never kissed her, touched her, been intimate with her. He'd never even been seen with a woman on his arm before Belle.
With her suspicions already high, she grows weary of him. Especially since two women had dropped dead on their wedding day. Something she'd thought nothing of, but Bramwell had been awfully calm during the occurrence... This is what plants the first seed of doubt, and eventually leads to the Lord's unraveling.
Belle is given free rein to love who she wants and to be with whomever she wants, per Bramwell's allowance. She has two lovers: Florence and Lyren. Lady Hell is their story, truly.
Lady Hell is full of things every good gothic book should have: Horror, Witchcraft, Demons, Possession, Pseudo-Religions, and actually well-written politics.
I loved the dynamic between the three, however, I wish Belle and Florence's initial falling in love had been shown on-page instead of off. From the beginning, you are only told of them previously falling in love early into Belle and Bramwell's marriage.
The gore was vivid, and some scenes were incredibly hard to read (and I mean that positively!) The author really did a great job making the reader feel the gut-churning things the characters were dealing with.
Page's writing was good, and lovely to read, however some instances of repetition could've gone unsaid. Aside from some one-liners that just weren't my thing (certain pet names during intimacy) I quite enjoyed Lady Hell.
And with that, I will most likely be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next part of the series to be released. Sending thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 rounded up. Lady Hell is a story about the odd daughter of a fisherman named Belle—a poverty-stricken woman sold off into marriage with royalty Bramwell Hellthorne.
Bramwell, who initially seems to be a kind, respectful gentleman, starts causing suspicions a year or two into their marriage. He'd never kissed her, touched her, been intimate with her. He'd never even been seen with a woman on his arm before Belle.
With her suspicions already high, she grows weary of him. Especially since two women had dropped dead on their wedding day. Something she'd thought nothing of, but Bramwell had been awfully calm during the occurrence... This is what plants the first seed of doubt, and eventually leads to the Lord's unraveling.
Belle is given free rein to love who she wants and to be with whomever she wants, per Bramwell's allowance. She has two lovers: Florence and Lyren. Lady Hell is their story, truly.
Lady Hell is full of things every good gothic book should have: Horror, Witchcraft, Demons, Possession, Pseudo-Religions, and actually well-written politics.
I loved the dynamic between the three, however, I wish Belle and Florence's initial falling in love had been shown on-page instead of off. From the beginning, you are only told of them previously falling in love early into Belle and Bramwell's marriage.
The gore was vivid, and some scenes were incredibly hard to read (and I mean that positively!) The author really did a great job making the reader feel the gut-churning things the characters were dealing with.
Page's writing was good, and lovely to read, however some instances of repetition could've gone unsaid. Aside from some one-liners that just weren't my thing (certain pet names during intimacy) I quite enjoyed Lady Hell.
And with that, I will most likely be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next part of the series to be released. Sending thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 2, 2024
Just WOW.
Lady Hell is a perfect blend of gothic horror, romance, and witchcraft. Each character, scene, and location carefully combined to deliver this epic novel.
Belle, a girl raised from poverty, is married off to the Lord of Valen, royalty by blood. But being married to the lord is not what she thought it’d be. Between his unique mannerisms and odd events happening in their home, Belle finds herself on a different path than that of a doting wife.
A must read if you like MFF romance, gothic horror, arranged marriage, witchcraft, demons, and descriptive spice. Please be sure to read any and all trigger warnings.
Lady Hell is a perfect blend of gothic horror, romance, and witchcraft. Each character, scene, and location carefully combined to deliver this epic novel.
Belle, a girl raised from poverty, is married off to the Lord of Valen, royalty by blood. But being married to the lord is not what she thought it’d be. Between his unique mannerisms and odd events happening in their home, Belle finds herself on a different path than that of a doting wife.
A must read if you like MFF romance, gothic horror, arranged marriage, witchcraft, demons, and descriptive spice. Please be sure to read any and all trigger warnings.
March 18, 2025
✨Lady Hell✨
Firstly I'd like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel.
Unfortunately, this was a struggle for me to get through. I really, really wanted to like this more than I did but I considered dnf-ing multiple times.
It's told from a third person perspective which I enjoy however it jumped perspective a bit too many times; we would get the insight into someone's thoughts but this would change to another person's thoughts rather quickly. Then later on, the writing style breaks it's rules by revealing that a character was evil; but the entirety of the story has been spent telling the audience what everyone's thoughts are, so wouldn't we have known he's evil beforehand?
It felt like I was reading two different stories; one part was an awesome Victorian horror, and the other a sweet love story between two women and a man. In this instance, the two stories did not mesh for me and I found myself quite irritated with the FMC.
*Potential spoilers ahead*
Lady Hell follows an arranged marriage between Belle and Lord Bramwell Hellthorne, who has to marry before the age of 30 lest he be stripped of his royal title. It appears Lord Hellthorne isn't interested in intimacy (yay for Ace representation) but is happy for his wife to seek external love and comfort, whilst maintaining a platonic friendship. Does a sweet friendship between the two blossom? Sadly no.
In the meantime, we learn that as a child, Lord Hellthorne was kept in a tower away from his mother and false father because he was a product of an affair. His parents told everyone he died during birth and he was left to his own devices, being fed every evening by his mothers breast milk. On the eve of his tenth birthday, he accidentally summons a demon who takes him under her wing, giving him magical powers and presumably murdering his parents by the time he turns 18.
The demon lady returns (did she ever leave? I'm not sure) in the present time by possessing Belles sister and encouraging Lord Hellthorne to allow her to not be banished to hell. You would think a demon would have a significantly bigger part in the story but alas; she is not. I thought perhaps she would slowly corrupt the Lord using her demon ways; she does convince him to kill a priest; but the Lord apparently has gone from good to evil in a split second and is forever labeled a killer by his wife.
Belle doesn't like that her husband, who has been nothing but kind to her, may have killed someone (am I just ruined by morally grey MMCs) and I'm not entirely sure how she came to the conclusion of this though, it just sort of happens. Or maybe it is there and I missed it because I felt like I had to push through the story? The demon does reappear in the body of a bookshop keeper and gives semi cryptic messages to Belle about the Lord, so perhaps I was unable to read between the lines. Or maybe the lines were a mess.
Then, we eventually learn that Lord Hellthorne has always been evil well before the demon returned (with no indication prior, just that he's killed a few people, but what mmc hasn't). He's keeping his dead parents in the basement in a suspended state between life and death so he can torture them for eternity. But they were also terrible and kept him locked in a tower; why should I feel empathy for these terrible parents?
This story didn't really feel like it went much anywhere.
Firstly I'd like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel.
Unfortunately, this was a struggle for me to get through. I really, really wanted to like this more than I did but I considered dnf-ing multiple times.
It's told from a third person perspective which I enjoy however it jumped perspective a bit too many times; we would get the insight into someone's thoughts but this would change to another person's thoughts rather quickly. Then later on, the writing style breaks it's rules by revealing that a character was evil; but the entirety of the story has been spent telling the audience what everyone's thoughts are, so wouldn't we have known he's evil beforehand?
It felt like I was reading two different stories; one part was an awesome Victorian horror, and the other a sweet love story between two women and a man. In this instance, the two stories did not mesh for me and I found myself quite irritated with the FMC.
*Potential spoilers ahead*
Lady Hell follows an arranged marriage between Belle and Lord Bramwell Hellthorne, who has to marry before the age of 30 lest he be stripped of his royal title. It appears Lord Hellthorne isn't interested in intimacy (yay for Ace representation) but is happy for his wife to seek external love and comfort, whilst maintaining a platonic friendship. Does a sweet friendship between the two blossom? Sadly no.
In the meantime, we learn that as a child, Lord Hellthorne was kept in a tower away from his mother and false father because he was a product of an affair. His parents told everyone he died during birth and he was left to his own devices, being fed every evening by his mothers breast milk. On the eve of his tenth birthday, he accidentally summons a demon who takes him under her wing, giving him magical powers and presumably murdering his parents by the time he turns 18.
The demon lady returns (did she ever leave? I'm not sure) in the present time by possessing Belles sister and encouraging Lord Hellthorne to allow her to not be banished to hell. You would think a demon would have a significantly bigger part in the story but alas; she is not. I thought perhaps she would slowly corrupt the Lord using her demon ways; she does convince him to kill a priest; but the Lord apparently has gone from good to evil in a split second and is forever labeled a killer by his wife.
Belle doesn't like that her husband, who has been nothing but kind to her, may have killed someone (am I just ruined by morally grey MMCs) and I'm not entirely sure how she came to the conclusion of this though, it just sort of happens. Or maybe it is there and I missed it because I felt like I had to push through the story? The demon does reappear in the body of a bookshop keeper and gives semi cryptic messages to Belle about the Lord, so perhaps I was unable to read between the lines. Or maybe the lines were a mess.
Then, we eventually learn that Lord Hellthorne has always been evil well before the demon returned (with no indication prior, just that he's killed a few people, but what mmc hasn't). He's keeping his dead parents in the basement in a suspended state between life and death so he can torture them for eternity. But they were also terrible and kept him locked in a tower; why should I feel empathy for these terrible parents?
This story didn't really feel like it went much anywhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
March 31, 2025dnf at 47%
I should’ve looked at reviews before cuz i didn’t know this book was just smut. I liked the other aspects like the characters were interesting (stereotypical though) and when the creepy things were happening I was really enjoying it. The world also seemed very built up and interesting. I just couldn’t do the spice anymore, what fully made me stop was “kitten” as a pet name. That’s just too cringy for me
I should’ve looked at reviews before cuz i didn’t know this book was just smut. I liked the other aspects like the characters were interesting (stereotypical though) and when the creepy things were happening I was really enjoying it. The world also seemed very built up and interesting. I just couldn’t do the spice anymore, what fully made me stop was “kitten” as a pet name. That’s just too cringy for me
March 21, 2025
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.
This book started off really strong with some very creepy scenes (which is why I'm giving it more than one star) and then....it basically stopped. Literally the synopsis covered the first 25%, and that's it. I honestly felt like I was reading two different books. The creepy elements happened and then the characters just went on about their days. In one scene, the main character is fleeing a haunting and then randomly falls into a sex scene with no further discussion of the haunting.
The book also randomly hops between POVs, from paragraph to paragraph, which was really confusing. It also hops between several storyline, none really discussed in depth, and none I really cared about. I also felt like the characters kept changing with no real explanation, and I didn't buy it at all.
Also, why do we suddenly want to have empathy for Bram's awful parents?
This was an almost DNF several times, and I kind of wish I'd stopped after the really creepy hauntings at the beginning.
This book started off really strong with some very creepy scenes (which is why I'm giving it more than one star) and then....it basically stopped. Literally the synopsis covered the first 25%, and that's it. I honestly felt like I was reading two different books. The creepy elements happened and then the characters just went on about their days. In one scene, the main character is fleeing a haunting and then randomly falls into a sex scene with no further discussion of the haunting.
The book also randomly hops between POVs, from paragraph to paragraph, which was really confusing. It also hops between several storyline, none really discussed in depth, and none I really cared about. I also felt like the characters kept changing with no real explanation, and I didn't buy it at all.
Also, why do we suddenly want to have empathy for Bram's awful parents?
This was an almost DNF several times, and I kind of wish I'd stopped after the really creepy hauntings at the beginning.
March 18, 2025
This will be a soft dnf for me at the moment. Unfortunately, the plot, or lack thereof is lost on me at 60%. Really, everything about this should be up my alley—gothic setting, arranged marriage, oil portraits coming to life, gore, possession, and a mff love situation… The plot just doesn’t seem to have a sense of where it wants to go.
May 12, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to expect :
☁️ MFF Poly Couple
☁️ Gothic Horror
☁️ Witchcraft
☁️ Demonic Possession
☁️ Arranged Marriage
☁️ Paranormal Activity
☁️ Isolated Manor
☁️ Ancient Royalty
☁️ Reformed Playboy
I was so impressed with the overall writing—- let alone the story?? The town?? The ability to express pure dark emotion?? The forbidden romance?? The absolute gothic esque tragedy, gore, fantasy. I was given this absolute honor to read this as an BETA/ ARC reader. I have found a new love for paranormal/ forbidden romance/ ancient royalty/ gothic horror. I cannot wait to read more of Alyssa’s work, once I had this in my hands I had to force myself to put it down, it was captivating and absolutely a breath of fresh air. Very different from my usual choices. I think that’s what I like most about it.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to expect :
☁️ MFF Poly Couple
☁️ Gothic Horror
☁️ Witchcraft
☁️ Demonic Possession
☁️ Arranged Marriage
☁️ Paranormal Activity
☁️ Isolated Manor
☁️ Ancient Royalty
☁️ Reformed Playboy
I was so impressed with the overall writing—- let alone the story?? The town?? The ability to express pure dark emotion?? The forbidden romance?? The absolute gothic esque tragedy, gore, fantasy. I was given this absolute honor to read this as an BETA/ ARC reader. I have found a new love for paranormal/ forbidden romance/ ancient royalty/ gothic horror. I cannot wait to read more of Alyssa’s work, once I had this in my hands I had to force myself to put it down, it was captivating and absolutely a breath of fresh air. Very different from my usual choices. I think that’s what I like most about it.
March 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
We follow the young woman Belle as she journeys to her new home and possible new start. Her arranged marriage to Bramwell Hellthorne may not be just as it appears, the man holds a myriad of secrets close to the chest. Eerie happenings seem to occur around every turn; and when her own sister is possessed following a visit to the manor, Belle—and her pair of lovers—must garner a strength she didn't know she had to survive.
Will she become just another secret hidden within the walls?
This is a speedy read, I knocked this one out fairly fast during a chronic illness flare-up thanks to the shorter chapters. We have the facets of the subgenre that do go beyond simple set-dressing or aesthetics, yet I wish we leaned more into the gritty, gruesomeness of horror. There are many types of horror, as well as, levels of confort for readers; yet for me I think the story would have been more successful taking some scenes a step or two farther.
One facet of this book I found less than successful was the pov usage. We bounce between characters at times from paragraph to paragraph, which is a bit off-putting and confusing. I understand the desire to showcase the cast's emotions as events take a turn for the worse, yet there could have been other ways to show that which were more fluid and cohesive. The constant "purring" verb choice for dialog was also a bit irksome to be honest. Perhaps one more round of edits—to the book as a whole—focused on readability and word usage would be helpful here?
If you want a Gothic Romance that's creepy without toeing the line of the extreme subgenre or that is straight up erotica, perhaps considering giving this a go!
Ultimately, this story wasn't quite for me, but if you tend to be a Romance reader rather than Horror fanatic, I'm sure you'll have a better time. I think this was a case of misplaced expectations... also I don't like pregnancy plot lines so that whole thing was a mess I couldn't stand to read.
We follow the young woman Belle as she journeys to her new home and possible new start. Her arranged marriage to Bramwell Hellthorne may not be just as it appears, the man holds a myriad of secrets close to the chest. Eerie happenings seem to occur around every turn; and when her own sister is possessed following a visit to the manor, Belle—and her pair of lovers—must garner a strength she didn't know she had to survive.
Will she become just another secret hidden within the walls?
This is a speedy read, I knocked this one out fairly fast during a chronic illness flare-up thanks to the shorter chapters. We have the facets of the subgenre that do go beyond simple set-dressing or aesthetics, yet I wish we leaned more into the gritty, gruesomeness of horror. There are many types of horror, as well as, levels of confort for readers; yet for me I think the story would have been more successful taking some scenes a step or two farther.
One facet of this book I found less than successful was the pov usage. We bounce between characters at times from paragraph to paragraph, which is a bit off-putting and confusing. I understand the desire to showcase the cast's emotions as events take a turn for the worse, yet there could have been other ways to show that which were more fluid and cohesive. The constant "purring" verb choice for dialog was also a bit irksome to be honest. Perhaps one more round of edits—to the book as a whole—focused on readability and word usage would be helpful here?
If you want a Gothic Romance that's creepy without toeing the line of the extreme subgenre or that is straight up erotica, perhaps considering giving this a go!
Ultimately, this story wasn't quite for me, but if you tend to be a Romance reader rather than Horror fanatic, I'm sure you'll have a better time. I think this was a case of misplaced expectations... also I don't like pregnancy plot lines so that whole thing was a mess I couldn't stand to read.
Read
March 24, 2025I really wanted to like Lady Hell. The premise intrigued me, and I was hoping for a dark, gothic horror experience, but unfortunately, the book didn't quite hit the mark for me.
The story is told from a third-person perspective, but it frequently alternates focus between various characters. While I typically enjoy a multi-perspective narrative, the transitions here felt jarring and rushed at times. The quick jumps between characters often left me disoriented and broke the flow of the story. At moments, it even seemed like the narrative strayed from the established third-person perspective, which further disrupted the reading experience.
Additionally, the tone of the book leaned more toward romance than horror, which was a real disappointment given my initial expectations. While romance can certainly be a compelling element in a gothic horror novel, it overshadowed the darker, eerie atmosphere I was hoping for.
All in all, Lady Hell just didn't deliver the gothic horror experience I had anticipated. While the writing had potential, the pacing and genre shift ultimately left me unsatisfied.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC of this book.
The story is told from a third-person perspective, but it frequently alternates focus between various characters. While I typically enjoy a multi-perspective narrative, the transitions here felt jarring and rushed at times. The quick jumps between characters often left me disoriented and broke the flow of the story. At moments, it even seemed like the narrative strayed from the established third-person perspective, which further disrupted the reading experience.
Additionally, the tone of the book leaned more toward romance than horror, which was a real disappointment given my initial expectations. While romance can certainly be a compelling element in a gothic horror novel, it overshadowed the darker, eerie atmosphere I was hoping for.
All in all, Lady Hell just didn't deliver the gothic horror experience I had anticipated. While the writing had potential, the pacing and genre shift ultimately left me unsatisfied.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC of this book.
January 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This was my first horror and wow, was it a fantastic step into the world. So beautifully written, I couldn’t wait to dive back in every chance I got. Author Alyssa did a fantastic job of immersing us into the world of Elantry in the 1890s, a country on the brink of war and something sinister brewing in the Hellthorne Manor upon the arrival of the newly Lady Belle. But what could be so sinister about the town Valen’s Lord Bramwell Hellthorne, her newly wedded husband?
Author Alyssa gives us a manor of horror, forbidden romance, blood and gore, and gothic fantasy, so perfectly intertwined. Almost as perfectly intertwined as Belle, Florence, and Lyren get 😉 The author kept me on the edge of my seat and nervous as the paranormal activity occurs, I couldn’t read fast enough to read what happens next. The MFF poly couple rep was so beautifully written, I really grew to love and care for them. I absolutely cannot wait for the next instalment.
Thank you to the author for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
🩸Tropes 🩸
🖤 MFF Poly Couple 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
🤍 Gothic Horror
🖤 Witchcraft
🤍 Demonic Possession
🖤 Arranged Marriage
🤍 Paranormal Activity
🖤 Isolated Manor
🤍 Ancient Royalty
🖤 Reformed Playboy
This was my first horror and wow, was it a fantastic step into the world. So beautifully written, I couldn’t wait to dive back in every chance I got. Author Alyssa did a fantastic job of immersing us into the world of Elantry in the 1890s, a country on the brink of war and something sinister brewing in the Hellthorne Manor upon the arrival of the newly Lady Belle. But what could be so sinister about the town Valen’s Lord Bramwell Hellthorne, her newly wedded husband?
Author Alyssa gives us a manor of horror, forbidden romance, blood and gore, and gothic fantasy, so perfectly intertwined. Almost as perfectly intertwined as Belle, Florence, and Lyren get 😉 The author kept me on the edge of my seat and nervous as the paranormal activity occurs, I couldn’t read fast enough to read what happens next. The MFF poly couple rep was so beautifully written, I really grew to love and care for them. I absolutely cannot wait for the next instalment.
Thank you to the author for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
🩸Tropes 🩸
🖤 MFF Poly Couple 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
🤍 Gothic Horror
🖤 Witchcraft
🤍 Demonic Possession
🖤 Arranged Marriage
🤍 Paranormal Activity
🖤 Isolated Manor
🤍 Ancient Royalty
🖤 Reformed Playboy
February 28, 2025
oh my goodness, this book for me personally was easily a 5 star read.
i believe the author followed me on twitter and me being the stalker i am, i went and looked at some of her tweets and saw that after her book was released only one other person had bought a digital copy so i knew i had to instantly buy it and read it for my self, and im SO SO GLAD that i did bc MAN this was a roller coaster of a read in the best way possible.
the characters were so well written, belle, lyren, and flo all come to life so well and i could picture everything so clearly in my head it was like a movie was playing out.
this book gave me such big crimson peak vibes and i loved every second of it, i was never bored and found my self needing to keep going to find out how it progressed and what was going to happen.
10/10 read and i will deff be getting a physical copy as my trophy 🥰🩵
miss Alyssa Page you out did yourself with this and i’m crossing my fingers for a second book 🥰🥰🩵🩵🩵🩵
i believe the author followed me on twitter and me being the stalker i am, i went and looked at some of her tweets and saw that after her book was released only one other person had bought a digital copy so i knew i had to instantly buy it and read it for my self, and im SO SO GLAD that i did bc MAN this was a roller coaster of a read in the best way possible.
the characters were so well written, belle, lyren, and flo all come to life so well and i could picture everything so clearly in my head it was like a movie was playing out.
this book gave me such big crimson peak vibes and i loved every second of it, i was never bored and found my self needing to keep going to find out how it progressed and what was going to happen.
10/10 read and i will deff be getting a physical copy as my trophy 🥰🩵
miss Alyssa Page you out did yourself with this and i’m crossing my fingers for a second book 🥰🥰🩵🩵🩵🩵
February 11, 2025
What a story.
I couldn’t put this book down. The atmosphere, historic time period, MCs relationship, darkness, the fright and gore, fantasy aspect and disturbing moments were everything and more from a gothic horror. It features arranged marriage, forbidden romance, polyamory (MFF), royalty, witchcraft, paranormal activity, poverty, a failed exorcism and murder.
The spice is also spicing throughout…
Please note there are mentions of mental health concerns and SA including but not limited to s/harm, self unaliving, murder, neglect and eating disorders.
Please check the full TW and CW list first before reading to ensure this book is suitable for you.
Alyssa reached out to me to ARC this book and I am so grateful that she did. Once I picked this up I couldn’t put it down. It was unexpected, twisted, captivating and brilliantly written. I cannot recommend Lady Hell enough.
5⭐️
I couldn’t put this book down. The atmosphere, historic time period, MCs relationship, darkness, the fright and gore, fantasy aspect and disturbing moments were everything and more from a gothic horror. It features arranged marriage, forbidden romance, polyamory (MFF), royalty, witchcraft, paranormal activity, poverty, a failed exorcism and murder.
The spice is also spicing throughout…
Please note there are mentions of mental health concerns and SA including but not limited to s/harm, self unaliving, murder, neglect and eating disorders.
Please check the full TW and CW list first before reading to ensure this book is suitable for you.
Alyssa reached out to me to ARC this book and I am so grateful that she did. Once I picked this up I couldn’t put it down. It was unexpected, twisted, captivating and brilliantly written. I cannot recommend Lady Hell enough.
5⭐️
June 17, 2025
♾️/5⭐️
•𝖑𝖆𝖉𝖞 𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖇𝖊 𝖆 𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖑•
this was the most hauntingly beautiful book i’ve ever read. from the first page, i was engulfed in this world and felt like i was right alongside the characters the entire time, not wanting to put the book down until the very last page.
the gothic, horrorific story of Lady Hell is one that will stick with me for a long time coming. you can tell how much thought and care went into the writing and makings of this world and i am just astonished. the descriptions of the gore and the way the manor was described had me in a chokehold.
•𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖘𝖊𝖈𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖘 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖘𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖘•
this has quickly made its way to my favorite book of this year and i cannot wait for book two 😩🖤
•𝖑𝖆𝖉𝖞 𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖇𝖊 𝖆 𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖑•
this was the most hauntingly beautiful book i’ve ever read. from the first page, i was engulfed in this world and felt like i was right alongside the characters the entire time, not wanting to put the book down until the very last page.
the gothic, horrorific story of Lady Hell is one that will stick with me for a long time coming. you can tell how much thought and care went into the writing and makings of this world and i am just astonished. the descriptions of the gore and the way the manor was described had me in a chokehold.
•𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖘𝖊𝖈𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖘 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖘𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖘•
this has quickly made its way to my favorite book of this year and i cannot wait for book two 😩🖤
June 18, 2025
“𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭.“
I really enjoyed this gothic horror romance from Alyssa Page! Packed full of sapphic, bisexual, polyamorous, and asexual characters, as well as mental health representations, Alyssa Page brings the creepy, gothic delights with her setting and characters. While the romance has its soft and sweet moments, this story is absolutely not without the horror, hauntings, and gore that we cherish in a gothic novel.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸.”
🥀 Creepy Mansion
🥀 Marriage of Convenience
🥀 Sapphic/Bi/Poly/Ace Rep
🥀 Mental Health Rep
🥀 “Is the house haunted or are they?”
🥀 Secrets Secrets Secrets
As always, make sure to check content warnings - your mental health is important 🖤
I really enjoyed this gothic horror romance from Alyssa Page! Packed full of sapphic, bisexual, polyamorous, and asexual characters, as well as mental health representations, Alyssa Page brings the creepy, gothic delights with her setting and characters. While the romance has its soft and sweet moments, this story is absolutely not without the horror, hauntings, and gore that we cherish in a gothic novel.
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸.”
🥀 Creepy Mansion
🥀 Marriage of Convenience
🥀 Sapphic/Bi/Poly/Ace Rep
🥀 Mental Health Rep
🥀 “Is the house haunted or are they?”
🥀 Secrets Secrets Secrets
As always, make sure to check content warnings - your mental health is important 🖤
January 10, 2025
this was so BEAUTIFULLY written i enjoyed reading front front to back as fast as i could because i was so engrossed in the characters and the plot. never in my life would i think there would be a throuple in place of a gothic horror but i'm beyond happy that i was able to experience it. i adored how well the history was presented and how everything came to be about bramwell. also a small thing is how good the gruesome parts were written, i can't get over it. i cannot tell you how many times i've been shocked as i flew through the pages of the book. i will reread this again in the future, 5/5 ⭐️ WELL DESERVED.
May 5, 2025
I was immediately drawn into this book from the start. The atmosphere was captivating and the way the author describes scenes makes you feel like you’re there. The main characters were skillfully written and lovable, they really had you rooting for a happy ending. This was my first book by Alyssa Page and I immediately added her other books to my TBR. I can’t wait to see what journey she takes me on next.
May 31, 2024
This book is AMAZING. It is my first horror novel I have read, and I don’t think any others can hold up to it. I need more. Alyssa makes you fall in love with Belle, Flo, and Lyren. She immerses you into Hellthorne Manor and the horrors inside the mansion. The politics and religion in it just make it that much better.
January 30, 2025
wow. if you’re into gothic horror, mff, paranormal and just dark media then PICK THIS UP! i wasn’t sure what to expect when i started, but i quickly fell for the mc’s and the straight up horror/gore. PLEASE check triggers, especially if you’re new to gothic lit or horror.
also, loveee the art! it really added to the creepy vibes.
also, loveee the art! it really added to the creepy vibes.
December 10, 2025
“Lady Hell will be a shell”
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•
•
•
•
•
We follow Belle, who has just married Lord Bramwell. Belle doesn’t come from wealth and now lives in a giant mansion/manor with everything she needs provided for her. But the house is strange and frightening things begin to happen.
This story is a gothic horror with a strong current of romance. I had such a fun time reading this story. The setting and scene descriptions were lovely. I also enjoyed the outfit descriptions. I love our main character, she may not be perfect but she seemed like a very real human to me. The romance takes up a decent portion of the book but does not take away from the creepy feeling.
Overall I think this was very well written and easy to read. I felt so many emotions while reading and didn’t want it to end.
I can definitely see myself re-reading this!
If you like gothic horror, creepy houses, FFM romance and beautifully written stories then check this out!!!
•
•
•
•
•
•
We follow Belle, who has just married Lord Bramwell. Belle doesn’t come from wealth and now lives in a giant mansion/manor with everything she needs provided for her. But the house is strange and frightening things begin to happen.
This story is a gothic horror with a strong current of romance. I had such a fun time reading this story. The setting and scene descriptions were lovely. I also enjoyed the outfit descriptions. I love our main character, she may not be perfect but she seemed like a very real human to me. The romance takes up a decent portion of the book but does not take away from the creepy feeling.
Overall I think this was very well written and easy to read. I felt so many emotions while reading and didn’t want it to end.
I can definitely see myself re-reading this!
If you like gothic horror, creepy houses, FFM romance and beautifully written stories then check this out!!!
May 8, 2025
3.75/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️
Lady Hell takes you into a spooky and chilling vibes. This book was a little tricky for me at times, but still a good read overall. The writing was super detailed and fit the spooky gothic mood. Some parts were really beautiful and gave me chills! Some of the talking between characters felt weird due to the pov switches. Even so, the good parts stood out, and when the writing worked, it really pulled me in.
Lady Hell takes you into a spooky and chilling vibes. This book was a little tricky for me at times, but still a good read overall. The writing was super detailed and fit the spooky gothic mood. Some parts were really beautiful and gave me chills! Some of the talking between characters felt weird due to the pov switches. Even so, the good parts stood out, and when the writing worked, it really pulled me in.
March 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this! I was so excited when I got the email from NetGalley that I was able to ARC read this book! I love gothic horror and immediately after meeting Belle and seeing how odd she was I was sold. I also was so intrigued by Lord Bramwell, and every glimpse of him added questions to the list.
I did love the horror elements, it got pretty gorey at times so proceed with caution. But I absolutely loved it! I also really loved the MFF in this!! Florence especially, but I’m biased to FF. 🔥
I’m looking forward to more from this author though! I really adored their writing style and I couldn’t wait to be able to pick this back up and read it again!
I did love the horror elements, it got pretty gorey at times so proceed with caution. But I absolutely loved it! I also really loved the MFF in this!! Florence especially, but I’m biased to FF. 🔥
I’m looking forward to more from this author though! I really adored their writing style and I couldn’t wait to be able to pick this back up and read it again!
July 29, 2025
Gothic, horror and witchcraft = three perfect things that go together. I really enjoyed this and kind of got lost in it multiple times. It was so unique and kind of twisted… I seriously could not get enough of it.
March 13, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!
🌙🖤
Lady Hell was a glorious blend of gothic horror and fantasy! Page’s writing style is poetic and paints a lovely, creepy portrait of a love story. While the story itself is well put together, I also appreciated the representation of delicate themes such as: anorexia, self harm, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, child abuse, etc.
I do wish we received more backstory regarding Bramwell, but I hope that we get it in the second installment. I will most certainly be buying the second book when it is published :)
🌙🖤
🌙🖤
Lady Hell was a glorious blend of gothic horror and fantasy! Page’s writing style is poetic and paints a lovely, creepy portrait of a love story. While the story itself is well put together, I also appreciated the representation of delicate themes such as: anorexia, self harm, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, child abuse, etc.
I do wish we received more backstory regarding Bramwell, but I hope that we get it in the second installment. I will most certainly be buying the second book when it is published :)
🌙🖤
dnf
March 9, 2025unfortunately, this was a DNF for me @ 15%. i was trying to at least make it through a quarter of the book to be fair, but i couldn’t do it. the writing unironically reminded me of that meme that’s like “his emerald orbs broadened in astonishment” — every single sentence is written this way and it’s exhausting.
the plot and pacing were already tripping over themselves in the amount i managed to get though. why start with the wedding and abruptly cut to six months later? we miss so much in those vital first moments of their marriage — the anguish belle feels at her husband rejecting her, the development of her relationship with florence, the uncertainty of being on her own for the first time in a strange place — and instead we’re informed of these events and emotions after the fact, from the perspective of someone who’s already been through it and adapted to the circumstances. it makes me feel like i’ve been cheated out of a piece of the narrative. i had hopes for a unique gothic narrative, but this one didn’t work out for me.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
the plot and pacing were already tripping over themselves in the amount i managed to get though. why start with the wedding and abruptly cut to six months later? we miss so much in those vital first moments of their marriage — the anguish belle feels at her husband rejecting her, the development of her relationship with florence, the uncertainty of being on her own for the first time in a strange place — and instead we’re informed of these events and emotions after the fact, from the perspective of someone who’s already been through it and adapted to the circumstances. it makes me feel like i’ve been cheated out of a piece of the narrative. i had hopes for a unique gothic narrative, but this one didn’t work out for me.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
January 25, 2025Alyssa what an honor to have been your beta reader.
The plot to this books is everything you want from a gothic horror novel and more. It’s gory, gritty, and passionate. The portrayal of emotions and atmospheric descriptions really sell this story. Can’t wait for what’s next.
The plot to this books is everything you want from a gothic horror novel and more. It’s gory, gritty, and passionate. The portrayal of emotions and atmospheric descriptions really sell this story. Can’t wait for what’s next.
April 2, 2025
Lady Hell by Alyssa Page follows the story of Belle, a young woman from a poor village, and her arranged marriage to the mysterious Bramwell Hellthorne. We get to experience Belle's new life as Lady Hellthorne in a beautiful and eerie gothic manor where not everything is as it seems.
I went in expecting to absolutely fall in love with this book, but I was let down unfortunately. The descriptive writing was beautiful and left readers so engrossed in the gothic environment. The more scarier and unsettling scenes were written so well and I felt genuinely uncomfortable (in the best way) many times!! I just felt that the plot was not consistent and left me with many questions and wanting more.
There is a huge supernatural element to this story, which was often overlooked and overshadowed by the love story, which often infuriated. Blood dripping from the walls, creepy paintings that should not be there, literal evil dead girls, yet everyone just moved on so casually from these literal horrors and got on with having their threesomes as if nothing happened. Now don't get me wrong, I was obsessed with the poly relationship and how beautifully it was written, but why are we ignoring the big demonic elephant in the room just so I can get another sex scene, exactly the same as the last one. I wanted and needed more background and plot relating to the supernatural storyline, that in my opinion, was the main plot.
There were also time skips that often left out a lot of important information in my opinion, and important information at that. The main one was the blooming of Belle's relationship with Florence and the first few months of her new life as Mrs Blackthorne. Once the wedding was over, we skipped several months down the line to when Florence and Belle have already begun this secret relationship and Belle has began to settle into her new home. There were several time jumps that often had readers filling in gaps.
A personal opinion - Belle had everything she could have wanted and Blackthorne an ideal husband. Belle wa an insufferable character and Blackthorne deserved better.
Overall, I did enjoy this read, but it lacked a solid and fluid plot. I'll definitely be checking out the sequel to see where it all goes as I have so many unanswered questions from this book.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for and ARC of Lady Hell in an exchange for a voluntary and honest review.
I went in expecting to absolutely fall in love with this book, but I was let down unfortunately. The descriptive writing was beautiful and left readers so engrossed in the gothic environment. The more scarier and unsettling scenes were written so well and I felt genuinely uncomfortable (in the best way) many times!! I just felt that the plot was not consistent and left me with many questions and wanting more.
There is a huge supernatural element to this story, which was often overlooked and overshadowed by the love story, which often infuriated. Blood dripping from the walls, creepy paintings that should not be there, literal evil dead girls, yet everyone just moved on so casually from these literal horrors and got on with having their threesomes as if nothing happened. Now don't get me wrong, I was obsessed with the poly relationship and how beautifully it was written, but why are we ignoring the big demonic elephant in the room just so I can get another sex scene, exactly the same as the last one. I wanted and needed more background and plot relating to the supernatural storyline, that in my opinion, was the main plot.
There were also time skips that often left out a lot of important information in my opinion, and important information at that. The main one was the blooming of Belle's relationship with Florence and the first few months of her new life as Mrs Blackthorne. Once the wedding was over, we skipped several months down the line to when Florence and Belle have already begun this secret relationship and Belle has began to settle into her new home. There were several time jumps that often had readers filling in gaps.
A personal opinion - Belle had everything she could have wanted and Blackthorne an ideal husband. Belle wa an insufferable character and Blackthorne deserved better.
Overall, I did enjoy this read, but it lacked a solid and fluid plot. I'll definitely be checking out the sequel to see where it all goes as I have so many unanswered questions from this book.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for and ARC of Lady Hell in an exchange for a voluntary and honest review.
April 11, 2025
Holy shit. What did I just read? Being a mood reader can sometimes work to your own detriment because I had started this book quite a while back and had put it on hold because I wasn’t feeling it too much. But then a couple days ago I restarted it, and oh my god, I’m so glad I did not completely abandon it. This book is the first horror book that I have read, and it is not just horror in the sense of ghosts and demonic possessions and things but it is also horror in the sense of an ethical and moral horror? If that makes sense. I don’t know how else to put it. The story is so twisted, the characters are so twisted, and the book is relentless in terms of gore, and bleakness. I am writing this review immediately after finishing the book so that I don’t forget the feeling of it.
The characters are so well written. I don’t know what else to add to this statement without giving spoilers, but the way the characters and their personal backstories are written, is brilliant.
I actually liked that the narrative style is third person, omniscient, because the narrative voice sort of adds to the story. And you get to know a lot of information that probably wouldn’t have been made available if it was a first person narration, so that was great for me.
Coming to the style of writing–it is so darn GOOD. The writing is so expressive and direct that you can’t help but imagine the scenes playing out in front of your eyes, and it has made my eyes bulge on MULTIPLE occasions. The feeling of horror, the gothic vibe permeates the text completely, even if the scene is a happy one. It is so gorgeously gothic.
Coming back to the story, I am going to reiterate that it is SO twisted, and this statement DOES NOT include the polyamorous relationship of Belle, Florence, and Lyren (FFM). The relationship itself is actually so beautifully written!! It feels very natural and organic and not at all forced. The story is twisted in the sense of the things that take place, and it is very, very graphic. So if you do decide to pick it up, please take a look at the content warnings because there are a lot of them, and if you’re someone who can get triggered by intense things including child abuse, blood and gore, food disorder, mentions of SA, etc, I strongly advise to go through the warnings!
The sheer creativity that has gone into writing this book is, quite frankly, beyond me.
The characters are so well written. I don’t know what else to add to this statement without giving spoilers, but the way the characters and their personal backstories are written, is brilliant.
I actually liked that the narrative style is third person, omniscient, because the narrative voice sort of adds to the story. And you get to know a lot of information that probably wouldn’t have been made available if it was a first person narration, so that was great for me.
Coming to the style of writing–it is so darn GOOD. The writing is so expressive and direct that you can’t help but imagine the scenes playing out in front of your eyes, and it has made my eyes bulge on MULTIPLE occasions. The feeling of horror, the gothic vibe permeates the text completely, even if the scene is a happy one. It is so gorgeously gothic.
Coming back to the story, I am going to reiterate that it is SO twisted, and this statement DOES NOT include the polyamorous relationship of Belle, Florence, and Lyren (FFM). The relationship itself is actually so beautifully written!! It feels very natural and organic and not at all forced. The story is twisted in the sense of the things that take place, and it is very, very graphic. So if you do decide to pick it up, please take a look at the content warnings because there are a lot of them, and if you’re someone who can get triggered by intense things including child abuse, blood and gore, food disorder, mentions of SA, etc, I strongly advise to go through the warnings!
The sheer creativity that has gone into writing this book is, quite frankly, beyond me.
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