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For His Muse Only
IMPORTANT: CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS ON AUTHOR ADA's Linktree!
"You'll most likely be the end of me someday, and I don't even mind." I should have been paying attention. I should have felt him coming, sensed his pull before it was too late. But people like Harlan McCandles don't walk into your life-they seep in, unnoticed, until they're everywhere. His hooks are still in me, beneath my skin, so deep I can't pull them out without tearing myself apart.
An Artist's Obsession. A Woman's Undoing.
How far would one go for self-expression?
Harlan McCandles is a master of color, a virtuoso of form. But beneath the art professor's facade lies a darker palette of history. When a married Patience Okoye steps into his world, she becomes Harlan's latest fixation. But as their lessons deepen, the compulsion to keep her under his thumb increases. Patience begins to notice strange habits, including a repetition of pet names he has for her. While with a stroke of a brush, Harlan slowly paints her life with manipulation and chaos. What will the final brush stroke reveal when simply being his inspiration doesn't suffice?
Dive into unsettling fiction: a twisted narrative of psychological power dynamics building to a thrilling conclusion. Follow Patience on her journey to escape Harlan's clutches and watch as the suspense bleeds through the pages.
"You'll most likely be the end of me someday, and I don't even mind." I should have been paying attention. I should have felt him coming, sensed his pull before it was too late. But people like Harlan McCandles don't walk into your life-they seep in, unnoticed, until they're everywhere. His hooks are still in me, beneath my skin, so deep I can't pull them out without tearing myself apart.
An Artist's Obsession. A Woman's Undoing.
How far would one go for self-expression?
Harlan McCandles is a master of color, a virtuoso of form. But beneath the art professor's facade lies a darker palette of history. When a married Patience Okoye steps into his world, she becomes Harlan's latest fixation. But as their lessons deepen, the compulsion to keep her under his thumb increases. Patience begins to notice strange habits, including a repetition of pet names he has for her. While with a stroke of a brush, Harlan slowly paints her life with manipulation and chaos. What will the final brush stroke reveal when simply being his inspiration doesn't suffice?
Dive into unsettling fiction: a twisted narrative of psychological power dynamics building to a thrilling conclusion. Follow Patience on her journey to escape Harlan's clutches and watch as the suspense bleeds through the pages.
407 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
14 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Ada Afam
3 books29 followersAda Afam is a Nigerian-American author based in Denton, TX, where she lives with her husband and two spirited dogs. Known for her gripping narratives, Ada delves deeply into the complexities of thrillers and dramatic works of fiction. Her work intricately weaves haunting backstories with explorations of identity, resilience, and the shadowed nuances of human desire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 10, 2025
Let me start off by saying Chefs 😘 this book is a brilliant masterpiece. When I tell you I couldn’t put this book down I was not joking!!! I picked it up before bed and fell asleep on my phone at page 138. The next day I knocked out over 200 pages. I finished it today.
This book was a masterfully written atmospheric masterpiece. Seriously it is filled with characters that have so much depth and purpose. It has characters you will love to hate, characters that you will want to strangle more than a few times. It has characters you will love wholeheartedly.
This book dives into the human mind, and one’s ability to come back from their greatest mistakes. It is evidence that one’s mistakes aren’t always a person bitter end. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you up past your bedtime and have you on the edge of your seat literally. This is the book for you, this book was impossible to put down. When I couldn’t physically read I had the audio playing. I absolutely loved how Ada interpreted aspects, sayings and ways of life for Nigerians throughout the novel.
I’m not going to lie 99% of this book I wanted to slap Patience from here to space. She annoyed me immensely, always contradicting every other thing out of her own mouth. 😂 😂. But the last 1% she gained a tiny sliver of my old grinchy heart. 🖤 to be able to do what she did at the end of this book is nothing short of being a baddie.
Obinna was my absolute favorite character. He was perfection I thought maybe a shoe would fall and I wouldn’t like him. Farthest from the truth, the ending of this book made me love him that much more.
Priya and Neisa I love their character we all need friends that will be there no matter what. No matter what disruptions or challenges we face we need a friend to put us back together.
This book was a masterfully written atmospheric masterpiece. Seriously it is filled with characters that have so much depth and purpose. It has characters you will love to hate, characters that you will want to strangle more than a few times. It has characters you will love wholeheartedly.
This book dives into the human mind, and one’s ability to come back from their greatest mistakes. It is evidence that one’s mistakes aren’t always a person bitter end. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you up past your bedtime and have you on the edge of your seat literally. This is the book for you, this book was impossible to put down. When I couldn’t physically read I had the audio playing. I absolutely loved how Ada interpreted aspects, sayings and ways of life for Nigerians throughout the novel.
I’m not going to lie 99% of this book I wanted to slap Patience from here to space. She annoyed me immensely, always contradicting every other thing out of her own mouth. 😂 😂. But the last 1% she gained a tiny sliver of my old grinchy heart. 🖤 to be able to do what she did at the end of this book is nothing short of being a baddie.
Obinna was my absolute favorite character. He was perfection I thought maybe a shoe would fall and I wouldn’t like him. Farthest from the truth, the ending of this book made me love him that much more.
Priya and Neisa I love their character we all need friends that will be there no matter what. No matter what disruptions or challenges we face we need a friend to put us back together.
July 16, 2025
This novel is so amazing, that I'm to the point to where it's hard for me to even express how to put it in words. There are so many things going on in this book, that it kept you wanting more! There was no dull pages, or a point where it makes you feel like, "this book could have ended sooner", because it couldt end with all of the situations going on. This book is consider a psychological thriller drama, but it has ALL of the things, which I love. I bought the physical book from the author, and then the kindle just so I could read it when I wasn't home, or in bed! The author is phenomenal and so incredibly talented. The time, and knowledge and just the research for this book, she had to have done for all of the specific conditions and situations, just blows my mind. I'm so happy that a friend introduced me to the author and this wonderful piece of literary "art". For His Muse Only is an incredible book, and Ada Afam is a very talented, kind, and thoughtful author with an extremely high intellect and great sense of humor as well. I can not wait for her next book to see what awaits the Okoye family next!
June 30, 2025
A roller coaster ride I never wanna get off
Where do I start?
This book is a Golden book
The female main character patience made some bad decisions and it cost her everything Even though the only good that came with the choice that was her artistic talents of abstract painting . Which is great but she could not stay away from spider psycho maniac of an artist .
Patience throws out everything that she knew for this man named Harlan who is a psycho spider maniac artist who manipulate her and convince her that she is his muse, but that was all a lie. He started showing off his true colors, but Patience cannot stay away because she was also running from her own issues
Everybody around her, tried to warn her about this psychopath Harlan, but she realizes her mistakes too late
Where do I start?
This book is a Golden book
The female main character patience made some bad decisions and it cost her everything Even though the only good that came with the choice that was her artistic talents of abstract painting . Which is great but she could not stay away from spider psycho maniac of an artist .
Patience throws out everything that she knew for this man named Harlan who is a psycho spider maniac artist who manipulate her and convince her that she is his muse, but that was all a lie. He started showing off his true colors, but Patience cannot stay away because she was also running from her own issues
Everybody around her, tried to warn her about this psychopath Harlan, but she realizes her mistakes too late
February 22, 2025
This book was for sure a page turner ! I hope there’s a second book. I loved diving into Patiences story and how she handled Harlen. I also really liked that she included mentions of disorders and different kinds of manipulation. It definitely took you on a wild ride. Definitely an author I will continue to support . 10 out of 10 ❤️👏
February 8, 2025
A book I didn't even know I needed. The tone of the entire story is... damn. Constantly craving. There were loads of times Patience was no match for the ever-so-cunning Harlan and his hooks. The personification of 'want' in the story is everything. I guess Mr. McCandles 'inhabits' me too. My favorite chapters are, 'Try Again' 'A Night at Markos' 'Under His Influence' 'Whoops, see what you made me do?' 'Patience Okoye Part Deux' and 'Full Circle.'
August 20, 2025
A slow building psychological thriller with a uniquely twisted ending.
Told in 1st person from the FMC perspective.
This is a psychological thriller that goes above and beyond in the twisting world of mind games and behavioral drama. With a steamy, smoothly flowing narrative, it holds the reader's attention well to the end.
The main protagonist, Patience Okoye, effectively manages to bury herself deep into the worst kind of toxic relationship. Although, none of her relationships are great to begin with. She was definitely going in with her eyes wide open, seeing nothing but others shortcomings while missing many of her own. I found her to be strong willed and strong minded at times, yet the complete opposite at others. Unsure of herself and easily manipulated by everyone around her.
However, that could be said of all of the characters in this book, save one.
The plotline has all of the secondary characters being portrayed one way throughout the book, then suddenly transforming into something better in the ending without a real explanation for why they're now totally different personalities. That, for me, is part of what took this one from a five star to four star read.
While Patience isn't on the list of most likable FMCs out there, she is a flawed relatable human character. Her daily life becomes a disconnect from what was once her foundation stones--work, husband, friends--and spirals into a hedonistic world of drugs, sex, and strange devotion to a man she barely knows. A man obsessed with tying her to him. After ignoring all of the red flags and warnings, she finds herself trapped in a deadly game with her obsessive deranged lover. Luckily for her, she at least lives to regret it.
Unfortunately, the connection or empathy for any of the characters never really developed. The fact that the vilest of despicable villains might be the only character that played out his role effectively is another reason I didn't rate this one higher. But he was the only one with a consistent personality and not teetering on a cliff of hateful shaming or blatant avoidance just to have a miraculous change of behavior in the finale.
I will admit, the ending still has me wondering and a little confused. That is a good sign that this book did exactly what it was written to do. It forces the reader to look closer at the story and find all of those hidden nuances, to come away with a new perspective. The story itself, and the characters, work together to effectively create a strong emotional reaction in this one. I also found the pop culture references add a nice touch and depth of character to the overall storyline. I highly recommend this one for fans of psychological thrillers.
Told in 1st person from the FMC perspective.
This is a psychological thriller that goes above and beyond in the twisting world of mind games and behavioral drama. With a steamy, smoothly flowing narrative, it holds the reader's attention well to the end.
The main protagonist, Patience Okoye, effectively manages to bury herself deep into the worst kind of toxic relationship. Although, none of her relationships are great to begin with. She was definitely going in with her eyes wide open, seeing nothing but others shortcomings while missing many of her own. I found her to be strong willed and strong minded at times, yet the complete opposite at others. Unsure of herself and easily manipulated by everyone around her.
However, that could be said of all of the characters in this book, save one.
The plotline has all of the secondary characters being portrayed one way throughout the book, then suddenly transforming into something better in the ending without a real explanation for why they're now totally different personalities. That, for me, is part of what took this one from a five star to four star read.
While Patience isn't on the list of most likable FMCs out there, she is a flawed relatable human character. Her daily life becomes a disconnect from what was once her foundation stones--work, husband, friends--and spirals into a hedonistic world of drugs, sex, and strange devotion to a man she barely knows. A man obsessed with tying her to him. After ignoring all of the red flags and warnings, she finds herself trapped in a deadly game with her obsessive deranged lover. Luckily for her, she at least lives to regret it.
Unfortunately, the connection or empathy for any of the characters never really developed. The fact that the vilest of despicable villains might be the only character that played out his role effectively is another reason I didn't rate this one higher. But he was the only one with a consistent personality and not teetering on a cliff of hateful shaming or blatant avoidance just to have a miraculous change of behavior in the finale.
I will admit, the ending still has me wondering and a little confused. That is a good sign that this book did exactly what it was written to do. It forces the reader to look closer at the story and find all of those hidden nuances, to come away with a new perspective. The story itself, and the characters, work together to effectively create a strong emotional reaction in this one. I also found the pop culture references add a nice touch and depth of character to the overall storyline. I highly recommend this one for fans of psychological thrillers.
May 23, 2025
This psychological thriller quickly became a wild ride that had me Just-one-more-chaptering several nights in a row!
A married Patience Okoye finds her life with her once love-of-a-lifetime husband lacking and she can't seem to get him to reengage with her like she desperately needs, now more than ever. Then she meets college art professor Harlan McCandles who draws her into her artistic side and shows her how to use painting as an outlet to express herself. His intense personality and his "lessons" challenge her to open herself to an exciting world, fill her empty spaces with passion, and provide a singular attention she begins to thrive on.
This new world he offers changes her in such good ways she didn't realize she wanted, she needed, and she quickly succumbs to the infatuation and allows herself to become Harlan's muse. Until she realizes the high cost of being held in that sacred regard, becoming someone she doesn't recognize, doesn't like.
But Harlan is a master manipulator, and by the time she knows she must break free from him once and for all, he's not about to let his muse go.
Building to a harrowing climax, just when you think the story is wrapping up, the author throws even more twists into the plot!
The writing in this book had me feeling like I was right there in every scene, whether the touching scenes in Patience's classroom with her students, the heartbreaking scenes when she tries to get through to her husband Obinna, or the intense emotional ups and downs she experiences with Harlan.
A married Patience Okoye finds her life with her once love-of-a-lifetime husband lacking and she can't seem to get him to reengage with her like she desperately needs, now more than ever. Then she meets college art professor Harlan McCandles who draws her into her artistic side and shows her how to use painting as an outlet to express herself. His intense personality and his "lessons" challenge her to open herself to an exciting world, fill her empty spaces with passion, and provide a singular attention she begins to thrive on.
This new world he offers changes her in such good ways she didn't realize she wanted, she needed, and she quickly succumbs to the infatuation and allows herself to become Harlan's muse. Until she realizes the high cost of being held in that sacred regard, becoming someone she doesn't recognize, doesn't like.
But Harlan is a master manipulator, and by the time she knows she must break free from him once and for all, he's not about to let his muse go.
Building to a harrowing climax, just when you think the story is wrapping up, the author throws even more twists into the plot!
The writing in this book had me feeling like I was right there in every scene, whether the touching scenes in Patience's classroom with her students, the heartbreaking scenes when she tries to get through to her husband Obinna, or the intense emotional ups and downs she experiences with Harlan.
July 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For His Muse Only is a gripping, haunting exploration of obsession, power, and the cost of becoming someone’s inspiration. The story pulls you in slowly, just as Harlan McCandles seeps into Patience Okoye’s life. What begins as an artistic connection spirals into a chilling portrait of control and psychological manipulation. The author does an excellent job of layering the tension, making you question where devotion ends and destruction begins.
The prose is rich and atmospheric, painting vivid scenes that make you feel both captivated and uneasy….perfect for a story rooted in the darker side of creativity. Patience is a sympathetic and compelling protagonist, and her unraveling is written with painful authenticity. Harlan, with his charisma masking something far more sinister, is equal parts alluring and terrifying.
If there’s one minor drawback, it’s that some sections could have lingered longer on Patience’s inner conflict to deepen the emotional impact. However, the pacing keeps the suspense tight, and the ending lands with a satisfying, gut-punch conclusion.
For fans of psychological thrillers with a literary edge, For His Muse Only is a tense, evocative read that will leave you thinking long after the last page.
For His Muse Only is a gripping, haunting exploration of obsession, power, and the cost of becoming someone’s inspiration. The story pulls you in slowly, just as Harlan McCandles seeps into Patience Okoye’s life. What begins as an artistic connection spirals into a chilling portrait of control and psychological manipulation. The author does an excellent job of layering the tension, making you question where devotion ends and destruction begins.
The prose is rich and atmospheric, painting vivid scenes that make you feel both captivated and uneasy….perfect for a story rooted in the darker side of creativity. Patience is a sympathetic and compelling protagonist, and her unraveling is written with painful authenticity. Harlan, with his charisma masking something far more sinister, is equal parts alluring and terrifying.
If there’s one minor drawback, it’s that some sections could have lingered longer on Patience’s inner conflict to deepen the emotional impact. However, the pacing keeps the suspense tight, and the ending lands with a satisfying, gut-punch conclusion.
For fans of psychological thrillers with a literary edge, For His Muse Only is a tense, evocative read that will leave you thinking long after the last page.
April 17, 2025
Several things. First one. What an opening!!!! I knew I was in for a treat when I got started. Patience is a firecracker I have to admit, I gradually grew to love. Don’t get me started on Harlan. I REALLY liked him in the beginning. Like was shamlessly falling for him right alongside her. I didn't blame her! He said all the right things at first but based on the blurb, I knew it wouldn't last. I had recurring anxiety reading from beginning, middle and end. This. Book. Has. No. Mercy. Towards the end, I felt claustrophobic and needed breaks. I'm still left in a wreck. Five stars. All the way, despite her husband Obinna being kinda boring. I'm sorry! I get he's a nice guy but anytime he and Patience interacted, it only just made me miss the first half of Harlan’s charm. Ada did a REALLY good job writing their initial chemistry. I just wish Harlan never went to the dark side and became an abuser. My stomach dropped each time he started to show his true intentions more and more as a sociopath. I'm hearing there's a sequel and omg I just can't waaaait!
April 22, 2025
SPOILERS
These characters caused me so much frustration but you can not stop reading until you find out everything. Within this story I see fault in all three of the main characters.
Patience: Unseen and easily influenced
Obinna: Loving but selfish and closed off
Harlan: Evil with dangerous intent
Patience throws all of her family beliefs out of the window and falls into bed with Harlan and she gets more than she is bargaining for but the hooks that Harlan has on Patience is stronger that you could every imagine that they could. No one recognizes her not even Patience herself. Harlan and Patience both have unresolved issues that they need to face and work on alone. Harlan deals with trauma that has created a nasty monster. Patience feels she can be free with Harlan but is trapped even more that she knows until it is to to late. Obinna is a strong man that let his will to be just that allow him to neglect and block out things that he should have addressed with his wife. But that gave Patience no excuse to get into the web of Harlan.
SEQUAL COMING SOON GUYS!!!!
These characters caused me so much frustration but you can not stop reading until you find out everything. Within this story I see fault in all three of the main characters.
Patience: Unseen and easily influenced
Obinna: Loving but selfish and closed off
Harlan: Evil with dangerous intent
Patience throws all of her family beliefs out of the window and falls into bed with Harlan and she gets more than she is bargaining for but the hooks that Harlan has on Patience is stronger that you could every imagine that they could. No one recognizes her not even Patience herself. Harlan and Patience both have unresolved issues that they need to face and work on alone. Harlan deals with trauma that has created a nasty monster. Patience feels she can be free with Harlan but is trapped even more that she knows until it is to to late. Obinna is a strong man that let his will to be just that allow him to neglect and block out things that he should have addressed with his wife. But that gave Patience no excuse to get into the web of Harlan.
SEQUAL COMING SOON GUYS!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2025
So many thoughts after reading this.
Definitely wish there would have been trigger warnings in the front of the book advising on the SA and DV. People who have experienced that need to know up front.
Super long chapters. It was challenging to get through the heavy content. Yes I know there were breaks within the chapter, but for me personally, it made completion feel a little daunting.
The FMC, Patience. I saw the red flags early on, like literally yelled at my book so many times telling her to WAKE UP.
Harlan, the miserable POS that you will love to hate. Then you find out some things about him that make you go 🫣
Be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart. Its content is deep, frustrating, aggravating, and at times maddening.
The beginning of the book PULLS YOU IN FAST! Then you get a sprinkle of heart palpitations here and there with the dramatic scenes.
The ending, leaves you cringing...wondering what's going to happen when Harlan is released from prison.
Definitely wish there would have been trigger warnings in the front of the book advising on the SA and DV. People who have experienced that need to know up front.
Super long chapters. It was challenging to get through the heavy content. Yes I know there were breaks within the chapter, but for me personally, it made completion feel a little daunting.
The FMC, Patience. I saw the red flags early on, like literally yelled at my book so many times telling her to WAKE UP.
Harlan, the miserable POS that you will love to hate. Then you find out some things about him that make you go 🫣
Be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart. Its content is deep, frustrating, aggravating, and at times maddening.
The beginning of the book PULLS YOU IN FAST! Then you get a sprinkle of heart palpitations here and there with the dramatic scenes.
The ending, leaves you cringing...wondering what's going to happen when Harlan is released from prison.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
While this novel is labeled as a psychological thriller, to me it is the story of a woman finding herself after years of being told how to live within the expectations of West African and American culture. How to be a good wife, a good daughter, and ultimately a good person. I saw myself in Patience’s narrative.
The author weaves this story so beautifully that I could see and relate to everything Patience felt, from her physical and emotional pain to her grief. The characters are fully developed, and by the end I understood that Afam is conveying that in this life there is no simple good or bad; as individuals, we are all morally gray.
The dialogue and action are so vivid that I felt like I was in the middle of each scene as I read. The psychological thriller aspect of this novel was a rollercoaster that often had my stomach in knots. If I had to do it over again I would choose this book every time. The payoff of For His Muse Only was worth the journey it took to get there.
The author weaves this story so beautifully that I could see and relate to everything Patience felt, from her physical and emotional pain to her grief. The characters are fully developed, and by the end I understood that Afam is conveying that in this life there is no simple good or bad; as individuals, we are all morally gray.
The dialogue and action are so vivid that I felt like I was in the middle of each scene as I read. The psychological thriller aspect of this novel was a rollercoaster that often had my stomach in knots. If I had to do it over again I would choose this book every time. The payoff of For His Muse Only was worth the journey it took to get there.
May 28, 2025
I will start this by saying these kinds of books are not my wheelhouse. I became acquainted with Ada and wanted to give her book a fair swing.
While the subject matter itself isn't what I normally gravitate towards, I will say that it is very well written. The story keenly portrays the covert predator and ignorant-yet-self-aware prey dynamic. Both of the main characters, Patience and Harlan, are simultaneously intriguing and obnoxious, but that definitely is the point, from what I can tell.
Patience is starving for attention and decides to get herself into a situation that, somewhere deep down, she knows better than to fuck with. Harlan is a charming mystery who satisfies that hunger, but he has a way about him that slowly burns through the pages.
Bits and pieces of Colleen Hoover in there spiced up with, what I can only imagine, is a bit of personal truth for the author.
While the subject matter itself isn't what I normally gravitate towards, I will say that it is very well written. The story keenly portrays the covert predator and ignorant-yet-self-aware prey dynamic. Both of the main characters, Patience and Harlan, are simultaneously intriguing and obnoxious, but that definitely is the point, from what I can tell.
Patience is starving for attention and decides to get herself into a situation that, somewhere deep down, she knows better than to fuck with. Harlan is a charming mystery who satisfies that hunger, but he has a way about him that slowly burns through the pages.
Bits and pieces of Colleen Hoover in there spiced up with, what I can only imagine, is a bit of personal truth for the author.
July 11, 2025
Make #DaddyObinna happen.
Ada, what's going on with the sequel?!
I need more Obi.
Better yet, I need more spice scenes from Obi.
The ratio is off, ma'am. Come through with more in part two.
See, ya'll are sleeping on Dr. Okoye but watch, nice guys crack too.
When him and discount Justin Bieber from temu meet, it's gonna be bad.
Without spoilers, if you're looking for a do-gooder protagonist through Patience, you ain't getting it. She wants all the smoke when it comes to wrecking her life over cheap thrills. She'll make you 'grrrrrr' at first but grows into a confident badass eventually. But you'll get why when you keep reading. If you have the 'Patience' to that is!
Sorry, I had too.
Like the consensus says, it's a wild ride!
Ada, what's going on with the sequel?!
I need more Obi.
Better yet, I need more spice scenes from Obi.
The ratio is off, ma'am. Come through with more in part two.
See, ya'll are sleeping on Dr. Okoye but watch, nice guys crack too.
When him and discount Justin Bieber from temu meet, it's gonna be bad.
Without spoilers, if you're looking for a do-gooder protagonist through Patience, you ain't getting it. She wants all the smoke when it comes to wrecking her life over cheap thrills. She'll make you 'grrrrrr' at first but grows into a confident badass eventually. But you'll get why when you keep reading. If you have the 'Patience' to that is!
Sorry, I had too.
Like the consensus says, it's a wild ride!
March 1, 2025
Great indie read. Liked the consistency of quiet dread throughout the novel that something bad was gonna eventually happen. At first I cringed when I found out two things, that there was potential spice and Harlan had tattoos. Minimal spice to none is preferred for me. And a bad boy with tats has been done a million times. But I was pleasantly surprised that the sex scenes weren't super graphic, but more so poetic and didn't linger too long. And the reasoning behind Harlan’s tattoos was quite the twist! Also, not cliché! Way to take a trope and turn it into a new concept, Ada! Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2025
Unputdownable! A powerful, unflinching narrative. It answers the question: What happens when you are at the lowest point of your life, and someone takes full advantage of that vulnerability?
Patience is a strong career woman whose life takes an unexpected turn for the worse, and the aftermath that follows.
She receives help from unexpected sources, who try to warn her of the danger she is about to face.
Will she heed their warnings, or ignore the signs of danger that are practically screaming at her?
If you enjoy psychological books with suspense, you'll love For His Muse Only.
Be prepared for some shocking plot twists!
Patience is a strong career woman whose life takes an unexpected turn for the worse, and the aftermath that follows.
She receives help from unexpected sources, who try to warn her of the danger she is about to face.
Will she heed their warnings, or ignore the signs of danger that are practically screaming at her?
If you enjoy psychological books with suspense, you'll love For His Muse Only.
Be prepared for some shocking plot twists!
March 30, 2025
This story dives deep into obsession, control, and the fine line between inspiration and madness. From the very first page, this book pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
The tension builds beautifully, and just when you think you know where it’s going, the story takes an even darker twist.
The author does an amazing job creating an eerie, almost claustrophobic atmosphere. The writing is sharp, the characters are deeply flawed but compelling, and the psychological tension is cranked up to the max. If you love thrillers that mess with your head and keep you flipping pages late into the night, this one’s for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Dark, intense, and impossible to put down.
The tension builds beautifully, and just when you think you know where it’s going, the story takes an even darker twist.
The author does an amazing job creating an eerie, almost claustrophobic atmosphere. The writing is sharp, the characters are deeply flawed but compelling, and the psychological tension is cranked up to the max. If you love thrillers that mess with your head and keep you flipping pages late into the night, this one’s for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Dark, intense, and impossible to put down.
April 9, 2025
Whew… Ada Ada Ada. This book was definitely not what I thought it was going to be but was so good. It pulls you in fast and then holds you. I found myself frustrated with Patience so much, but I also understood the place she was in. When someone is already on a fragile state of mind, it’s easy for them to be manipulated in so many ways and not see what others can see. That’s where Patience was.
I wanted so badly for Obinna to hear his wife before it got to be too late.
Harlen is looney tunes. No other way to describe it and five years… I’m scared to see what he is capable of especially with a daughter being in the picture.
I wanted so badly for Obinna to hear his wife before it got to be too late.
Harlen is looney tunes. No other way to describe it and five years… I’m scared to see what he is capable of especially with a daughter being in the picture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2025
This story really rewired my brain and I'm proud of the journey that Patience went through. There were moments where I was shaking my head at her and screaming at some of her choices. I enjoyed the cultural nods sprinkled throughout. Harlan is certifiable. At first I liked him a lot but as things are revealed he goes from hot professor to broken man child towards the end. And by the end of the book I am over him. Obi is the real MVP and has such a big heart.
My only real gripe with the book was the lengthy chapters and chapter titles.
But I'll definitely be checking out more books from Ada!
My only real gripe with the book was the lengthy chapters and chapter titles.
But I'll definitely be checking out more books from Ada!
May 21, 2025
I decided to edit my review. While it was honest, it was messy.
I was sad to DNF this book considering the great recommendation and clearly the excited reviews.
While I understand the intrigue, there were too many times that I found myself saying “whyyy?” and rolling my eyes.
I did give it 35% beginning/ and a 3% ending(because I am who I am and needed to see the wrap up) so don’t judge me too hard. I know there were some plot twists coming but I couldn’t keep reading. *did get to peep the mention of the box though*
I won’t judge the author, I just could not connect with the story and that was simply a personal preference.
I was sad to DNF this book considering the great recommendation and clearly the excited reviews.
While I understand the intrigue, there were too many times that I found myself saying “whyyy?” and rolling my eyes.
I did give it 35% beginning/ and a 3% ending(because I am who I am and needed to see the wrap up) so don’t judge me too hard. I know there were some plot twists coming but I couldn’t keep reading. *did get to peep the mention of the box though*
I won’t judge the author, I just could not connect with the story and that was simply a personal preference.
July 11, 2025
So this is my first thriller right here and I love the pov storytelling because I feel like I’m in the room with patience. I’m not tryna give any spoilers but I am ready for pt.2. I honestly feel this story is relatable even though I’m a man, I know men are like Harlan sometimes but rarely as obsessive to his level. I’m glad Patience fought to break free of his influence and I just feel like she bout to be on sum next book lol. Ada you did your thing, it’s engaging and there’s no dry spots in the book which can be the case sometimes but not here. Lemme know when 2 drops forreal
April 14, 2025
For His Muse Only is ominous, intense, and captivating. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down. The way Ada Afram crafted this story was both beautiful and unsettling. It was such a thought-provoking read. I could really identify with and understand a lot of the things that Patience went through. I am planning on reading it a second time very soon. If you like psychological thrillers, then this is the book for you! You won’t be disappointed!
February 17, 2025
Afam's stream-of-consciousness style between past and present can throw you for a loop if you're not paying attention while reading through the eyes of Patience. The tools of manipulation coming from Harlan that rely on sex, enticement and eventually clear intimidation is a nail biting read. 10 outta 10.
May 4, 2025
What a CRAZY RIDE
I dont dislike FOR HIS MUSE ONLY I love it! This psychological thriller is a must read for thriller lovers. Yes, there is a lot going on but I can relate to the character. I rate it a 5 because you don't want to put the book down. You want to know WHAT!!! I will leave it there. AMAZING, ADA...
I dont dislike FOR HIS MUSE ONLY I love it! This psychological thriller is a must read for thriller lovers. Yes, there is a lot going on but I can relate to the character. I rate it a 5 because you don't want to put the book down. You want to know WHAT!!! I will leave it there. AMAZING, ADA...
July 15, 2025
I had the opportunity to read and review this through the author and this book is a master mind of emotions I love Harlem I mean why not ! why did he pick patience for his muse tho ? why is she so special? makes me curious and I understand patience perspective a whirl of emotions and a book that makes you think with each page !
August 14, 2025
This book was so good. At times, it's hard to put down. The twist and turns make you want to read more. She has you into it from biggining to the last page. This psychological thriller was so worth reading. It makes you feel like you know how things are going to happen, and to me, that is the best part when you think you know. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
May 3, 2025
If I could read this book all over again, I would! I absolutely loved it. It was so relatable to the temptations of this world and I absolutely loved the ending. I was so sad when I finished, because it was over. It definitely has its hooks in me.
May 12, 2025
Ada Afam totally blew me away with how she handled Patience's cultural identity—major props to her, especially as a second-gen Nigerian! I've been bugging all my friends to read it because I need someone to geek out about it with! Seriously, it was awesome, and I'm rereading it already.
October 6, 2025
This book is not just a thriller; it’s an experience. Sensual, dangerous, and impossible to put down.
A must-read for fans of dark romance, psychological thrillers, and stories that blur the line between passion and peril. Bravo, Ada Afam—I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
A must-read for fans of dark romance, psychological thrillers, and stories that blur the line between passion and peril. Bravo, Ada Afam—I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
November 26, 2025
holy shit. this book was a rollercoaster. a completely stressful aggravating rollercoaster that gave me a visceral reaction. the motto going into this book is keep reading. you'll question your sanity by the end of it but I highly recommend this book. check out my girls book.
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