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Wellard Asylum
Sour
Welcome to Wellard A DARK Shared World Series.
Eventually, everything turns sour .
ZIGGY
One night. That’s all it took to completely rewrite our futures.
One mistake. One wrong choice. One murder.
I would do anything to fix what I broke that night. I would even go insane just to prove how much I needed to be by her side. After all the darkness we endured together, I would do anything for my stepsister.
KOVEN
My soul died that fateful night, and what replaced it was something dead and broken.
I was forever tied to him, labeled as mentally insane, and thrown away to rot for our crime in the darkest pit of hell. Over time, I learned to make the most of Wellard Asylum, enduring endless vile treatments and abuse, accepting my new life. That is, until he reappeared. I thought I’d never see him again after that night, but now, he was here. And he was begging for forgiveness.
But I’ll never forget. It’s his fault I’m trapped here. And now he was trapped with me.
Sour is an extremely dark romance with horror. Please check triggers prior to reading.
Eventually, everything turns sour .
ZIGGY
One night. That’s all it took to completely rewrite our futures.
One mistake. One wrong choice. One murder.
I would do anything to fix what I broke that night. I would even go insane just to prove how much I needed to be by her side. After all the darkness we endured together, I would do anything for my stepsister.
KOVEN
My soul died that fateful night, and what replaced it was something dead and broken.
I was forever tied to him, labeled as mentally insane, and thrown away to rot for our crime in the darkest pit of hell. Over time, I learned to make the most of Wellard Asylum, enduring endless vile treatments and abuse, accepting my new life. That is, until he reappeared. I thought I’d never see him again after that night, but now, he was here. And he was begging for forgiveness.
But I’ll never forget. It’s his fault I’m trapped here. And now he was trapped with me.
Sour is an extremely dark romance with horror. Please check triggers prior to reading.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2025
About the author
Ab. Cynthe
20 books462 followersAb. Cynthe is an International Best Selling author who decided to create this specific pen name to showcase her darker, spicier, more horrific works. She is known for her retellings and monsters and has close to a dozen published works in total, with many more set to release within the next year.
If you're in search of a short read packed with triggering chaos, look no further.
If you're in search of a short read packed with triggering chaos, look no further.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
October 8, 2025
ARC review
2⭐
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me at all. The writing style felt repetitive and over-explained, with the characters constantly saying each other’s names. Please, I wanted to off myself after the damn prologue. 😫 Ziggy said Koven and Florence SO. MANY. TIMES! No, please, there's absolutely no need to repeat the name of the person you're talking about (or to) that much, it's just extremely annoying.
The courtroom scene was especially unrealistic, it just didn't feel believable even for fiction. Like, please, I know it's a book, but make it at least a biiiit realistic. 😑😑😑
The tone wanted to be “dark,” but instead it felt forced. The characters’ emotions and actions often contradicted what we were told about them. 😑
Also, I couldn't care less about any of the MCs.
That said, I'm still grateful for the ARC opportunity! Thank you to Ab. Cynthe!
2⭐
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me at all. The writing style felt repetitive and over-explained, with the characters constantly saying each other’s names. Please, I wanted to off myself after the damn prologue. 😫 Ziggy said Koven and Florence SO. MANY. TIMES! No, please, there's absolutely no need to repeat the name of the person you're talking about (or to) that much, it's just extremely annoying.
The courtroom scene was especially unrealistic, it just didn't feel believable even for fiction. Like, please, I know it's a book, but make it at least a biiiit realistic. 😑😑😑
The tone wanted to be “dark,” but instead it felt forced. The characters’ emotions and actions often contradicted what we were told about them. 😑
Also, I couldn't care less about any of the MCs.
That said, I'm still grateful for the ARC opportunity! Thank you to Ab. Cynthe!
October 11, 2025
3.5 stars
October 31, 2025
4.5 ⭐ ARC review
I have read a few arcs from the Wellard Asylum series and when I say this is the most F*CKED one I have read so far!!
the way my jaw dropped, I had several of that "did I just read what I think I just read" moments!
I was absolutely shocked!!
Yet somehow I was still rooting for the MMC and FMC! and I would be lying if that didn't make me question myself a time or two.
this is a very fast paced, VERY DARK AND TWISTED Romeo and Juliet vibe book!
You experience it ALL in Sour!
The pain of parent loss, abuse, SA, trauma bonding, mental health, murder and so so much more. This book has me sucked in within the first two pages. I would also like to say that this is the first book I have read by this author and I am SPEECHLESS!!!!
I have read a few arcs from the Wellard Asylum series and when I say this is the most F*CKED one I have read so far!!
the way my jaw dropped, I had several of that "did I just read what I think I just read" moments!
I was absolutely shocked!!
Yet somehow I was still rooting for the MMC and FMC! and I would be lying if that didn't make me question myself a time or two.
this is a very fast paced, VERY DARK AND TWISTED Romeo and Juliet vibe book!
You experience it ALL in Sour!
The pain of parent loss, abuse, SA, trauma bonding, mental health, murder and so so much more. This book has me sucked in within the first two pages. I would also like to say that this is the first book I have read by this author and I am SPEECHLESS!!!!
April 27, 2026
Tropes:
- Step Siblings
- Taboo
- Asylum
- Obsession
- Graphic Horror
Gagged. Both in a good and 🤢 way, which I think is exactly what AB was going for. I love me a good horrormance and this was so up there! Totallu gruesome, totally insane, totally perfect.
The MMC Ziggy is completely deranged and obsessed with his step sister Koven, while she wants to stay as far away from him as possible. He will do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to get back to her and make her his. Dedication at its finest or craziest. Either way, this is a MUST read if you love absolutely feral and wtf books.
- Step Siblings
- Taboo
- Asylum
- Obsession
- Graphic Horror
Gagged. Both in a good and 🤢 way, which I think is exactly what AB was going for. I love me a good horrormance and this was so up there! Totallu gruesome, totally insane, totally perfect.
The MMC Ziggy is completely deranged and obsessed with his step sister Koven, while she wants to stay as far away from him as possible. He will do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to get back to her and make her his. Dedication at its finest or craziest. Either way, this is a MUST read if you love absolutely feral and wtf books.
October 11, 2025
"𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲."
📘Sour by Ab. CYNTHE
|| @ab.cynthe
Damn. This one is dark dark. It’s giving Romeo and Juliet but make it step-siblings, locked in an asylum, and completely unhinged.
"𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗱."
Ziggy (aka Happy) isn’t just obsessed he’s absolutely feral about Korvin. He literally makes sure he gets admitted into Wellard Asylum just to be with her. If you think about it… it’s actually kind of romantic? You know, in a deranged, soul-devouring way. I also like yellow skittles so those red flags are turning into little hearts.
Korvin (skittles) is the kind of quiet that makes you uneasy. She’s soft-spoken, but there’s something fractured behind her eyes, like she knows too much about pain and learned to live with it. She can definitely hold her own jn a verbal sparring. She doesn’t chase light. She doesn’t crave rescue. Just silence. She wants to move on from her past but ZIggy wont let her.
Johnny Cutter makes an appearance, Happy’s only real friend. They’re like two sides of the same cursed coin, flipping through the halls of Wellard and leaving a trail of ruin behind them.
Let’s not forget Dream, haunting, ethereal, the girl who knows everything but carries the heaviest kind of brokenness. She floats through the story like a ghost wrapped in flavorless bubble gum, and NGL I’m absolutely obsessed with her.
Cyns writing for Sour isn’t gentle , oh no no no it’s a blade wrapped in poetry. Every line cuts deep, every emotion feels raw and reckless. This story hums with obsession, pain, and something almost tender buried beneath the madness.
Wellard Asylum has always been dark, and twisted but Sour... It’s pitch black and I couldn’t look away.
Also… Cyn, what did you do to me?!
Schmoocums .. and the [redacted] for a [redacted] CYN come on.... I’ll forever be haunted. Forever. Like, WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?! Cyn, I love you, but also… WTF 😅😅😅
"𝙄𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙮𝙡𝙪𝙢. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧."
🔹️ASYLUM SETTING
🔹️TABOO
🔹️FCKED up ROMEO & JULIET RETELLING
🔹️BISEXUAL FMC
🔹️SKIN CREATIONS
🔹️OBSESSION/REVENGE
🔹️TORTURE/UNALIVING
🔹️CNC
🔹️DOCTOR/PATIENT & PATIENT/PATIENT
🔹️TOUCH HER & 💀
📘Sour by Ab. CYNTHE
|| @ab.cynthe
Damn. This one is dark dark. It’s giving Romeo and Juliet but make it step-siblings, locked in an asylum, and completely unhinged.
"𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗱."
Ziggy (aka Happy) isn’t just obsessed he’s absolutely feral about Korvin. He literally makes sure he gets admitted into Wellard Asylum just to be with her. If you think about it… it’s actually kind of romantic? You know, in a deranged, soul-devouring way. I also like yellow skittles so those red flags are turning into little hearts.
Korvin (skittles) is the kind of quiet that makes you uneasy. She’s soft-spoken, but there’s something fractured behind her eyes, like she knows too much about pain and learned to live with it. She can definitely hold her own jn a verbal sparring. She doesn’t chase light. She doesn’t crave rescue. Just silence. She wants to move on from her past but ZIggy wont let her.
Johnny Cutter makes an appearance, Happy’s only real friend. They’re like two sides of the same cursed coin, flipping through the halls of Wellard and leaving a trail of ruin behind them.
Let’s not forget Dream, haunting, ethereal, the girl who knows everything but carries the heaviest kind of brokenness. She floats through the story like a ghost wrapped in flavorless bubble gum, and NGL I’m absolutely obsessed with her.
Cyns writing for Sour isn’t gentle , oh no no no it’s a blade wrapped in poetry. Every line cuts deep, every emotion feels raw and reckless. This story hums with obsession, pain, and something almost tender buried beneath the madness.
Wellard Asylum has always been dark, and twisted but Sour... It’s pitch black and I couldn’t look away.
Also… Cyn, what did you do to me?!
Schmoocums .. and the [redacted] for a [redacted] CYN come on.... I’ll forever be haunted. Forever. Like, WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?! Cyn, I love you, but also… WTF 😅😅😅
"𝙄𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙮𝙡𝙪𝙢. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧."
🔹️ASYLUM SETTING
🔹️TABOO
🔹️FCKED up ROMEO & JULIET RETELLING
🔹️BISEXUAL FMC
🔹️SKIN CREATIONS
🔹️OBSESSION/REVENGE
🔹️TORTURE/UNALIVING
🔹️CNC
🔹️DOCTOR/PATIENT & PATIENT/PATIENT
🔹️TOUCH HER & 💀
October 21, 2025
This story was just perfect for the setting of the asylum. Ziggy our MMC is completely crazy and I was totally here for it, can beat an unhinged MMC who when your think has crossed the line just keep strutting straight on past it! Koven seem like a sane misunderstood FMC who doesn't really fit in the asylum, but there is darkness with her just waiting to come out.
The lengths Ziggy goes to, to get to Koven in Wellard are insane!! He is the walking advertisement of someone that should be sent there, and he gets his wish, much to Koven's dismay. His obsession and depravity know no bounds and the amount of times I read a bit and thought WTF, well I lost count. When you find out their backstory and how they got into this particular situation you really feel for them both, having such a horrible life before, they asylum doesn't seem so bad in some ways.
Loved the added twist in the story with the Dr and getting to see Johnny from Maison De Fous and Slay all the Way was great, he definitely added even more fun to the story in the couple of scenes he was in. The ending was just how it should have been, although wasn't sure it was going to happen and felt so sad for Ziggy, until the final twist was revealed. Loved this story and now want to read even more from this shared world.
The lengths Ziggy goes to, to get to Koven in Wellard are insane!! He is the walking advertisement of someone that should be sent there, and he gets his wish, much to Koven's dismay. His obsession and depravity know no bounds and the amount of times I read a bit and thought WTF, well I lost count. When you find out their backstory and how they got into this particular situation you really feel for them both, having such a horrible life before, they asylum doesn't seem so bad in some ways.
Loved the added twist in the story with the Dr and getting to see Johnny from Maison De Fous and Slay all the Way was great, he definitely added even more fun to the story in the couple of scenes he was in. The ending was just how it should have been, although wasn't sure it was going to happen and felt so sad for Ziggy, until the final twist was revealed. Loved this story and now want to read even more from this shared world.
January 17, 2026
Iniciamos con el Joker y Harlie Queen y terminamos con Romeo y Julieta.
Básicamente Ziggie tenía una obsesión con Koven, no porque la amara realmente(recordando que a cualquiera él ocupaba como peón en sus juegos) sino porque era la única persona que le demostró cariño durante tantos años, conocido como el síndrome de Lima ...
• Obsesión.
• Aferramiento.
• Idealización.
• Dependencia Emocional.
Este libro tenía tantas emociones escritas, tanto dolor y sufrimiento, sobre todo en la historia de la protagonista, la locura de Ziggie que arrastraba a Koven a hacer todo lo que el quería, me lleva a pensar que en el fondo... él nunca fue mejor que sus abusadores, él era el peor de todos!!!
[Pensar que yo le había tenido lástima jajaja]
Ese giro con la Doctora, me olia a que había gato encerrado, pero nunca pensé que fuera por esa razón!!
Dream...le agarre cariño a ese personaje, sobre todo porque estaba media loquita jajaja!!😂 lástima que Ziggie la ocupará para su propio beneficio, pero ya sabíamos que eso no iba a terminar bien y que todo era una mentira.
El final...pues no hay mucho que decir, más que una pena por la vida de Koven, pero al menos ya no va a seguir sufriendo.
"Desde un Inicio estaban escritos sus finales"
Básicamente Ziggie tenía una obsesión con Koven, no porque la amara realmente(recordando que a cualquiera él ocupaba como peón en sus juegos) sino porque era la única persona que le demostró cariño durante tantos años, conocido como el síndrome de Lima ...
• Obsesión.
• Aferramiento.
• Idealización.
• Dependencia Emocional.
Este libro tenía tantas emociones escritas, tanto dolor y sufrimiento, sobre todo en la historia de la protagonista, la locura de Ziggie que arrastraba a Koven a hacer todo lo que el quería, me lleva a pensar que en el fondo... él nunca fue mejor que sus abusadores, él era el peor de todos!!!
[Pensar que yo le había tenido lástima jajaja]
Ese giro con la Doctora, me olia a que había gato encerrado, pero nunca pensé que fuera por esa razón!!
Dream...le agarre cariño a ese personaje, sobre todo porque estaba media loquita jajaja!!😂 lástima que Ziggie la ocupará para su propio beneficio, pero ya sabíamos que eso no iba a terminar bien y que todo era una mentira.
El final...pues no hay mucho que decir, más que una pena por la vida de Koven, pero al menos ya no va a seguir sufriendo.
"Desde un Inicio estaban escritos sus finales"
October 15, 2025
Ziggy is worse than Malachi Vize, by a lot. Be prepared. I don't have limits when reading but Ziggy made me recoil a bit. But I kept reading and wanting more.
Don't read this expecting a wholesome step sibling romance. It is fucked up and toxic, but worth the read. It is a dark, psychotic sort of love, a perfect show of how toxic and dangerous obsession can be.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of the Wellard Asylum books. @ab.cynthe did amazing. The end had my mind on a roller coaster.
Trigger Warnings:
-Sexual/Physical/Mental abuse
-Abusive relationship
-Alcoholism
-Anxiety/Depression
-Asphyxiation
-Assault
-Asylum
-Attemtped murder/rxpe/suicide
-Betrayal
-🩸
-Biting
-Bodily fluids
-Bullying
-Cancer
-Cannibalism
-Choking
-CNC
-Corruption
-Cruelty
-Cyanide
-Death
-Death of a parent
-Dismemberment
-Drugs/Drug use/Drugging
-Electroshock
-NO HEA
-Flaying of human flesh
-Genital mutilation
-Gore
-Labotomy
-Poison/Poisoning
-Rxpe
-Sewing of human flesh
-Sodomy
-Suicide
-Taboo (Step-Siblings)
Quotes:
"What flavor are you today, Skittles?"
"I always liked the way your pain tasted. Too bad it didn't end that night."
Don't read this expecting a wholesome step sibling romance. It is fucked up and toxic, but worth the read. It is a dark, psychotic sort of love, a perfect show of how toxic and dangerous obsession can be.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of the Wellard Asylum books. @ab.cynthe did amazing. The end had my mind on a roller coaster.
Trigger Warnings:
-Sexual/Physical/Mental abuse
-Abusive relationship
-Alcoholism
-Anxiety/Depression
-Asphyxiation
-Assault
-Asylum
-Attemtped murder/rxpe/suicide
-Betrayal
-🩸
-Biting
-Bodily fluids
-Bullying
-Cancer
-Cannibalism
-Choking
-CNC
-Corruption
-Cruelty
-Cyanide
-Death
-Death of a parent
-Dismemberment
-Drugs/Drug use/Drugging
-Electroshock
-NO HEA
-Flaying of human flesh
-Genital mutilation
-Gore
-Labotomy
-Poison/Poisoning
-Rxpe
-Sewing of human flesh
-Sodomy
-Suicide
-Taboo (Step-Siblings)
Quotes:
"What flavor are you today, Skittles?"
"I always liked the way your pain tasted. Too bad it didn't end that night."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
This whole series got me addicted!
This was soo good and that ending just absolute perfection! I loved every page of it and I cannot wait to read the others, every author had brought these books so perfectly to live!
The characters here were just perfect! The stepsiblings trope really made it even better and I love how the characters were with each other, they went through alot together and the things hed go for to fix the mistake he made and to keep his promise, it was addictive.
This book has tropes as mental asylum, evil doctors, step siblings, she’s mine, obsession and theres bothing he wouldn’t do to get her!
This is the first book ive read from this author and I’m definitely going to look at the other books she wrote bc I LOVE her writing style!
I definitely recommend reading this book and series its my favorite series of this year so far!
This was soo good and that ending just absolute perfection! I loved every page of it and I cannot wait to read the others, every author had brought these books so perfectly to live!
The characters here were just perfect! The stepsiblings trope really made it even better and I love how the characters were with each other, they went through alot together and the things hed go for to fix the mistake he made and to keep his promise, it was addictive.
This book has tropes as mental asylum, evil doctors, step siblings, she’s mine, obsession and theres bothing he wouldn’t do to get her!
This is the first book ive read from this author and I’m definitely going to look at the other books she wrote bc I LOVE her writing style!
I definitely recommend reading this book and series its my favorite series of this year so far!
October 16, 2025
"𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗, 𝙺𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚗. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚎. 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛."
Blood Lust by Ab. Cynthe is one of my favorites and to find out that the author wrote a story to this brilliant shared universe I have already fell in love with was the happiest moment ever!
The dedication was chef's kiss! I absolutely loved Ziggy's character and all the glimpses to his and Koven's past. Their nicknames were so sweet, Happy and Skittles.
The doctor wasn't my favorite character but otherwise it was a great read I highly recommend reading to lover of dark books! The ending definitely left me speechless.
Taboo (Step Siblings)
Patient x Doctor
Patient x Patient
Bisexual FMC
Obsessive MMC
Trauma Bonds
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC opportunity!
Blood Lust by Ab. Cynthe is one of my favorites and to find out that the author wrote a story to this brilliant shared universe I have already fell in love with was the happiest moment ever!
The dedication was chef's kiss! I absolutely loved Ziggy's character and all the glimpses to his and Koven's past. Their nicknames were so sweet, Happy and Skittles.
The doctor wasn't my favorite character but otherwise it was a great read I highly recommend reading to lover of dark books! The ending definitely left me speechless.
Taboo (Step Siblings)
Patient x Doctor
Patient x Patient
Bisexual FMC
Obsessive MMC
Trauma Bonds
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC opportunity!
October 12, 2025
okok so first off! Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read! This was a wonderful book and I truly loved Ziggy and how unhinged he was. And before reading PLEASE read the trigger warnings. This was a hard read for me personally but I read the triggers and I know my limit so I read through it.
Now I'm giving this 3 stars because:
- The courtroom scene was unrealistic and pulled me out of the story
- The paragraphs occasionally felt too long
- Sometimes it was hard to tell who was talking
- Name usage was too much.
- Flashbacks caught me off guard and confused me. I'm used to flashbacks having a date or being italicized
Other than that, I loved how this was told. Ziggy was scarily dependent and obsessed with Koven. And Koven was broken beyond repair. Both characters were told beautifully and I couldn't help but feel bad for them both.
Now I'm giving this 3 stars because:
- The courtroom scene was unrealistic and pulled me out of the story
- The paragraphs occasionally felt too long
- Sometimes it was hard to tell who was talking
- Name usage was too much.
- Flashbacks caught me off guard and confused me. I'm used to flashbacks having a date or being italicized
Other than that, I loved how this was told. Ziggy was scarily dependent and obsessed with Koven. And Koven was broken beyond repair. Both characters were told beautifully and I couldn't help but feel bad for them both.
October 11, 2025
Obsessed psychosis
If that wasn't some unhinged trauma. This was short, sweet, to the point and a whole lot of twisted. The connection of prior characters coming into play was a nice bit here at this point of the Asylum series. Is Ziggy extremely unstable? Absolutely. What more can you ask for in the ultimate search for love? Did Koven deserve her peaceful end? Not in the way you were expecting. This one definitely hits some important asylum aspects, but not quite enough to satisfy me personally; but it does Give you some character background and resolves their story. Albeit, maybe not the way you might want it to, but it is a clean ending. Triggers are pretty obvious in this one, so check them if you have any before reading.
If that wasn't some unhinged trauma. This was short, sweet, to the point and a whole lot of twisted. The connection of prior characters coming into play was a nice bit here at this point of the Asylum series. Is Ziggy extremely unstable? Absolutely. What more can you ask for in the ultimate search for love? Did Koven deserve her peaceful end? Not in the way you were expecting. This one definitely hits some important asylum aspects, but not quite enough to satisfy me personally; but it does Give you some character background and resolves their story. Albeit, maybe not the way you might want it to, but it is a clean ending. Triggers are pretty obvious in this one, so check them if you have any before reading.
October 21, 2025
ARC Review
We continue down the absolutely unhinged path of the Wellard Asylum to Sour which is just that, UNHINGED! Sour is a messed up Romeo and Juliet retelling that is pitch black, gory, and spicy! Koven finds herself thrown into the Wellard Asylum, and Ziggy, our obsessed/possessive MMC, finds a way to be with her in there too. But there's no HEA here folks! AB Cynthe's writing is so twisted and leaves you thinking what the F did I just read?! Her plot twist make your head spin! She packs so much in a novella and her characters are written so well!! That ending had my jaw dropping! This book was heavy so please be sure to read the trigger warnings!
We continue down the absolutely unhinged path of the Wellard Asylum to Sour which is just that, UNHINGED! Sour is a messed up Romeo and Juliet retelling that is pitch black, gory, and spicy! Koven finds herself thrown into the Wellard Asylum, and Ziggy, our obsessed/possessive MMC, finds a way to be with her in there too. But there's no HEA here folks! AB Cynthe's writing is so twisted and leaves you thinking what the F did I just read?! Her plot twist make your head spin! She packs so much in a novella and her characters are written so well!! That ending had my jaw dropping! This book was heavy so please be sure to read the trigger warnings!
October 10, 2025
5⭐️/4🔥
And THAT is how you make someone cringe!
Sour is book #9 in the Wellard Asylum shared world series and Ab. Cynthe took me on a whole journey that made my eyes bug out and soothed the hunger for depravity in the pit of my black soul. Bravo! Ziggy and Koven's step-sibling story did NOT go as I thought it would and I was thrilled about it. No HEAs here, but in a way, it also was. Say what you want about it, this is the kind of story that keeps me coming back for more! Wellard Asylum is the pit of darkness and I'm delightfully lost in it. 😏🖤
And THAT is how you make someone cringe!
Sour is book #9 in the Wellard Asylum shared world series and Ab. Cynthe took me on a whole journey that made my eyes bug out and soothed the hunger for depravity in the pit of my black soul. Bravo! Ziggy and Koven's step-sibling story did NOT go as I thought it would and I was thrilled about it. No HEAs here, but in a way, it also was. Say what you want about it, this is the kind of story that keeps me coming back for more! Wellard Asylum is the pit of darkness and I'm delightfully lost in it. 😏🖤
October 14, 2025
I received a copy in return for my honest review.
Another FANTASTIC read in the Wellard Asylum series! I love the toxic, twisted love between Koven and Ziggy, and the interaction between Johnny and Ziggy was AMAZING and much needed! Ziggy is definitely my new psychotic book boyfriend 🤣 I loved everything about this book and the ending absolutely shattered me!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Another FANTASTIC read in the Wellard Asylum series! I love the toxic, twisted love between Koven and Ziggy, and the interaction between Johnny and Ziggy was AMAZING and much needed! Ziggy is definitely my new psychotic book boyfriend 🤣 I loved everything about this book and the ending absolutely shattered me!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
October 14, 2025
Holy trauma bond ! And one hell of an unhinged , unstable MMC. I love me some Ziggy. Normally a Romeo and Juliet retelling makes me cringe, but this disturbing twist, had me in a chokehold. I love a good asylum setting, I love gore, and I loveeeee taboo so this really just did it for me! Incredible work!!!
October 22, 2025
4.25⭐️
I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!
I freaking love a taboo romance🤭🤭 step siblings??? count me in!!!! and dark and unhinged???? freaking yessss
their love was totally destructive and deep in madness!!!!
omg that end!!!! why??????😭😭😭 I am still not over it!😭😭😭
look at this dedication 🤭🤭:
••
𝓣𝓸 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓹𝓼𝔂𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓼 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓫𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓬 𝓽𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷… 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓹𝓲𝓮𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓝𝓸𝔀, 𝓽𝓻𝔂 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓪𝓰 𝓪𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭, 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓷𝓸 𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓼, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓽. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼.
••
quotes:
••
𝕺𝖍, 𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖘𝖚𝖆𝖑 𝖆𝖑𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙. 𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖆𝖑𝖘𝖔 𝖇𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑. 𝕬𝖓𝖉 𝖘𝖔 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉. 𝕴 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝖒𝖞 𝖋𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉’𝖛𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖊𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕴 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖕𝖉𝖆𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖈𝖔𝖗𝖕𝖘𝖊.
••
“𝓝𝓸, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓶𝓮. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮.”
“𝓞𝓱? 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮. 𝓣𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮, 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝓯𝓵𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂? 𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂? 𝓖𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓮?”
“𝓞𝓱, 𝓵𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷. 𝓜𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮.”
••
“𝖄𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖇𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖍𝖆𝖘 𝖆𝖑𝖜𝖆𝖞𝖘 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖘𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖆 𝖇𝖊𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖎𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖗𝖊𝖉.”
“𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊. 𝕹𝖔𝖜, 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙’𝖘 𝖆 𝖘𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖊. 𝕴 𝖆𝖑𝖜𝖆𝖞𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖞 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖕𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉. 𝕿𝖔𝖔 𝖇𝖆𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖉𝖎𝖉𝖓’𝖙 𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙.”
••
tropes:
☆🍁erotic horror
☆🍁extreme horror
☆🍁taboo romance
☆🍁sick romance
☆🍁step siblings
☆🍁possessive mmc
☆🍁manipulation
☆🍁cnc
I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!
I freaking love a taboo romance🤭🤭 step siblings??? count me in!!!! and dark and unhinged???? freaking yessss
their love was totally destructive and deep in madness!!!!
omg that end!!!! why??????😭😭😭 I am still not over it!😭😭😭
look at this dedication 🤭🤭:
••
𝓣𝓸 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓹𝓼𝔂𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓼 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓫𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓬 𝓽𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷… 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓹𝓲𝓮𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓝𝓸𝔀, 𝓽𝓻𝔂 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓪𝓰 𝓪𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭, 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓷𝓸 𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓼, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓽. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼.
••
quotes:
••
𝕺𝖍, 𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖘𝖚𝖆𝖑 𝖆𝖑𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙. 𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖆𝖑𝖘𝖔 𝖇𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖆𝖑. 𝕬𝖓𝖉 𝖘𝖔 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉. 𝕴 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝖒𝖞 𝖋𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉’𝖛𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖊𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕴 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖕𝖉𝖆𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖈𝖔𝖗𝖕𝖘𝖊.
••
“𝓝𝓸, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓶𝓮. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮.”
“𝓞𝓱? 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮. 𝓣𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮, 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝓯𝓵𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂? 𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂? 𝓖𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓮?”
“𝓞𝓱, 𝓵𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷. 𝓜𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮.”
••
“𝖄𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖇𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖍𝖆𝖘 𝖆𝖑𝖜𝖆𝖞𝖘 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖘𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖆 𝖇𝖊𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖎𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖗𝖊𝖉.”
“𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊. 𝕹𝖔𝖜, 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙’𝖘 𝖆 𝖘𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖊. 𝕴 𝖆𝖑𝖜𝖆𝖞𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖞 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖕𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉. 𝕿𝖔𝖔 𝖇𝖆𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖉𝖎𝖉𝖓’𝖙 𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙.”
••
tropes:
☆🍁erotic horror
☆🍁extreme horror
☆🍁taboo romance
☆🍁sick romance
☆🍁step siblings
☆🍁possessive mmc
☆🍁manipulation
☆🍁cnc
October 11, 2025
I’ve been dismantled and left staring at a wall.
Well done, as always.
Well done, as always.
October 19, 2025
Good storyline,
Short book but it keept me going,
after this book I downloaded the serie!
Short book but it keept me going,
after this book I downloaded the serie!
April 21, 2026
ziggy is INSANE. what these two went through had me going nuts 😭
October 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC REVIEW
This isn’t a romance—it’s erotic horror at its finest. Dark, violent, and hauntingly beautiful. A story that explores the toxicity of love and the madness it breeds.
Koven finds herself locked inside Wellard Asylum after one horrific night, while her stepbrother, Ziggy, will do anything to get in—determined to prove his love and loyalty. What unfolds within those walls is twisted, shocking, and unforgettable.
If you crave darkness wrapped in desire, this one’s for you. 🌑
ARC REVIEW
This isn’t a romance—it’s erotic horror at its finest. Dark, violent, and hauntingly beautiful. A story that explores the toxicity of love and the madness it breeds.
Koven finds herself locked inside Wellard Asylum after one horrific night, while her stepbrother, Ziggy, will do anything to get in—determined to prove his love and loyalty. What unfolds within those walls is twisted, shocking, and unforgettable.
If you crave darkness wrapped in desire, this one’s for you. 🌑
October 19, 2025
His father graped his stepsister, so he shot him, cut his dick off, and proceeded to put it in his mouth and LICK it while saying, “Mmm. I can taste you on his skin still.”
HIS FATHER’S DICK. I’m out.
HIS FATHER’S DICK. I’m out.
November 6, 2025
ARC Review
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5
Okay think Romeo & Juliet, but step siblings and instead of Verona it takes place in a super f*cked up asylum lol and they like have this love to hate each other relationship…and kill people 😂 was some of the story a bit outlandish? Yes, but was it a dark thrilling time? Also yes! So if all that sounds up your alley give this spicy novella a read, it’s also included in a shared world series with other author books taking place at Wellard Asylum!
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5
Okay think Romeo & Juliet, but step siblings and instead of Verona it takes place in a super f*cked up asylum lol and they like have this love to hate each other relationship…and kill people 😂 was some of the story a bit outlandish? Yes, but was it a dark thrilling time? Also yes! So if all that sounds up your alley give this spicy novella a read, it’s also included in a shared world series with other author books taking place at Wellard Asylum!
January 27, 2026
This was my first Wellard Asylum book and it did not disappoint! I was hooked from the very beginning. I haven't disliked a character in a long long time but the MMC is not redeemable. I enjoyed being in his head, but he was badddddd. Now our FMC Koven, omg did I feel for her. She went through so much and just wanted to move on and have as normal of a life that she could after all of the tragedy that happened. and lastly, my favorite is poor Dream. I'm not spoiling it so just read it, BUT CHECK TRIGGERS. This is a heavyyyy book, but also one of my favorites. AB created and detailed the asylum and patients so well, I felt like I was walking in the halls with these characters. This story, and series, lives rent free in my head.
May 4, 2026
Sour — A.B. Cynthe
Okay… I tried. I really did. And I think it’s time I accept that me and A.B. Cynthe have a complicated relationship.
Blood Lust? Obsessed.
Baked? Actually criminal how much I hated it took me a month to read like 100 pages.
Mean One? Survived it for Max.
And now this…
I hated Koven. I’m not even going to sugarcoat it. This girl made me irrationally angry. Every decision she made felt like watching someone walk straight into a fire and then act surprised they’re burning. No survival instinct, no backbone, just… frustration in human form.
Ziggy though? Yeah. That’s my problem.
Because he is not a good man. Not even close. But he’s written in a way that makes you feel for him anyway. He finds out what his father is doing to her and he acts. He saves her. He chooses her. And from that moment on, his entire existence just… locks onto her.
Not love in a soft, romantic way.
More like: “If you’re not here, nothing matters.”
And that’s exactly what this book is—
not romance, not really.
It’s obsession.
It’s dependency.
It’s two completely broken people clinging to each other like they’re the only thing keeping the world from collapsing.
The asylum setting? Brutal.
Wellard isn’t treatment—it’s control, manipulation, and stripping people down until there’s nothing left of them. And Koven falls right into that. The doctor gets into her head, twists everything, convinces her Ziggy is the problem… and she believes it.
That’s where the book lost me.
Because Ziggy—chaotic, obsessive, completely unhinged Ziggy—was still fighting for them. Planning. Trying to get them out. And Koven? She turns on him. Cuffs him to a wall and leaves him behind like he meant nothing.
I have never wanted to reach into a book and shake a character more.
And yet… the ending?
Twisted. Fitting. Almost poetic in a really messed up way.
Very much giving Romeo and Juliet, but stripped of anything soft and replaced with something darker and heavier.
This book isn’t about healing.
It’s about what happens when trauma becomes your entire identity… and the only person who understands it is just as broken as you are.
Would I recommend it? Honestly… no.
Did it make me feel something? Unfortunately, yes.
Final thoughts:
- Ziggy carried this entire book on his back
- Dream and Johnny deserved better (lowkey would’ve preferred Johnny and Ziggy over everything else)
- Koven tested my patience in ways I didn’t know were possible
It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s not meant to be pretty.
And maybe that’s the point.
Okay… I tried. I really did. And I think it’s time I accept that me and A.B. Cynthe have a complicated relationship.
Blood Lust? Obsessed.
Baked? Actually criminal how much I hated it took me a month to read like 100 pages.
Mean One? Survived it for Max.
And now this…
I hated Koven. I’m not even going to sugarcoat it. This girl made me irrationally angry. Every decision she made felt like watching someone walk straight into a fire and then act surprised they’re burning. No survival instinct, no backbone, just… frustration in human form.
Ziggy though? Yeah. That’s my problem.
Because he is not a good man. Not even close. But he’s written in a way that makes you feel for him anyway. He finds out what his father is doing to her and he acts. He saves her. He chooses her. And from that moment on, his entire existence just… locks onto her.
Not love in a soft, romantic way.
More like: “If you’re not here, nothing matters.”
And that’s exactly what this book is—
not romance, not really.
It’s obsession.
It’s dependency.
It’s two completely broken people clinging to each other like they’re the only thing keeping the world from collapsing.
The asylum setting? Brutal.
Wellard isn’t treatment—it’s control, manipulation, and stripping people down until there’s nothing left of them. And Koven falls right into that. The doctor gets into her head, twists everything, convinces her Ziggy is the problem… and she believes it.
That’s where the book lost me.
Because Ziggy—chaotic, obsessive, completely unhinged Ziggy—was still fighting for them. Planning. Trying to get them out. And Koven? She turns on him. Cuffs him to a wall and leaves him behind like he meant nothing.
I have never wanted to reach into a book and shake a character more.
And yet… the ending?
Twisted. Fitting. Almost poetic in a really messed up way.
Very much giving Romeo and Juliet, but stripped of anything soft and replaced with something darker and heavier.
This book isn’t about healing.
It’s about what happens when trauma becomes your entire identity… and the only person who understands it is just as broken as you are.
Would I recommend it? Honestly… no.
Did it make me feel something? Unfortunately, yes.
Final thoughts:
- Ziggy carried this entire book on his back
- Dream and Johnny deserved better (lowkey would’ve preferred Johnny and Ziggy over everything else)
- Koven tested my patience in ways I didn’t know were possible
It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s not meant to be pretty.
And maybe that’s the point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
I'm slowly working my way through Wellard Asylum and this was my most recent experience. And yes, each book is like an experience.
I honestly had a completely different scenario in my head...aka a step-sibling/ forbidden love scenario where both siblings have an "us against the world" mentality. But this story surprised me. It was so much more complex than that and I feel what I can only describe as gratitude for getting a different perspective 😅.
I also loved how this book not only tied into the shared world of the series but how it, in particular, tied in with characters from Atrocity. You don't have to read ANY of the other books to enjoy this but it sure made things more interesting and allowed for a quick revisit to another storyline from a different POV.
Ziggy, aka Happy, is the MMC. He's definitely deranged and seemingly going nowhere in life, other than to hell but is one of those paradoxes in nature because he always seems to have resources and gets his way. I liked his obsessiveness but at the same time, I totally see why Koven aka Skittles turned SOUR towards him.
So speaking of Skittles...I really liked her. Not so much personality-wise but her way of thinking. She came off as a woman scorned. I mean if your gonna promise the woman you'll die together...ya better deliver on that promise the first time around. Men are just so fickle.
There weren't a ton of spicy scenes but I feel like what was delivered was balanced. We had lots of character development with the aid of flashbacks and I tend to prefer character development above all else.
I can't wait to continue on with this series but I kinda wish we'd get a spinoff story about Dream. I loved that side character and would definitely be interested in more from her.
Wellard Asylum shared world series
Forbidden love - step siblings
Toxic relationship
Bisexual FMC - FF scene/ dr x patient
Childhood trauma
CNC and non-con
Psychotic MMC
Stalker MMC
Possessive AF MMC
Organ harvesting
Electroshock therapy
Darkness level 🌒
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I honestly had a completely different scenario in my head...aka a step-sibling/ forbidden love scenario where both siblings have an "us against the world" mentality. But this story surprised me. It was so much more complex than that and I feel what I can only describe as gratitude for getting a different perspective 😅.
I also loved how this book not only tied into the shared world of the series but how it, in particular, tied in with characters from Atrocity. You don't have to read ANY of the other books to enjoy this but it sure made things more interesting and allowed for a quick revisit to another storyline from a different POV.
Ziggy, aka Happy, is the MMC. He's definitely deranged and seemingly going nowhere in life, other than to hell but is one of those paradoxes in nature because he always seems to have resources and gets his way. I liked his obsessiveness but at the same time, I totally see why Koven aka Skittles turned SOUR towards him.
So speaking of Skittles...I really liked her. Not so much personality-wise but her way of thinking. She came off as a woman scorned. I mean if your gonna promise the woman you'll die together...ya better deliver on that promise the first time around. Men are just so fickle.
There weren't a ton of spicy scenes but I feel like what was delivered was balanced. We had lots of character development with the aid of flashbacks and I tend to prefer character development above all else.
I can't wait to continue on with this series but I kinda wish we'd get a spinoff story about Dream. I loved that side character and would definitely be interested in more from her.
Wellard Asylum shared world series
Forbidden love - step siblings
Toxic relationship
Bisexual FMC - FF scene/ dr x patient
Childhood trauma
CNC and non-con
Psychotic MMC
Stalker MMC
Possessive AF MMC
Organ harvesting
Electroshock therapy
Darkness level 🌒
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️
May 17, 2026
One thing I really liked about Sour by Ab. Cynthe was how completely chaotic and emotionally intense the story felt from the very beginning. The book throws you straight into a dark, disturbing atmosphere inside Wellard Asylum, and it honestly felt like a mix of horror and romance all at once. Ziggy and Koven’s relationship was obsessive, toxic, heartbreaking, and impossible to look away from. Their connection carried so much pain, guilt, and desperation that every scene between them felt heavy and emotional.
What stood out the most to me was how dark and unhinged the story became. Ziggy is the definition of obsessive, and even though some of his actions were terrifying and completely unhealthy, I still found myself invested in his feelings for Koven. Koven also felt emotionally broken in a really believable way because of everything she went through. The asylum setting made the story feel even more disturbing, especially with all the manipulation, trauma, and violence happening around them. The author did a really good job creating tension that constantly made me uncomfortable but also kept me hooked.
I also liked how fast-paced the book was. Even though it’s a shorter read, it packed in a lot of emotion, horror, twists, and shocking moments. There were scenes that genuinely made me stop and think “what did I just read?” because the story goes very far into dark romance and erotic horror themes. The ending especially hit hard emotionally and left me thinking about the characters long after I finished reading. A lot of readers describe it as a twisted Romeo and Juliet type of story, and I honestly agree with that.
At the same time, this is definitely not a book for everyone. It contains extremely dark content, taboo themes, gore, obsession, trauma, and toxic relationships, so the trigger warnings are really important before reading. But if someone enjoys a very dark romance mixed with horror, morally grey characters, and emotionally destructive relationships, then Sour is the kind of book that completely pulls you into its madness.
Overall, I thought the book was disturbing, addictive, emotional, and honestly unforgettable. It made me uncomfortable at times, but it also kept me emotionally invested the entire way through because I needed to know how everything between Ziggy and Koven would end.
What stood out the most to me was how dark and unhinged the story became. Ziggy is the definition of obsessive, and even though some of his actions were terrifying and completely unhealthy, I still found myself invested in his feelings for Koven. Koven also felt emotionally broken in a really believable way because of everything she went through. The asylum setting made the story feel even more disturbing, especially with all the manipulation, trauma, and violence happening around them. The author did a really good job creating tension that constantly made me uncomfortable but also kept me hooked.
I also liked how fast-paced the book was. Even though it’s a shorter read, it packed in a lot of emotion, horror, twists, and shocking moments. There were scenes that genuinely made me stop and think “what did I just read?” because the story goes very far into dark romance and erotic horror themes. The ending especially hit hard emotionally and left me thinking about the characters long after I finished reading. A lot of readers describe it as a twisted Romeo and Juliet type of story, and I honestly agree with that.
At the same time, this is definitely not a book for everyone. It contains extremely dark content, taboo themes, gore, obsession, trauma, and toxic relationships, so the trigger warnings are really important before reading. But if someone enjoys a very dark romance mixed with horror, morally grey characters, and emotionally destructive relationships, then Sour is the kind of book that completely pulls you into its madness.
Overall, I thought the book was disturbing, addictive, emotional, and honestly unforgettable. It made me uncomfortable at times, but it also kept me emotionally invested the entire way through because I needed to know how everything between Ziggy and Koven would end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2025
“Wellard Astlum was a forgotten shithole meant to house the clinically insane, but overtime it also became the dumping ground for people like myself. People with no place left in this fucked world.”
Ziggy
“Wellard Astlum was a forgotten shithole meant to house the clinically insane, but overtime it also became the dumping ground for people like myself. People with no place left in this fucked world.”
Koven
She was marked as insane and shipped off to Wellard. After her stepbrother left her to die alone on the cold ground she decided he was no longer worth her time or affection. She was happy to be away from him even if it meant she was on a grippy sock vacation. Until that day, he wasn’t supposed to be there, he was supposed to be locked up in jail.
Ziggy
He could not bare to be away from her. She was his world and she held his heart. He wouldn’t let anyone or anything stand between them. It didn’t matter how many people he had to eliminate if it meant she was back in his arms. Even if pleading guilty by insanity was his only option that’s what he would do. He made her a promise to always be together forever.
“I fucked up once, but I’ll never make that same mistake again. You might not want me now, but I’ll never stop wanting you. You’re mine. You just have to accept it. I’m never fucking giving you up, Koven.”
I really enjoyed this book. I personally love an unhinged MMC so Ziggy was perfect and to add in a Johnny cameo 😊. This book is filled with unhinge psycho behavior and I was here for it, as long as it’s in a fiction world! I love dream and the relationship she has between the two step siblings. I enjoyed the closure we got at the end.
This was my first book by AB Cynthe but I’m definitely adding more of her books to my TBR!.
Ziggy
“Wellard Astlum was a forgotten shithole meant to house the clinically insane, but overtime it also became the dumping ground for people like myself. People with no place left in this fucked world.”
Koven
She was marked as insane and shipped off to Wellard. After her stepbrother left her to die alone on the cold ground she decided he was no longer worth her time or affection. She was happy to be away from him even if it meant she was on a grippy sock vacation. Until that day, he wasn’t supposed to be there, he was supposed to be locked up in jail.
Ziggy
He could not bare to be away from her. She was his world and she held his heart. He wouldn’t let anyone or anything stand between them. It didn’t matter how many people he had to eliminate if it meant she was back in his arms. Even if pleading guilty by insanity was his only option that’s what he would do. He made her a promise to always be together forever.
“I fucked up once, but I’ll never make that same mistake again. You might not want me now, but I’ll never stop wanting you. You’re mine. You just have to accept it. I’m never fucking giving you up, Koven.”
I really enjoyed this book. I personally love an unhinged MMC so Ziggy was perfect and to add in a Johnny cameo 😊. This book is filled with unhinge psycho behavior and I was here for it, as long as it’s in a fiction world! I love dream and the relationship she has between the two step siblings. I enjoyed the closure we got at the end.
This was my first book by AB Cynthe but I’m definitely adding more of her books to my TBR!.
October 16, 2025
🙂💊Sour💊🙂
✍🏼: @ab.cynthe
(ARC)
📍Ratings
4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️
4🖤
📍ARC Review
What did I just read?
You may be wondering, but don't worry, I'm wondering the same thing.
Did I enjoy it? Of course I did. Everything I've read by this author is worth reading.
There’s no denying that there isn't a single one of her books that doesn't play with your mind as you read. Her books are dark, twisted, and with plot twists that leave you speechless. If there's one thing I like when I read, it's feeling what the author writes, and AB. Cynthe is perfect for getting my heart rate up, whether it's a really dark part or a spicy scene.
Whenever I read one of her books, I can't put them down. They're my personal obsession, and I'm not just talking about the characters😏 Am I rambling a bit? Of course I am, but that ending blew my mind and I need to get it all out.
Let me leave you with this, which was on my mind a lot while I was reading. Is the villain really the villain if his story is told with half-truths to benefit others but not him? Is the hero really the hero when he hurts everyone around him for his benefit ?
And the most important question...
📍Do I recommend it?
Without a doubt, this should already be on your TBR, bestie.
But one thing I want to make clear is that you should always read the warnings so you know what to expect while reading. It's not a light book; it's a dark book for my girls who are already into dark romance and want to find a deeper touch of darkness.
So, without further ado, if you're looking for a dark taboo novella that will make you question whether your taste for red flags is correct, this is definitely the book for you.
Now, don't forget to order your copy of “Sour,” and when you do, come back and tell me about it.
✍🏼: @ab.cynthe
(ARC)
📍Ratings
4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️
4🖤
📍ARC Review
What did I just read?
You may be wondering, but don't worry, I'm wondering the same thing.
Did I enjoy it? Of course I did. Everything I've read by this author is worth reading.
There’s no denying that there isn't a single one of her books that doesn't play with your mind as you read. Her books are dark, twisted, and with plot twists that leave you speechless. If there's one thing I like when I read, it's feeling what the author writes, and AB. Cynthe is perfect for getting my heart rate up, whether it's a really dark part or a spicy scene.
Whenever I read one of her books, I can't put them down. They're my personal obsession, and I'm not just talking about the characters😏 Am I rambling a bit? Of course I am, but that ending blew my mind and I need to get it all out.
Let me leave you with this, which was on my mind a lot while I was reading. Is the villain really the villain if his story is told with half-truths to benefit others but not him? Is the hero really the hero when he hurts everyone around him for his benefit ?
And the most important question...
📍Do I recommend it?
Without a doubt, this should already be on your TBR, bestie.
But one thing I want to make clear is that you should always read the warnings so you know what to expect while reading. It's not a light book; it's a dark book for my girls who are already into dark romance and want to find a deeper touch of darkness.
So, without further ado, if you're looking for a dark taboo novella that will make you question whether your taste for red flags is correct, this is definitely the book for you.
Now, don't forget to order your copy of “Sour,” and when you do, come back and tell me about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews