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Bitterbloom
For fans of Hannah Whitten and Ava Reid comes a thrilling new fantasy by the author of Spit Back the Bones.
Once a fool. Twice a thief.
In a village plagued by mysterious deaths, Adelaide Thorn wonders if she is truly touched by the Devil. The villagers believe her to be the monster responsible for all the tragedies. Even her father, the vicar, presumes she’s guilty, tying her to a chair as punishment, afraid that if he cuts her loose, more girls will wind up dead. Her chronic illness causes her to have strange visions and blackouts, and even Addie herself begins to wonder if she is the one with blood on her hands.
Addie feels drawn to the Rowan Wood on the outskirts of her village, and when she wades out into the river to get closer, she cuts her foot on a strange bell nestled in the riverbed. Ransom Black, a lordling with secrets of his own, helps her stanch the bleeding and speaks to her without any indication of fear.
Back at home, Addie rings the bell and realizes it gives her the power to see the ghosts of those the village has lost, including the ghost of Bram Avery, who begs for her help. Bram tells her that the bell—a Reaper’s Bell—can open the door to the Rowan Wood, a hellish purgatory where the souls of the dead reside.
Accompanied by Bram and Ransom, Addie ventures into the Rowan Wood with hopes of rescuing her late mother. There, Addie quickly realizes that their beloved might not be who they once were. Addie’s journey to find her mother’s soul is complicated by her attraction to Ransom and her unexpected feelings for Bram, who might be more dead than alive but sees Addie in a way no one has before.
As the three make their way deeper into the Wood, each motivated by their own desperate desires, trust turns to betrayal and flawless facades begin to flicker. It may be that the ones Addie has so longed to reunite are those who have been lying to her her entire life.
Once a fool. Twice a thief.
In a village plagued by mysterious deaths, Adelaide Thorn wonders if she is truly touched by the Devil. The villagers believe her to be the monster responsible for all the tragedies. Even her father, the vicar, presumes she’s guilty, tying her to a chair as punishment, afraid that if he cuts her loose, more girls will wind up dead. Her chronic illness causes her to have strange visions and blackouts, and even Addie herself begins to wonder if she is the one with blood on her hands.
Addie feels drawn to the Rowan Wood on the outskirts of her village, and when she wades out into the river to get closer, she cuts her foot on a strange bell nestled in the riverbed. Ransom Black, a lordling with secrets of his own, helps her stanch the bleeding and speaks to her without any indication of fear.
Back at home, Addie rings the bell and realizes it gives her the power to see the ghosts of those the village has lost, including the ghost of Bram Avery, who begs for her help. Bram tells her that the bell—a Reaper’s Bell—can open the door to the Rowan Wood, a hellish purgatory where the souls of the dead reside.
Accompanied by Bram and Ransom, Addie ventures into the Rowan Wood with hopes of rescuing her late mother. There, Addie quickly realizes that their beloved might not be who they once were. Addie’s journey to find her mother’s soul is complicated by her attraction to Ransom and her unexpected feelings for Bram, who might be more dead than alive but sees Addie in a way no one has before.
As the three make their way deeper into the Wood, each motivated by their own desperate desires, trust turns to betrayal and flawless facades begin to flicker. It may be that the ones Addie has so longed to reunite are those who have been lying to her her entire life.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
About the author
Teagan Olivia King
8 books141 followersTeagan Olivia King(she/her) is an adult author living on the sandy shores of Lake Huron, passionate about writing stories of women who are stronger than they know. Teagan graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Creative Writing and used that to pursue her love of Shakespeare, acting and directing in her local theatre, and studying the art of dramaturgy. Short stories of Teagan’s can be found in anthologies from Phantom House Press, Quill and Crow Publishing, Shortwave Publishing, Black Spot Books, and Eerie River Publishing.
Having been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and PTSD for most of her life, Teagan is passionate about telling stories of resilience. Stories of characters who discover the power of their own emotions, and use that power to overcome.
Teagan lives in a farmhouse on a dead-end road with her rescue pup, Remus and a black cat who may or may not harbor the soul of some-long dead deity. Her debut adult horror novel, SPIT BACK THE BONES, comes out September 23rd, 2025.
Teagan is represented by Amy Giuffrida
Having been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and PTSD for most of her life, Teagan is passionate about telling stories of resilience. Stories of characters who discover the power of their own emotions, and use that power to overcome.
Teagan lives in a farmhouse on a dead-end road with her rescue pup, Remus and a black cat who may or may not harbor the soul of some-long dead deity. Her debut adult horror novel, SPIT BACK THE BONES, comes out September 23rd, 2025.
Teagan is represented by Amy Giuffrida
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March 13, 2026Books like this make me unironically wonder if publishing houses these days think editors are for decoration, they keep printing books like this so terribly unedited it's almost comical.
[Mini-review for my Quarterly roundup to come soon.]
[Mini-review for my Quarterly roundup to come soon.]
September 1, 2025
This little book of my heart comes out in one year!!
December 4, 2025
1.25 ⭐️
I made it to 55% before deciding to DNF, and even that took effort. Bitterbloom is a book with an intriguing premise of ghosts, curses, a mysterious bell, a girl caught between fear and fate, but the execution never really found its footing.
The biggest struggle I had was the writing itself. It aimed for lyrical and atmospheric, but it consistently crossed into overwrought and confusing. Nearly every page is crowded with dense metaphors, sensory descriptions, and elaborate turns of phrase that rarely clarified anything. Instead of building tension or mood, the language often obscured meaning and disrupted the flow. Moments that should’ve felt eerie or emotional were buried beneath imagery that didn’t quite align with the scene or simply didn’t make sense to me.
Character work was equally difficult. The protagonist spent most of the first half reacting to terror, collapsing, trembling, or narrating her internal misery. Repetitive fear responses made the story feel stuck. By the halfway point, I still didn’t feel connected to her or her cause.
On the worldbuilding side, there were some compelling ideas… ghosts, fractured religious tradition, a weird bell with a backstory. But these ideas never developed into a coherent system, at least at the point I made it to. The lack of internal logic at points made it difficult to immerse myself or understand how this world operates.
Ultimately, Bitterbloom felt more like a series of dramatic images than a developing plot. The pacing was extremely slow and the atmosphere became repetitive. While the author’s ambition is clear and the overall concept had a lot of promise, the execution didn’t work for me, and I wasn’t confident the second half would shift the experience in any meaningful way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing for the ARC.
I made it to 55% before deciding to DNF, and even that took effort. Bitterbloom is a book with an intriguing premise of ghosts, curses, a mysterious bell, a girl caught between fear and fate, but the execution never really found its footing.
The biggest struggle I had was the writing itself. It aimed for lyrical and atmospheric, but it consistently crossed into overwrought and confusing. Nearly every page is crowded with dense metaphors, sensory descriptions, and elaborate turns of phrase that rarely clarified anything. Instead of building tension or mood, the language often obscured meaning and disrupted the flow. Moments that should’ve felt eerie or emotional were buried beneath imagery that didn’t quite align with the scene or simply didn’t make sense to me.
Character work was equally difficult. The protagonist spent most of the first half reacting to terror, collapsing, trembling, or narrating her internal misery. Repetitive fear responses made the story feel stuck. By the halfway point, I still didn’t feel connected to her or her cause.
On the worldbuilding side, there were some compelling ideas… ghosts, fractured religious tradition, a weird bell with a backstory. But these ideas never developed into a coherent system, at least at the point I made it to. The lack of internal logic at points made it difficult to immerse myself or understand how this world operates.
Ultimately, Bitterbloom felt more like a series of dramatic images than a developing plot. The pacing was extremely slow and the atmosphere became repetitive. While the author’s ambition is clear and the overall concept had a lot of promise, the execution didn’t work for me, and I wasn’t confident the second half would shift the experience in any meaningful way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing for the ARC.
December 16, 2025
hanks to Keylight Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of Bitterbloom by Teagan Olivia King, to be published on March 10th, 2026.
This is a kind of gothic paranormal book, especially for those who love mystery mixed with the dark side of fantasy. I'd recommend this book to those who have enjoyed the works of Rachel Gillig, Keri Lake, or Camilla Bruce.
I found it good, but my expectations were high for this book, since the premise was really compelling for me.
This is a kind of gothic paranormal book, especially for those who love mystery mixed with the dark side of fantasy. I'd recommend this book to those who have enjoyed the works of Rachel Gillig, Keri Lake, or Camilla Bruce.
I found it good, but my expectations were high for this book, since the premise was really compelling for me.
January 13, 2026
Adelaide Thorn is believed to be cursed by a god, mysterious deaths are stalking her village. Her father believes her to be involved, and lets her out of the house only when necessary, for safety. Hers or other people’s, she’s not sure. She herself starts to wonder if she’s really innocent after all.
She can see monsters. For years the images of them haunted her. Until she comes into possession of a bell, the Reaper’s bell. That’s when she discovers what she’s seeing is actually souls. And that with the bell, she has the power to bring people back to life.
Then we have a young lord, Ransom Black. He wants one thing: his mother back from the dead. And he’s not the only one, Adelaide wants the same for herself, as hers died too.
And finally, there’s Bram Avery, a childhood friend of hers. He died ten years prior to the events of this book and pays a visit to Addie because he wants to be brought back with her help.
They all essentially take a quick trip to a (scary) forest called the Rowan Wood, which leads down to purgatory. To figure out if they can indeed bring back people’s souls to life. Insane, right? It’s all very spooky. With all the creatures that live there and all.
Let’s start with the romance. I don’t necessarily know if I’m one for love triangles, I’ll be honest. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. This time I was simply more invested in the plot. I liked the FMC, the other two were just okay for me.
That is what really makes this book, the plot. SO intricate. You can’t trust anyone. My complaint here is just one: the twists were definitely twisting but I can’t say I’m completely satisfied with the ending. Hence my rating. But I really liked the writing, eerie but not too lyrical, and weirdly beautiful to read. Plus, the book went by very fast. Granted, it’s a shot book to begin with.
There are heavy topics in this book, so maybe look up trigger warnings. There’s a lot of abuse going on from our main character’s father. He changed drastically since his wife died, and is pretty much taking it out on his daughter. Apart from his abusive remarks, he’s also said to have beaten her, and (like I mentioned before) locked her in a room and only let her out only occasionally. And she’s not the only one experiencing this kind of abuse. Those bits are hard to get through at times. I would add that there’s a spice scene, which could be a trigger for some.
I would recommend this book for the horror/fantasy-ish elements, not necessarily the romance(s). I will be reading more of this author’s work. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She can see monsters. For years the images of them haunted her. Until she comes into possession of a bell, the Reaper’s bell. That’s when she discovers what she’s seeing is actually souls. And that with the bell, she has the power to bring people back to life.
Then we have a young lord, Ransom Black. He wants one thing: his mother back from the dead. And he’s not the only one, Adelaide wants the same for herself, as hers died too.
And finally, there’s Bram Avery, a childhood friend of hers. He died ten years prior to the events of this book and pays a visit to Addie because he wants to be brought back with her help.
They all essentially take a quick trip to a (scary) forest called the Rowan Wood, which leads down to purgatory. To figure out if they can indeed bring back people’s souls to life. Insane, right? It’s all very spooky. With all the creatures that live there and all.
Let’s start with the romance. I don’t necessarily know if I’m one for love triangles, I’ll be honest. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. This time I was simply more invested in the plot. I liked the FMC, the other two were just okay for me.
That is what really makes this book, the plot. SO intricate. You can’t trust anyone. My complaint here is just one: the twists were definitely twisting but I can’t say I’m completely satisfied with the ending. Hence my rating. But I really liked the writing, eerie but not too lyrical, and weirdly beautiful to read. Plus, the book went by very fast. Granted, it’s a shot book to begin with.
There are heavy topics in this book, so maybe look up trigger warnings. There’s a lot of abuse going on from our main character’s father. He changed drastically since his wife died, and is pretty much taking it out on his daughter. Apart from his abusive remarks, he’s also said to have beaten her, and (like I mentioned before) locked her in a room and only let her out only occasionally. And she’s not the only one experiencing this kind of abuse. Those bits are hard to get through at times. I would add that there’s a spice scene, which could be a trigger for some.
I would recommend this book for the horror/fantasy-ish elements, not necessarily the romance(s). I will be reading more of this author’s work. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2025
A dark gothic fantasy with the setting of One Dark Window and the prose of Ava Reid, Bitterbloom has a strong, immersive atmosphere, but leaves a lot to be desired in its plot and clarity.
In a village shaken by a series of mysterious deaths, Adelaide Thorn, haunted by unexplained blackouts and unearthly visions, becomes the prime suspect. With even her own father turning against her and locking her away, Addie starts to doubt her innocence. When she finds a strange bell embedded in the river, she finally understands the truth behind her visions: they aren’t hallucinations, but glimpses of the village’s ghosts in purgatory, desperate for rest. Striking deals with the ghost of her childhood friend Bram Avery and the mysterious young lord Ransom Black, she uses the bell to travel into the Rowan Wood, determined to bring back the dead they each mourn. What she doesn’t know is that each man has his own secret motives, and before her journey ends, masks will crack and the truth will come to light.
This was… interesting. I finished it with very mixed feelings. For every compliment I can offer, there is a negative to match. Starting with the prose, it is undeniably strong and carries that ethereal, gothic tone I love in dark fantasy. The book is steeped in a blend of religious and grotesque imagery that is very compelling and immersive. Yet the prose also has a feverish, hazy quality that leaves a sort of sheen over every description; I could only picture an abstract of what the author described, never anything in clear detail. I couldn’t tell if that was a deliberate stylistic choice, but regardless, while it may appeal to other readers, it left me feeling detached rather than grounded in the story the way I prefer.
The plot, setting, and characters were a bit inconsistent, full of strengths and weaknesses. Addie is an intriguing, troubled heroine who is easy to root for. The world-building drew me in, and once the story picks up after the bell’s discovery, I was eager to see how everything would unfold and what twists the author had planned. In particular, once the characters arrive in the Rowan Wood, the setting and immersion are crazy good. The hellish landscape was haunted and otherworldly in a way I’ve never seen in a book before, with its nightmare-like descriptions, gory monsters, and tormented ghosts. But these strengths are offset by nonsensical twists, start-and-stop pacing, and unresolved plot lines (this is a standalone). There was always something keeping me engaged, but just as often something else undermining that enjoyment.
The romance(s) in particular were a major weak spot. There seems to be a love triangle, but it’s played out so half-heartedly that, again, I’m not sure if it was intentional. Regardless, neither love interest is fully developed, and both have a severe case of insta-love. With both Ransom and Bram, Addie is instantly overwhelmed by heart-fluttering reactions and thoughts about how good their touch feels, despite barely knowing them. Her interactions with Bram were fleeting and over a decade ago, and she meets Ransom the same day she finds the bell. It felt like several steps were missing, or as if a prior relationship existed off-page that the reader never sees. Both dynamics could have been drastically improved with more backstory or simply more build-up before Addie becomes “irresistibly drawn” to them. As it stands now, they all act overly familiar despite having never interacted, leaving me confused and unconvinced by their relationship.
While this is a sub-genre I typically love, this was a bit hit or miss, with some amazing, unique aspects, while also being undeveloped in other areas. A lot of elements reminded me of works by Ava Reid, C.G. Drews, and Adalyn Grace, and I hope fans of those authors give this a try. Overall, it left me impressed in some moments and frustrated in others, a reading experience that never quite settled into what I hoped it would be.
Thank you to NetGalley, Turner Publishing Company, and Keylight Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In a village shaken by a series of mysterious deaths, Adelaide Thorn, haunted by unexplained blackouts and unearthly visions, becomes the prime suspect. With even her own father turning against her and locking her away, Addie starts to doubt her innocence. When she finds a strange bell embedded in the river, she finally understands the truth behind her visions: they aren’t hallucinations, but glimpses of the village’s ghosts in purgatory, desperate for rest. Striking deals with the ghost of her childhood friend Bram Avery and the mysterious young lord Ransom Black, she uses the bell to travel into the Rowan Wood, determined to bring back the dead they each mourn. What she doesn’t know is that each man has his own secret motives, and before her journey ends, masks will crack and the truth will come to light.
This was… interesting. I finished it with very mixed feelings. For every compliment I can offer, there is a negative to match. Starting with the prose, it is undeniably strong and carries that ethereal, gothic tone I love in dark fantasy. The book is steeped in a blend of religious and grotesque imagery that is very compelling and immersive. Yet the prose also has a feverish, hazy quality that leaves a sort of sheen over every description; I could only picture an abstract of what the author described, never anything in clear detail. I couldn’t tell if that was a deliberate stylistic choice, but regardless, while it may appeal to other readers, it left me feeling detached rather than grounded in the story the way I prefer.
The plot, setting, and characters were a bit inconsistent, full of strengths and weaknesses. Addie is an intriguing, troubled heroine who is easy to root for. The world-building drew me in, and once the story picks up after the bell’s discovery, I was eager to see how everything would unfold and what twists the author had planned. In particular, once the characters arrive in the Rowan Wood, the setting and immersion are crazy good. The hellish landscape was haunted and otherworldly in a way I’ve never seen in a book before, with its nightmare-like descriptions, gory monsters, and tormented ghosts. But these strengths are offset by nonsensical twists, start-and-stop pacing, and unresolved plot lines (this is a standalone). There was always something keeping me engaged, but just as often something else undermining that enjoyment.
The romance(s) in particular were a major weak spot. There seems to be a love triangle, but it’s played out so half-heartedly that, again, I’m not sure if it was intentional. Regardless, neither love interest is fully developed, and both have a severe case of insta-love. With both Ransom and Bram, Addie is instantly overwhelmed by heart-fluttering reactions and thoughts about how good their touch feels, despite barely knowing them. Her interactions with Bram were fleeting and over a decade ago, and she meets Ransom the same day she finds the bell. It felt like several steps were missing, or as if a prior relationship existed off-page that the reader never sees. Both dynamics could have been drastically improved with more backstory or simply more build-up before Addie becomes “irresistibly drawn” to them. As it stands now, they all act overly familiar despite having never interacted, leaving me confused and unconvinced by their relationship.
While this is a sub-genre I typically love, this was a bit hit or miss, with some amazing, unique aspects, while also being undeveloped in other areas. A lot of elements reminded me of works by Ava Reid, C.G. Drews, and Adalyn Grace, and I hope fans of those authors give this a try. Overall, it left me impressed in some moments and frustrated in others, a reading experience that never quite settled into what I hoped it would be.
Thank you to NetGalley, Turner Publishing Company, and Keylight Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2025
I like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher allowing me an early read.
Hey. Any book that has Death personified has me needing a copy. And any time I read an ARC, especially one that doesn't hit me the right way (over 3 stars) I think "glad I didn't waste my money".
This book is one of those where the flowery prose and the repeating of things over and over in a single chapter ruined what could be an easy tale to understand. It shouldn't have to be that I wait until the villain's swan song that I understand what is happening. I still don't quite understand how characters once dead come back to their bodies for a second chance at life. I still don't understand that we hear about these two gods often that we never exactly meet them.
The romance was all over the place, and by the end of the book, the guy she ends up with... yeah, don't see it. Nobody had any chemistry.
I liked the hell-hound.
But yeah, this book was a chore of a read.
Hey. Any book that has Death personified has me needing a copy. And any time I read an ARC, especially one that doesn't hit me the right way (over 3 stars) I think "glad I didn't waste my money".
This book is one of those where the flowery prose and the repeating of things over and over in a single chapter ruined what could be an easy tale to understand. It shouldn't have to be that I wait until the villain's swan song that I understand what is happening. I still don't quite understand how characters once dead come back to their bodies for a second chance at life. I still don't understand that we hear about these two gods often that we never exactly meet them.
The romance was all over the place, and by the end of the book, the guy she ends up with... yeah, don't see it. Nobody had any chemistry.
I liked the hell-hound.
But yeah, this book was a chore of a read.
March 17, 2026
The story is a hauntingly fantasy romantic dark story. It’s a story that the read would need to adjust to the darker side of romance I feel. The book is rather slow I thought. The plot motives appear to be not clear enough for the reader I think. I feel the book will need to revised again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Did Not Finish
January 6, 2026Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy
Unfortunately this book was for me and yet the writing wasn't, if that makes sense. I love the prose, but it gets too flowery for me. So that is why I am dnfing.
However I hope to see more stories like this one in the future, and I hope one of them will be for me.
Unfortunately this book was for me and yet the writing wasn't, if that makes sense. I love the prose, but it gets too flowery for me. So that is why I am dnfing.
However I hope to see more stories like this one in the future, and I hope one of them will be for me.
November 25, 2025
I would recommend this book to fans of Ava Reid and CG Drews, haunting, lyrical writing that reads like poetry with the bleakness of a foggy day. A story soaked in blood, religious beliefs and dark magic. I am always a fan of flowery, descriptive writing. Here, I have to wonder if the author is trying to plant hints or suggestions with the characters emotions and the way some feelings are portrayed because I didn’t always understand the sudden tension or unease that the character experiences. It sort of makes me feel like i am missing something, however i did love this book amidst some of the confusing phrases. I think I understand it now, as Adelaide lives in a constant state of fear and tension, these feelings were carried throughout the book. The seed of her anxiety was planted on the first page, and grew and grew and grew. The entire story kept me nervous for what would happen on the following page, like we were never safe at any point. I did struggle with some of the descriptions as it was full of so much language that it was almost hazy. An adjective less in every sentence would have kept the haunting vibe without feeling too dressed up.
Near the 150 page mark things started to go down a totally different path than what i was expecting- pleasantly! This story totally surprised me and I believe the plot was very well thought out, however I would have liked to read more progression in the plot, especially at the end. It wrapped up very quickly with no questions asked, which always irks me a bit. I had a million questions about the religion of the village, Brams’ family ect. I am not one to guess plot twists and i did not guess this one. The ending was very beautiful, full of emotion and rounded up so well. I may have shed a few tears, which is easy for me to do, but completely a reflection of the tragically beautiful storyline. Adelaide was a wonderful main character.
The romance was interesting. I initially did not feel the attraction to Bram, I felt their introduction was a bit rushed and slightly confusing, and I feel a lot of the time Adelaide still had Ransom on her mind despite having only just met both of them.
I have tried to avoid talking about the actual plot in this review because i do think it is best to go in with as little information as possible - that is what i prefer while reading, so I do not like to outline the story in my reviews - it is too easy for me to completely spoil it for others. I loved the characters of this book and i will definitely be reading more of Teagans writing in the future, for I absolutely favoured the gothic writing style. I really really liked this however felt it was undercooked in some parts.
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
Near the 150 page mark things started to go down a totally different path than what i was expecting- pleasantly! This story totally surprised me and I believe the plot was very well thought out, however I would have liked to read more progression in the plot, especially at the end. It wrapped up very quickly with no questions asked, which always irks me a bit. I had a million questions about the religion of the village, Brams’ family ect. I am not one to guess plot twists and i did not guess this one. The ending was very beautiful, full of emotion and rounded up so well. I may have shed a few tears, which is easy for me to do, but completely a reflection of the tragically beautiful storyline. Adelaide was a wonderful main character.
The romance was interesting. I initially did not feel the attraction to Bram, I felt their introduction was a bit rushed and slightly confusing, and I feel a lot of the time Adelaide still had Ransom on her mind despite having only just met both of them.
I have tried to avoid talking about the actual plot in this review because i do think it is best to go in with as little information as possible - that is what i prefer while reading, so I do not like to outline the story in my reviews - it is too easy for me to completely spoil it for others. I loved the characters of this book and i will definitely be reading more of Teagans writing in the future, for I absolutely favoured the gothic writing style. I really really liked this however felt it was undercooked in some parts.
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
March 13, 2026
2.5⭐️ Rounded-Up.
🫀 Horror-Romantasy
🤍 Life and Death
🫀 Religious Trauma
🤍 Gothic Vibes
🫀 Atmospheric
Oh, how I wanted to love this...
The villagers of Rixton shun Addie after accusations that she is connected to a string of unfortunate deaths. She suffers from blackouts and strange visions which have her questioning her own perceptions of reality. One day she discovers a mysterious bell in the Riverbed that allows her to communicate with the ghosts of the villagers, striking bargains and eventually venturing to the land of the dead.
The first 30% or so of this book is... confusing. The worldbuilding is intertwined with Addie's (FMC) strange blackouts and hallucinations. I found that we are given a lot of information right out of the gate; however, it took me a while to piece together the details. I felt intrigued by this overbearing religion-obsessed cult-like village and our mad-woman FMC which led me to continue the book; despite some initial setbacks.
The middle is where—IMO—this book shines. A Gothic Manor and summoning by a lord, adventures into the realm of the dead, ghostly bargains and suspense. Things start coming together and the story becomes interesting.
Unfortunately, that momentum falls short again in what reads to me as a very convoluted ending. I can't even grasp what exactly happened at the end of this book because of the jumps in scenes and the OH BUT THEN THIS HAPPENED type occurrences. It was simply *too much*.
Overall, outside of a weird ghost-fucking scene? This book honestly seems like it would be better suited for YA categorization: with a young woman protagonist who is determined to find her mom and reunite her family. It reads like YA, the plot has a lot of coming-of-age and YA vibes, and the spice could be omitted altogether without changing anything. The characters in the romance aspect of this book didn't have chemistry, and are only brought together by being thrust into circumstances that they didn't ask for.
There were some great bones in this book. I loved the balance of horror and fantasy. It is a quick, immersive, and atmospheric read. However, after finishing I am asking myself: "What the heck just happened?"—and not in a good way.
Thank you to Netgalley and Turner Publishing for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
🫀 Horror-Romantasy
🤍 Life and Death
🫀 Religious Trauma
🤍 Gothic Vibes
🫀 Atmospheric
Oh, how I wanted to love this...
The villagers of Rixton shun Addie after accusations that she is connected to a string of unfortunate deaths. She suffers from blackouts and strange visions which have her questioning her own perceptions of reality. One day she discovers a mysterious bell in the Riverbed that allows her to communicate with the ghosts of the villagers, striking bargains and eventually venturing to the land of the dead.
The first 30% or so of this book is... confusing. The worldbuilding is intertwined with Addie's (FMC) strange blackouts and hallucinations. I found that we are given a lot of information right out of the gate; however, it took me a while to piece together the details. I felt intrigued by this overbearing religion-obsessed cult-like village and our mad-woman FMC which led me to continue the book; despite some initial setbacks.
The middle is where—IMO—this book shines. A Gothic Manor and summoning by a lord, adventures into the realm of the dead, ghostly bargains and suspense. Things start coming together and the story becomes interesting.
Unfortunately, that momentum falls short again in what reads to me as a very convoluted ending. I can't even grasp what exactly happened at the end of this book because of the jumps in scenes and the OH BUT THEN THIS HAPPENED type occurrences. It was simply *too much*.
Overall,
There were some great bones in this book. I loved the balance of horror and fantasy. It is a quick, immersive, and atmospheric read. However, after finishing I am asking myself: "What the heck just happened?"—and not in a good way.
Thank you to Netgalley and Turner Publishing for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
Did Not Finish
April 15, 2026DNF at 14%. I’m just not enjoying what I've read so far, so moving on to something else!
December 7, 2025
First of all thanks so much to the folks at Netgalley for this ARC!
3.5 stars. I typically love gothic fantasy, so I’m a bit disappointed that I feel so mixed about this book. It’s by no means bad. There were parts of it that I found super compelling, but at the same time some plot points and certain character dynamics just left me baffled.
Things I liked
The author does a wonderful job of describing the rich settings where the story unfolds. The first third takes place in the little religious town of Rixton, while the second half takes place in the adjacent woods, which were (to me) reminiscent of the Silent Hill games; full of evil creatures, ghosts, and ever-present fog.
I liked how the world was presented as queer normative. That felt really fresh and interesting even though it only took up a relatively small portion of the story.
Rascal the hound. He was such a good boy, and I loved him. 🥰
Things I didn’t like
This book struggles with overusing adjectives and descriptive language. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of flowery writing when it’s done well, and I read a lot of gothic fiction where that’s the case, but here the author leans so heavily on description that it becomes distracting and slows the pacing. Many sentences pile multiple adjectives together, and the sheer number of similes and metaphors often left me confused about their intended meaning (ex: “Something between determination and fear… Like oil in a rain puddle,” “A sucked penny-scent,” or “I vomit laughter”). I could see what the author was going for, but the phrasing sometimes felt more decorative than meaningful. At times the writing was genuinely beautiful, but at others it pulled me out of the story because the comparisons felt either unclear or repetitive.
The romance (and the teased love triangle that never really goes anywhere) felt so rushed. I can’t explain it other than the foundation of both relationships felt super flimsy. Adelaide, our main character, *just* met Ransom maybe a day before the main events of the book and only knew about the other MMC, Bram, from years earlier, though they never actually interacted. They spend a couple days together, maybe a week at most, before the love interest and Adelaide are sleeping together and professing deep feelings for one another. I liked them as individual characters but the romance was not well fleshed out and never felt earned.
Things I felt mixed about
Ransom… he just really annoyed me. Bro was … I didn't really feel bad for him in the end, despite what his father had done to him. Which is such a shame because the first half of the book I felt like he was the character with the *most* personality.
I also wish religion played a bigger part in the story. It’s strange because the gods, the afterlife, and purgatory are explicitly and repeatedly referenced (hell the main character’s father is the vicar of the town and forced her to recite holy verses as punishment) but the religion just felt kind of hollow. The theology exists but we never really got to see how the townspeople practice, discuss, or emotionally engage with the religion. They just kind of existed in the background, throwing distrustful looks at the FMC.
3.5 stars. I typically love gothic fantasy, so I’m a bit disappointed that I feel so mixed about this book. It’s by no means bad. There were parts of it that I found super compelling, but at the same time some plot points and certain character dynamics just left me baffled.
Things I liked
The author does a wonderful job of describing the rich settings where the story unfolds. The first third takes place in the little religious town of Rixton, while the second half takes place in the adjacent woods, which were (to me) reminiscent of the Silent Hill games; full of evil creatures, ghosts, and ever-present fog.
I liked how the world was presented as queer normative. That felt really fresh and interesting even though it only took up a relatively small portion of the story.
Rascal the hound. He was such a good boy, and I loved him. 🥰
Things I didn’t like
This book struggles with overusing adjectives and descriptive language. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of flowery writing when it’s done well, and I read a lot of gothic fiction where that’s the case, but here the author leans so heavily on description that it becomes distracting and slows the pacing. Many sentences pile multiple adjectives together, and the sheer number of similes and metaphors often left me confused about their intended meaning (ex: “Something between determination and fear… Like oil in a rain puddle,” “A sucked penny-scent,” or “I vomit laughter”). I could see what the author was going for, but the phrasing sometimes felt more decorative than meaningful. At times the writing was genuinely beautiful, but at others it pulled me out of the story because the comparisons felt either unclear or repetitive.
The romance (and the teased love triangle that never really goes anywhere) felt so rushed. I can’t explain it other than the foundation of both relationships felt super flimsy. Adelaide, our main character, *just* met Ransom maybe a day before the main events of the book and only knew about the other MMC, Bram, from years earlier, though they never actually interacted. They spend a couple days together, maybe a week at most, before the love interest and Adelaide are sleeping together and professing deep feelings for one another. I liked them as individual characters but the romance was not well fleshed out and never felt earned.
Things I felt mixed about
Ransom… he just really annoyed me. Bro was … I didn't really feel bad for him in the end, despite what his father had done to him. Which is such a shame because the first half of the book I felt like he was the character with the *most* personality.
I also wish religion played a bigger part in the story. It’s strange because the gods, the afterlife, and purgatory are explicitly and repeatedly referenced (hell the main character’s father is the vicar of the town and forced her to recite holy verses as punishment) but the religion just felt kind of hollow. The theology exists but we never really got to see how the townspeople practice, discuss, or emotionally engage with the religion. They just kind of existed in the background, throwing distrustful looks at the FMC.
November 20, 2025
“Pain makes monsters of us all.”
Thank you to NetGalley, Teagan Olivia King and Turner Publishing for the E ARC.
Bitterbloom is exactly the kind of dark, gothic story I love. From the very first pages, the atmosphere pulled me in with its eerie forests, creeping shadows and the constant feeling that something is watching from just out of sight. The worldbuilding is wonderfully done and the setting feels alive in the most unsettling way. I also loved how moments of light and hope slowly pushed through the darkness. It created a beautiful balance that made the story feel even richer.
The characters were one of my favorite parts. Every single one, even the truly evil ones, felt layered and compelling. Adelaide’s emotional journey was especially interesting. Although her back and forth between Ransom and Bram moved a bit too quickly for my taste, I can see how it helped her understand who she really is and what she wants. Her growth by the end felt earned.
The romance with Ransom and a few of the twists felt slightly over the top, but overall everything still came together in a way that worked for me. The pacing stayed strong throughout and the last hundred pages were absolutely wild. I could not put the book down. Also, it had a very satisfying ending.
Bitterbloom delivered exactly what its premise promised. A dark, atmospheric, character driven story with a vivid world and a haunting charm that lingers long after the final page. I truly enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Teagan Olivia King and Turner Publishing for the E ARC.
Bitterbloom is exactly the kind of dark, gothic story I love. From the very first pages, the atmosphere pulled me in with its eerie forests, creeping shadows and the constant feeling that something is watching from just out of sight. The worldbuilding is wonderfully done and the setting feels alive in the most unsettling way. I also loved how moments of light and hope slowly pushed through the darkness. It created a beautiful balance that made the story feel even richer.
The characters were one of my favorite parts. Every single one, even the truly evil ones, felt layered and compelling. Adelaide’s emotional journey was especially interesting. Although her back and forth between Ransom and Bram moved a bit too quickly for my taste, I can see how it helped her understand who she really is and what she wants. Her growth by the end felt earned.
The romance with Ransom and a few of the twists felt slightly over the top, but overall everything still came together in a way that worked for me. The pacing stayed strong throughout and the last hundred pages were absolutely wild. I could not put the book down. Also, it had a very satisfying ending.
Bitterbloom delivered exactly what its premise promised. A dark, atmospheric, character driven story with a vivid world and a haunting charm that lingers long after the final page. I truly enjoyed it.
December 6, 2025
if you’re looking for a story that freezes your veins and pulls you straight into its atmosphere, you’ve picked the right book
Bitterbloom hooks the reader from the very beginning with its mysterious, dark tone. FMC is a young, isolated girl pulled into a web of danger, looming betrayal and a hint of something real?.. who should she trust? where does betrayal wait for her? or… could it be love?
I honestly wasn’t sure until the very end and it’s impressive that such a short tale kept me engaged all the way through
that said, a few of the FMC’s decisions felt a bit unbelievable. while story hints at romance, I felt only lust and tension than actual love
pacing is good overall, but there are moments where scenes felt slightly unclear or oddly written, making it harder to follow what exactly happened
still, the atmosphere is creepy and perfect for me. to deepen it, try reading it with the Ambient Essentials playlist, it blends beautifully with the mood of the story
Thank you to Turner Publishing Company and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy💘
Bitterbloom hooks the reader from the very beginning with its mysterious, dark tone. FMC is a young, isolated girl pulled into a web of danger, looming betrayal and a hint of something real?.. who should she trust? where does betrayal wait for her? or… could it be love?
I honestly wasn’t sure until the very end and it’s impressive that such a short tale kept me engaged all the way through
that said, a few of the FMC’s decisions felt a bit unbelievable. while story hints at romance, I felt only lust and tension than actual love
pacing is good overall, but there are moments where scenes felt slightly unclear or oddly written, making it harder to follow what exactly happened
still, the atmosphere is creepy and perfect for me. to deepen it, try reading it with the Ambient Essentials playlist, it blends beautifully with the mood of the story
Thank you to Turner Publishing Company and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy💘
March 18, 2026
One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read
November 8, 2025
Everyone in the village of Rixton believes that Adelaide Thorn has been cursed by a god. Her father, the vicar, keeps her locked away—only letting her out during funerals.
When Adelaide finds a bell that opens a portal to the underworld, she decides that it's time to seek out the truth. She's joined by Lord Ransom Black and a ghost, named Bram Avery. As the three push forward with their quest, they're challenged by love, family trauma, and death.
🔔Adult Fiction
🌼Gothic Fantasy Horror
���Underworld Journey
🔔Gloomy Small Village
🌼Family Trauma
🌿Love Triangle
🔔Open Door
'Bitterbloom' is an atmospheric gothic fantasy that features a dreary village, tormented characters, and a shadowy underworld. The setting feels like the Brothers Grimm mixed with ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’
Adelaide is a lonely character who’s been traumatized by her abusive father. She's struggling with a chronic illness that's ostracized her from the rest of the village. Those two things mean that she’s been trapped inside for most of her life. She thinks that she’s feisty, when in reality she’s naïve, a terrible planner, and a horrible judge of character.
The journey through the underworld was the most interesting part of this story. It was full of dead creatures, interesting plants, and betrayals. Once they start exploring, Ransom and Bram become more prominent parts of the plot.
The biggest problem with this book is that it could be a bit clunky, especially in the first half. Generally, I have a high tolerance for purple prose in gothic books because I see it so often. But it gets tiresome when information is needlessly stretched across three paragraphs.
This book might be of interest to fans of Adalyn Grace, Ava Reid, and Krystal Sutherland.
Thank you to NetGalley, Turner Publishing Company, and Keylight Books for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Adelaide finds a bell that opens a portal to the underworld, she decides that it's time to seek out the truth. She's joined by Lord Ransom Black and a ghost, named Bram Avery. As the three push forward with their quest, they're challenged by love, family trauma, and death.
🔔Adult Fiction
🌼Gothic Fantasy Horror
���Underworld Journey
🔔Gloomy Small Village
🌼Family Trauma
🌿Love Triangle
🔔Open Door
'Bitterbloom' is an atmospheric gothic fantasy that features a dreary village, tormented characters, and a shadowy underworld. The setting feels like the Brothers Grimm mixed with ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’
Adelaide is a lonely character who’s been traumatized by her abusive father. She's struggling with a chronic illness that's ostracized her from the rest of the village. Those two things mean that she’s been trapped inside for most of her life. She thinks that she’s feisty, when in reality she’s naïve, a terrible planner, and a horrible judge of character.
The journey through the underworld was the most interesting part of this story. It was full of dead creatures, interesting plants, and betrayals. Once they start exploring, Ransom and Bram become more prominent parts of the plot.
The biggest problem with this book is that it could be a bit clunky, especially in the first half. Generally, I have a high tolerance for purple prose in gothic books because I see it so often. But it gets tiresome when information is needlessly stretched across three paragraphs.
This book might be of interest to fans of Adalyn Grace, Ava Reid, and Krystal Sutherland.
Thank you to NetGalley, Turner Publishing Company, and Keylight Books for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2026
i was quite hyped up, but it turned out a lot was missing for me, personally I think there was a lot of "dragging the plot" moments, unnecessary descriptions which dragged the plot even more.
December 6, 2025
Bitterbloom is a book that starts slowly but once you are gripped it is so hard to put down. I haven’t felt this immersed in a book in a long long time. What’s so delightful and refreshing about Teagan’s writing is that her fantasy worlds are well built and lush while the characters themselves are so authentically grounded to reality. You feel so intimately connected to the genuine expression of humanity in the most unique imaginative worlds.
In this book, we have Addie who is a delightfully messy character navigating chronic illness, an oppressive father, and the judgement of a religious small town with so much grace and strength. She meets Ransom a lonesome lord in a rotting estate and they seek to go into this purgatory-like, in-between realm and bring back their dead mothers along with a long dead young man from the town, Bram. The premise is compelling but the execution is what makes the book so strong. Addie feels like such an authentic representation of anxiety and the painful othering those with chronic illness experience and it is such a beautiful privilege to experience her journey through hell to find her unique strength. But beyond just Addie, the growth in all of the main characters make you reflect on your own strength and the found family that help you discover it.
The strongest aspect of this book is the world building. It’s not a particularly long text, but Teagan’s writing is so pungently expressive you can taste, see, smell, and hear the world around you fully. I loved seeing a characters laugh described like “liquid chocolate” and the “church bells”. It’s the kind of writing that captures the magical and haunting nature of life itself.
I felt so delightfully immersed in the Village of Rixton almost immediately. It’s a hauntingly oppressive atmosphere that has you hanging on the edge of your seat and unable to read the book fast enough. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of gothic fantasy but also likes a twinge of horror. The world is dark and while not strictly a horror novel, there are amazing moments of true horror that add to the nuances of the text.
I loved Spit Back the Bones so much and Bitterbloom does such a wonderful and different job at examining the complexities of the human existence. I cannot wait to read Teagan Olivia Kong writes next!
Big thanks to Keylight Book, Turner Publishing Company, and Net Galley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In this book, we have Addie who is a delightfully messy character navigating chronic illness, an oppressive father, and the judgement of a religious small town with so much grace and strength. She meets Ransom a lonesome lord in a rotting estate and they seek to go into this purgatory-like, in-between realm and bring back their dead mothers along with a long dead young man from the town, Bram. The premise is compelling but the execution is what makes the book so strong. Addie feels like such an authentic representation of anxiety and the painful othering those with chronic illness experience and it is such a beautiful privilege to experience her journey through hell to find her unique strength. But beyond just Addie, the growth in all of the main characters make you reflect on your own strength and the found family that help you discover it.
The strongest aspect of this book is the world building. It’s not a particularly long text, but Teagan’s writing is so pungently expressive you can taste, see, smell, and hear the world around you fully. I loved seeing a characters laugh described like “liquid chocolate” and the “church bells”. It’s the kind of writing that captures the magical and haunting nature of life itself.
I felt so delightfully immersed in the Village of Rixton almost immediately. It’s a hauntingly oppressive atmosphere that has you hanging on the edge of your seat and unable to read the book fast enough. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of gothic fantasy but also likes a twinge of horror. The world is dark and while not strictly a horror novel, there are amazing moments of true horror that add to the nuances of the text.
I loved Spit Back the Bones so much and Bitterbloom does such a wonderful and different job at examining the complexities of the human existence. I cannot wait to read Teagan Olivia Kong writes next!
Big thanks to Keylight Book, Turner Publishing Company, and Net Galley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up! | This beautiful book releases tomorrow, and I’m so grateful I was able to read it before pub day! Bitterbloom is one of those books where the atmosphere and prose immediately grabs your attention before you’re even aware of what the plot is going to entail. The prose is lush, eerie, full of an overwhelming sense of dread— all things that make gothic fantasy so addictive. From the first chapters, Rixton feels suffocating—heavy with suspicion, grief, and the quiet cruelty of a community convinced it has already found the source of all their problems.
Adelaide Thorn is an incredibly compelling protagonist. She’s purposefully isolated, chronically ill, and locked away by a father who believes she’s cursed, and she has spent years wondering if the village might be right about her. When she discovers a strange bell hidden in the riverbed and realizes the terrifying visions she’s always had are actually ghosts, the story opens into something much larger and stranger. The concept alone—spirits trapped in the Rowan Wood and a bell that can bridge the living and the dead—creates a haunting foundation for the journey that follows.
The atmosphere is easily one of the book’s biggest strengths. The Rowan Wood is unsettling in the best way: a place where every step feels wrong and you just know your character(s) are being watched by… something. The horror elements are genuinely creepy, and the writing often borders on poetic and lyrical without losing the tension that kept me reading. It’s the kind of story where the setting almost becomes its own character and when an author is able to do that, I have to give them a ton of credit because I would imagine that’s not an easy thing to do.
The plot is full of twists and shifting loyalties, and I really appreciated that it kept me questioning everyone’s motives. Addie’s desperation to reunite with the people she’s lost collides with the ambitions of the two men who join her journey—Ransom Black, the young lord determined to bring back his mother, and Bram Avery, Addie’s childhood friend who died years ago but returns with unfinished business of his own. Their motivations constantly blur the line between trust and manipulation, which made the central mystery even more engaging.
That said, the romance was probably the one element I would’ve changed. The emotional connections felt like they developed very quickly, and at times it felt like the romantic plot threads pulled focus away from the darker gothic tone that works so beautifully. I found myself more invested in the eerie world, the ghosts, her chronic illness, and the unraveling secrets of Rixton than in the love dynamics. It’s not often I find myself saying I wish a book DIDN’T have a romance plot line, but I was enjoying everything else about it so much MORE that it almost didn’t feel necessary.
Even with a few tiny pacing issues, Bitterbloom is still a hauntingly beautiful read. The writing is vivid, the atmosphere is dreadful in the best way, and Adelaide’s story is both tragic and strangely hopeful. If you enjoy gothic fantasy with ghosts, dark woods, morally gray characters, and a touch of romance woven through the horror, this one is absolutely worth picking up. Fans of CG Drews and Ava Reid will definitely enjoy this, and I absolutely ADORED this.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company | Keylight Books for this eARC!
Adelaide Thorn is an incredibly compelling protagonist. She’s purposefully isolated, chronically ill, and locked away by a father who believes she’s cursed, and she has spent years wondering if the village might be right about her. When she discovers a strange bell hidden in the riverbed and realizes the terrifying visions she’s always had are actually ghosts, the story opens into something much larger and stranger. The concept alone—spirits trapped in the Rowan Wood and a bell that can bridge the living and the dead—creates a haunting foundation for the journey that follows.
The atmosphere is easily one of the book’s biggest strengths. The Rowan Wood is unsettling in the best way: a place where every step feels wrong and you just know your character(s) are being watched by… something. The horror elements are genuinely creepy, and the writing often borders on poetic and lyrical without losing the tension that kept me reading. It’s the kind of story where the setting almost becomes its own character and when an author is able to do that, I have to give them a ton of credit because I would imagine that’s not an easy thing to do.
The plot is full of twists and shifting loyalties, and I really appreciated that it kept me questioning everyone’s motives. Addie’s desperation to reunite with the people she’s lost collides with the ambitions of the two men who join her journey—Ransom Black, the young lord determined to bring back his mother, and Bram Avery, Addie’s childhood friend who died years ago but returns with unfinished business of his own. Their motivations constantly blur the line between trust and manipulation, which made the central mystery even more engaging.
That said, the romance was probably the one element I would’ve changed. The emotional connections felt like they developed very quickly, and at times it felt like the romantic plot threads pulled focus away from the darker gothic tone that works so beautifully. I found myself more invested in the eerie world, the ghosts, her chronic illness, and the unraveling secrets of Rixton than in the love dynamics. It’s not often I find myself saying I wish a book DIDN’T have a romance plot line, but I was enjoying everything else about it so much MORE that it almost didn’t feel necessary.
Even with a few tiny pacing issues, Bitterbloom is still a hauntingly beautiful read. The writing is vivid, the atmosphere is dreadful in the best way, and Adelaide’s story is both tragic and strangely hopeful. If you enjoy gothic fantasy with ghosts, dark woods, morally gray characters, and a touch of romance woven through the horror, this one is absolutely worth picking up. Fans of CG Drews and Ava Reid will definitely enjoy this, and I absolutely ADORED this.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company | Keylight Books for this eARC!
February 20, 2026
Bitterbloom was a tough one to get through. In the end, I did manage to finish, but only because I was too curious about where the author could possibly be taking us with all the weird reveals to stop. In the spirit of honesty, there was quite a bit of skimming involved just to get me to the finish line. I spent 90% of the book confused (not because of the skimming; it was just that confusing), and the other 10% thinking I knew what was going on, only to discover that, nope, I’m still confused.
The plot? Interesting. The horror? Definitely there. The gothic? Absolutely vibing. The romance? … The writing? Purple as purple can be, with a little sprinkle of purple on top, because why not? Holy cats, the writing was hard to read and was ultimately the source of all my confusion. Do you like similes and metaphors? Well, I sure hope you do because there is one nearly every sentence. I am not joking. Literally everything had to be compared to something else, and that something else had to be dark and gritty and mysterious and dreadful and ghastly and morose, and you probably get the point. I could pick a random section three pages later, and somehow we would still be talking about the same thing in a seventh different way. I didn’t know there were seven different dark and gritty and mysterious and blah blah ways to describe the feeling of your heart beating a little faster than usual, but I do now, and I wish I were still ignorant. Hence the skimming. Paragraphs upon paragraphs would be dedicated to these long-winded descriptions that ultimately made little sense and were there purely for the aesthetics. Especially because, seven pages later, when Adelaide’s heart beats a little faster again, you get the same seven descriptions, somehow worded slightly differently, but still pretty much exactly the same. It was tedious to read.
Just for an example, I think I spent three pages reading about how Adelaide was trying to pull a metal shard out of her foot. Three pages of her digging around in there, bleeding everywhere. She probably should have bled out, considering the amount of time we spent with her poking around. I do apologize if that’s super gross to read the three sentences I just talked about it, but think about reading about it for three pages. As I said, horror and gothic were abundantly clear, but I didn’t need three pages of that one scene.
I won’t even speak on the romance because no. Nope. Not the worst I’ve read, but both love interests were uncomfortable in different ways, and I say no to both. And while I said that the plot was interesting (it was, I swear!), the writing made it nearly impossible to follow. Time held no meaning, and I mean that figuratively because of how long we spent describing everything, but also literally, because the only person who kind of knew how to keep time while they were in the forest was Bram, and he doesn’t even know if he was doing it right. So what seemed like it might have been seven days could very well have been two. Or a month. There was no clarification on how long she had been gone when she did get back, so I have no idea.
I have no idea about anything. I was making the confused emoji face, the one with the eyebrow and hand on the chin, the entire time they were in the forest. Actually, it probably started sooner, but I might not have noticed at first. Again, interesting plot, but so blasted difficult to follow.
Now, if you’re a lover of all things horror and gothic with descriptions and flowery writing for days, Bitterbloom should absolutely be your next read. However, if that’s not your thing, I can’t say that I recommend it.
I received an advanced copy of Bitterbloom from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot? Interesting. The horror? Definitely there. The gothic? Absolutely vibing. The romance? … The writing? Purple as purple can be, with a little sprinkle of purple on top, because why not? Holy cats, the writing was hard to read and was ultimately the source of all my confusion. Do you like similes and metaphors? Well, I sure hope you do because there is one nearly every sentence. I am not joking. Literally everything had to be compared to something else, and that something else had to be dark and gritty and mysterious and dreadful and ghastly and morose, and you probably get the point. I could pick a random section three pages later, and somehow we would still be talking about the same thing in a seventh different way. I didn’t know there were seven different dark and gritty and mysterious and blah blah ways to describe the feeling of your heart beating a little faster than usual, but I do now, and I wish I were still ignorant. Hence the skimming. Paragraphs upon paragraphs would be dedicated to these long-winded descriptions that ultimately made little sense and were there purely for the aesthetics. Especially because, seven pages later, when Adelaide’s heart beats a little faster again, you get the same seven descriptions, somehow worded slightly differently, but still pretty much exactly the same. It was tedious to read.
Just for an example, I think I spent three pages reading about how Adelaide was trying to pull a metal shard out of her foot. Three pages of her digging around in there, bleeding everywhere. She probably should have bled out, considering the amount of time we spent with her poking around. I do apologize if that’s super gross to read the three sentences I just talked about it, but think about reading about it for three pages. As I said, horror and gothic were abundantly clear, but I didn’t need three pages of that one scene.
I won’t even speak on the romance because no. Nope. Not the worst I’ve read, but both love interests were uncomfortable in different ways, and I say no to both. And while I said that the plot was interesting (it was, I swear!), the writing made it nearly impossible to follow. Time held no meaning, and I mean that figuratively because of how long we spent describing everything, but also literally, because the only person who kind of knew how to keep time while they were in the forest was Bram, and he doesn’t even know if he was doing it right. So what seemed like it might have been seven days could very well have been two. Or a month. There was no clarification on how long she had been gone when she did get back, so I have no idea.
I have no idea about anything. I was making the confused emoji face, the one with the eyebrow and hand on the chin, the entire time they were in the forest. Actually, it probably started sooner, but I might not have noticed at first. Again, interesting plot, but so blasted difficult to follow.
Now, if you’re a lover of all things horror and gothic with descriptions and flowery writing for days, Bitterbloom should absolutely be your next read. However, if that’s not your thing, I can’t say that I recommend it.
I received an advanced copy of Bitterbloom from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2026
Gut rating: ⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: TBD
DNF at 47%
ARC publication date: March 10th 2026
Tropes: Gothic romantasy, decrepit castle, curses and blackmail, marriage of convenience, fake dating/marriage, instalust
My synopsis
The village of Rixton is plagued by the unexplained deaths of its daughters, their bodies found with lips stained violet. With her chronic pain and black blood fuelling rumours that she has been touched by the Devil, the vicar's 21yo daughter Adelaide Thorn is blamed. Even her own father keeps her chained inside for her "wickedness", planning to send her to an asylum for "healing". While her frequent blackouts make Adelaide question if she truly is the monster the village fears, she also wonders if the ever-ringing Church bells are summoning something evil to their village - a fear confirmed when she starts seeing ghostly visions after finding an ancient bell. Ensnared in a bargain with the magnetic beastly Lord Ransom Black, Adelaide must embark on a dark quest to resurrect their dead mothers, all while wondering if she can even trust her own mind.
My review
I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing was undeniably dramatic, with a well-crafted gothic atmosphere filled with tension and mystery that was certainly an asset.
However, while the setting was strong, the characters were underdeveloped and I struggled with the pacing of the plot. Adelaide's frequent fainting spells and panic attacks felt repetitive and made her feel very passive in leading the story. Rather than heightening the gothic suspense, they instead stalled the momentum. The addition of Ransom Black felt unnecessary, and the romantic elements felt somewhat sudden and forced rather than naturally growing.
It's also worth noting that the eARC I received had significant formatting issues, including missing spacing between words and overlapping text. I struggled to read the story due to these errors as it was hard to stay immersed when the text itself was a hurdle. With the formatting issues and the uneven plot development, this led to my decision to DNF at 47%.
The good features of the book unfortunately weren't enough to carry this above a 2 star rating, although the strong atmosphere saved this from an even lower rating.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Trigger warnings: Death of parent, grief, death, child abuse, confinement, panic attack, self harm, misogyny, sexual harassment
CAWPILE rating: TBD
DNF at 47%
ARC publication date: March 10th 2026
Tropes: Gothic romantasy, decrepit castle, curses and blackmail, marriage of convenience, fake dating/marriage, instalust
My synopsis
The village of Rixton is plagued by the unexplained deaths of its daughters, their bodies found with lips stained violet. With her chronic pain and black blood fuelling rumours that she has been touched by the Devil, the vicar's 21yo daughter Adelaide Thorn is blamed. Even her own father keeps her chained inside for her "wickedness", planning to send her to an asylum for "healing". While her frequent blackouts make Adelaide question if she truly is the monster the village fears, she also wonders if the ever-ringing Church bells are summoning something evil to their village - a fear confirmed when she starts seeing ghostly visions after finding an ancient bell. Ensnared in a bargain with the magnetic beastly Lord Ransom Black, Adelaide must embark on a dark quest to resurrect their dead mothers, all while wondering if she can even trust her own mind.
My review
I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing was undeniably dramatic, with a well-crafted gothic atmosphere filled with tension and mystery that was certainly an asset.
However, while the setting was strong, the characters were underdeveloped and I struggled with the pacing of the plot. Adelaide's frequent fainting spells and panic attacks felt repetitive and made her feel very passive in leading the story. Rather than heightening the gothic suspense, they instead stalled the momentum. The addition of Ransom Black felt unnecessary, and the romantic elements felt somewhat sudden and forced rather than naturally growing.
It's also worth noting that the eARC I received had significant formatting issues, including missing spacing between words and overlapping text. I struggled to read the story due to these errors as it was hard to stay immersed when the text itself was a hurdle. With the formatting issues and the uneven plot development, this led to my decision to DNF at 47%.
The good features of the book unfortunately weren't enough to carry this above a 2 star rating, although the strong atmosphere saved this from an even lower rating.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Trigger warnings: Death of parent, grief, death, child abuse, confinement, panic attack, self harm, misogyny, sexual harassment
March 20, 2026
I had a really hard time getting my thoughts together to review 'Bitterbloom', a gothic novel that sees a woman discover a mysterious bell that allows her to travel into a world inhabited by ghosts. The initial pitch really appealed to me, which is why I requested an eARC of the title, but the story itself was so confusing that I had difficulty getting through it.
This book is packed to the brim with lyrical purple prose and descriptive writing, heavily utilising simile and metaphor. I am someone who enjoys some purple prose in their reading, but there was so much in 'Bitterbloom' that I found it actively detracted from the story. The heavy use of both simile and metaphor meant that there was at least one plot point that I wasn't sure was a genuine description until 2/3rds into the book. Early on, the main character's blood is described as being black. I genuinely believed that it was not literally black, but instead represented something like the character's internal struggle for the majority of the book because of how many other metaphors were being used. Another thing that was affected by the writing style was the pacing, or perception of the passage of time. There is nothing to indicate how much time passed between events in the book, and the way certain events were described in multiple ways across multiple pages did not help with this.
I was so confused reading this book that I had no idea where the plot was going for over 50% of its page count. Even when the plot began to become clear, I still struggled to feel connected to the story at all as events often felt sudden and out of context. The romantic interests felt forced, and despite grandiose description of how the men made the FMC feel, I couldn't see a natural connection at all. To top it all off, the book ended with an epilogue that read in a completely different tone.
I know that there is an audience for this book out there, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
This book is packed to the brim with lyrical purple prose and descriptive writing, heavily utilising simile and metaphor. I am someone who enjoys some purple prose in their reading, but there was so much in 'Bitterbloom' that I found it actively detracted from the story. The heavy use of both simile and metaphor meant that there was at least one plot point that I wasn't sure was a genuine description until 2/3rds into the book. Early on, the main character's blood is described as being black. I genuinely believed that it was not literally black, but instead represented something like the character's internal struggle for the majority of the book because of how many other metaphors were being used. Another thing that was affected by the writing style was the pacing, or perception of the passage of time. There is nothing to indicate how much time passed between events in the book, and the way certain events were described in multiple ways across multiple pages did not help with this.
I was so confused reading this book that I had no idea where the plot was going for over 50% of its page count. Even when the plot began to become clear, I still struggled to feel connected to the story at all as events often felt sudden and out of context. The romantic interests felt forced, and despite grandiose description of how the men made the FMC feel, I couldn't see a natural connection at all. To top it all off, the book ended with an epilogue that read in a completely different tone.
I know that there is an audience for this book out there, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
March 7, 2026
3.5 Stars
I would describe Bitterbloom as a gothic dark fantasy that has a pretty strong focus on religion.
The vibes of this book were fantastic. Teagan did a great job at vividly describing what Rixton looked and felt like. I will say her writing style took me a minute to adjust to, but I think it complemented the story perfectly. With that said, for maybe the first quarter of the book I found that there were times when it was taking almost a whole page just to describe a feeling or thought. While I do love more lyrical/poetic writing, I found that moments like that took away from the story. As the book progressed the writing eased up a little on the poetic intensity and found more of a natural balance between being creatively descriptive while also just saying what needed to be said.
I found the story itself to be quite unique. The plot was really interesting and once again, Teagan did a fantastic job at making the world feel so vivid. I think the part that could have been improved upon were the characters. Not the characters themselves but I guess their relationships with one another. Adelaide's feelings toward both Ransom and Bram just didn't make sense to me. It was very much instalove with no depth to those feelings. I think if there would have been some more quality interactions been her and each of the men the outcome of both of those relationships would have felt so much more impactful.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was seeing Adelaide's personal growth, she was a completely different person by the end of it. The progression felt very natural and was written in a way that was subtle but with intentional moments that would showcase how her thoughts and actions were now different compared to the past.
Overall, I had a fun time reading Bitterbloom! It was very different from anything I'd read before.
Thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for the ARC in exchange from my honest review.
I would describe Bitterbloom as a gothic dark fantasy that has a pretty strong focus on religion.
The vibes of this book were fantastic. Teagan did a great job at vividly describing what Rixton looked and felt like. I will say her writing style took me a minute to adjust to, but I think it complemented the story perfectly. With that said, for maybe the first quarter of the book I found that there were times when it was taking almost a whole page just to describe a feeling or thought. While I do love more lyrical/poetic writing, I found that moments like that took away from the story. As the book progressed the writing eased up a little on the poetic intensity and found more of a natural balance between being creatively descriptive while also just saying what needed to be said.
I found the story itself to be quite unique. The plot was really interesting and once again, Teagan did a fantastic job at making the world feel so vivid. I think the part that could have been improved upon were the characters. Not the characters themselves but I guess their relationships with one another. Adelaide's feelings toward both Ransom and Bram just didn't make sense to me. It was very much instalove with no depth to those feelings. I think if there would have been some more quality interactions been her and each of the men the outcome of both of those relationships would have felt so much more impactful.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was seeing Adelaide's personal growth, she was a completely different person by the end of it. The progression felt very natural and was written in a way that was subtle but with intentional moments that would showcase how her thoughts and actions were now different compared to the past.
Overall, I had a fun time reading Bitterbloom! It was very different from anything I'd read before.
Thank you to NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for the ARC in exchange from my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rixton is a town haunted by a series of mysterious deaths and Adelaide feels she might be at the centre of them. Between her frequent blackouts, strange visions and the black blood caused by her sickness, she fears she may be responsible for the tragedies. This changes when she finds a copper bell by the river and realises the visions she has may actually be the souls of those who have passed away. This discovery starts a journey where Adelaide must decide who to trust and discover who the real monster is.
I truly loved the setting of this book: the red woods, the monsters, the “upside-down”... Everything combined to create a great, creepy gothic vibe that kept me interested in the world. However, the characters can sometimes become tiresome and difficult to relate to. Similarly, the narrative includes far too many sensory descriptions (especially constant references to smells) which felt overwhelming and totally took me out of the story. Instead of building the atmosphere, it became a distraction.
I think the premise was really good, but for me, the execution could have been better. The story relies on many clichés and subplots that are clearly intended to shock the reader, but they are often too easy to foresee.That said, it is not a bad book and I enjoyed my time reading it but I felt like something was missing.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and comments are my own.
I truly loved the setting of this book: the red woods, the monsters, the “upside-down”... Everything combined to create a great, creepy gothic vibe that kept me interested in the world. However, the characters can sometimes become tiresome and difficult to relate to. Similarly, the narrative includes far too many sensory descriptions (especially constant references to smells) which felt overwhelming and totally took me out of the story. Instead of building the atmosphere, it became a distraction.
I think the premise was really good, but for me, the execution could have been better. The story relies on many clichés and subplots that are clearly intended to shock the reader, but they are often too easy to foresee.That said, it is not a bad book and I enjoyed my time reading it but I felt like something was missing.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and comments are my own.
March 6, 2026
Adelaide has been considered the outcast of the town since her sickness appeared. That said town, and her father, want nothing to do with her, they want her away so she can be rid of it. They blame her for the suspicious deaths that happened, and still happen. On the river bank, as she’s thinking of a way out, she discovers a bell that will change her world even if she doesn’t want it to, embarking on a journey into the woods with two dubious men she doesn’t know if she can trust. Ransom, the son’s Lord, and Bram… the late Bram.
I wanted to love this book. The writing was beautiful. The eerie, misty, morbid atmosphere was thick and compelling. That’s one of the things I truly loved about Bitterbloom. However, the beginning was tedious to me. It pulled me in regarding the rich, heavy, dark atmosphere aforementioned: pious village near suspicious woods, where bodies are found unalived near the river. It didn’t regarding the plot. It was lacking in depth and delivery, it could’ve been so much more. If I could rate Bitterbloom for the vibes only, this would’ve been a 5 stars. I still wanted to know where it would lead us, and as I said, the writing style kept me engaged when the story couldn’t entirely, so that’s why I decided to finish the book. Ultimately, I was left rather disappointed by the predictability of the events and, again, the delivery.
Thank you so much to Turner Publishing Company and NetGalley for the arc.
2.75 stars
I wanted to love this book. The writing was beautiful. The eerie, misty, morbid atmosphere was thick and compelling. That’s one of the things I truly loved about Bitterbloom. However, the beginning was tedious to me. It pulled me in regarding the rich, heavy, dark atmosphere aforementioned: pious village near suspicious woods, where bodies are found unalived near the river. It didn’t regarding the plot. It was lacking in depth and delivery, it could’ve been so much more. If I could rate Bitterbloom for the vibes only, this would’ve been a 5 stars. I still wanted to know where it would lead us, and as I said, the writing style kept me engaged when the story couldn’t entirely, so that’s why I decided to finish the book. Ultimately, I was left rather disappointed by the predictability of the events and, again, the delivery.
Thank you so much to Turner Publishing Company and NetGalley for the arc.
2.75 stars
December 8, 2025
Fans of C.G. Drews will love this.
Dark gothic horror based in the U.K, filled with old traditions, monsters and things that go bump in the night. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. Quick too. I absolutely devoured this book just like I did with Don't let the Forest in and Hazelthorn.
I initially requested this book because it reminded me of the floriography book I own. I'll be honest, to then discover it is set in England and has a lot of the older traditions of the country (more in line with Irish history I believe; from stories my mates have told me about Ireland over the years) this felt refreshing to read. I dont think we get that many new books that aren't so heavily romanced based. There was some but the main plot revolved around monsters which I was pleasantly surprised for.
Not sure if it was intentional either, but the focus on colours and moods and themes throughput this book also reminded me of my time studying English in college. Beautifully wrote. I look forward to reading more from this author should they continue to write.
Brixton huh? Had to double check because I think this is the third book this year I've read that is based in Rixton- considering the town has inspired seemingly a multitude of books, I may have to visit.
Thank you for the arc via Netgallery 🙏
Dark gothic horror based in the U.K, filled with old traditions, monsters and things that go bump in the night. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. Quick too. I absolutely devoured this book just like I did with Don't let the Forest in and Hazelthorn.
I initially requested this book because it reminded me of the floriography book I own. I'll be honest, to then discover it is set in England and has a lot of the older traditions of the country (more in line with Irish history I believe; from stories my mates have told me about Ireland over the years) this felt refreshing to read. I dont think we get that many new books that aren't so heavily romanced based. There was some but the main plot revolved around monsters which I was pleasantly surprised for.
Not sure if it was intentional either, but the focus on colours and moods and themes throughput this book also reminded me of my time studying English in college. Beautifully wrote. I look forward to reading more from this author should they continue to write.
Brixton huh? Had to double check because I think this is the third book this year I've read that is based in Rixton- considering the town has inspired seemingly a multitude of books, I may have to visit.
Thank you for the arc via Netgallery 🙏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Turner Publishing, and Ms. King for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
This one was a struggle for me. Honestly, the description was catnip and I was fully prepared to dive into this gothic story featuring a girl on the wrong side of death (Lord knows I love me a Grim Reaper, any Grim Reaper, ALL Grim Reapers). Add to that: ghosts/souls, villains, curses, religious zealots, and some juicy betrayal? I should have looooooved this.
But the execution (no pun intended) did not win me over. The writing was excessive. Too much flowery language,combined with too much vagueness. I found the worldbuilding intriguing, but the logistics of it confusing. I was enjoying the spookiness of the forest and the creepy vibe overall but all the similes and metaphors pulled me out of the narrative. Adelaide herself I wanted to like but found it hard to identify with her reactions. I guess the idea is that she was so sheltered that she's constantly terrified by everything...? Which I could get behind IF there was no romance. I can't buy someone who's too scared/timid to handle the world jumping into dual love interests. And speaking of that: love triangles are my absolute pet peeve, so, that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin (pun absolutely INTENDED this time).
I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did. I feel bad to say so, but, *shrugs*
2.5 stars
This one was a struggle for me. Honestly, the description was catnip and I was fully prepared to dive into this gothic story featuring a girl on the wrong side of death (Lord knows I love me a Grim Reaper, any Grim Reaper, ALL Grim Reapers). Add to that: ghosts/souls, villains, curses, religious zealots, and some juicy betrayal? I should have looooooved this.
But the execution (no pun intended) did not win me over. The writing was excessive. Too much flowery language,combined with too much vagueness. I found the worldbuilding intriguing, but the logistics of it confusing. I was enjoying the spookiness of the forest and the creepy vibe overall but all the similes and metaphors pulled me out of the narrative. Adelaide herself I wanted to like but found it hard to identify with her reactions. I guess the idea is that she was so sheltered that she's constantly terrified by everything...? Which I could get behind IF there was no romance. I can't buy someone who's too scared/timid to handle the world jumping into dual love interests. And speaking of that: love triangles are my absolute pet peeve, so, that was pretty much the final nail in the coffin (pun absolutely INTENDED this time).
I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did. I feel bad to say so, but, *shrugs*
2.5 stars
December 6, 2025
In this book Adelaide Thorn goes together with Ransom Black to an unknown and scary place because they both want their own mother back. Both want to fix their family’s but Adelaide also decided to help a certain ‘ghost’ Bram Avery to bring him back to live. From here the adventure starts for them. An adventure filled with plot twists and finding out things out about yourself and your family, and not in the way they expected.
It took me a long time to get into the story, I had a hard time connecting to the story and the characters. When I got through 50% of the book I started to get really into it and I started to like or dislike (for good reasons, you know when you read it) the characters.
There were some really good plottwists in it, one I saw coming but the rest was a complete shock for me. I loved that there was a sweet romance in the story too. The story started slow but eventually the pace got picked up and you started learning so much about the place they were in and the creatures that lived there. Really liked the epilogue we got on the end , I think it was a great way to end this story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Turner Publishing Company and Keylight Books for providing me this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2026
1.25 ⭐️
DNF at 26%
I was honestly very excited about this book, but Bitterbloom was overwritten to the point of confusion and introduced plot points with assumed knowledge from the reader.
This book follows Addie (another Addie? Can we think of other names please authors?) the daughter of a vicar in a small town, who is cursed with fits and black blood and is haunted by monsters. Women start turning up dead, and the community starts to suspect Addie. When she finds a bell on a riverbank, she discovers she isn’t seeing monsters, but the souls of the dead. She must then travel to purgatory to help the dead and stop whatever is killing women in her town.
The book was swimming with similes, so much that (to lean into the similes) I felt like a stone skipping on the top of the water, never fully able to be immersed in the world. The overwriting left me feeling completely removed from the story and honestly really confused when at times when plot points were introduced that I had no context for.
I’m sure a lot of people will really enjoy this book. But for me I couldn’t get past how surface level it all felt.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 26%
I was honestly very excited about this book, but Bitterbloom was overwritten to the point of confusion and introduced plot points with assumed knowledge from the reader.
This book follows Addie (another Addie? Can we think of other names please authors?) the daughter of a vicar in a small town, who is cursed with fits and black blood and is haunted by monsters. Women start turning up dead, and the community starts to suspect Addie. When she finds a bell on a riverbank, she discovers she isn’t seeing monsters, but the souls of the dead. She must then travel to purgatory to help the dead and stop whatever is killing women in her town.
The book was swimming with similes, so much that (to lean into the similes) I felt like a stone skipping on the top of the water, never fully able to be immersed in the world. The overwriting left me feeling completely removed from the story and honestly really confused when at times when plot points were introduced that I had no context for.
I’m sure a lot of people will really enjoy this book. But for me I couldn’t get past how surface level it all felt.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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