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Darker Than Desire: A Dark, Spicy Romance with an FTM Trans Male Hero and Deadly Obsession
Talon Hayes doesn’t live—he survives. Former military, now a ghost in the underworld, his scars run deeper than skin. The only thing he trusts is Havoc, his loyal K9 partner. People? They’re a complication he can’t afford. Especially not Aurora Ben-Yosef, a woman with a sharp tongue and a fire that refuses to be snuffed out.
Aurora has a habit of diving headfirst into danger. Her latest case? It’s tied to Talon’s world—a deadly one she doesn’t understand, but refuses to back down from. He wants her gone. She wants him to let her in.
When their lives collide, it’s volatile. Violent. Addictive. But danger isn’t just around the corner—it’s in their shadows, their pasts, their every step. And the deeper they fall into each other, the harder it gets to tell if they’re saving each other… or dragging each other under.
Two people. One spark. A love that could burn them both.
Darker Than Desire is an intense, sexy, and raw story about trust, obsession, and the fight to find a way out of the dark.
Aurora has a habit of diving headfirst into danger. Her latest case? It’s tied to Talon’s world—a deadly one she doesn’t understand, but refuses to back down from. He wants her gone. She wants him to let her in.
When their lives collide, it’s volatile. Violent. Addictive. But danger isn’t just around the corner—it’s in their shadows, their pasts, their every step. And the deeper they fall into each other, the harder it gets to tell if they’re saving each other… or dragging each other under.
Two people. One spark. A love that could burn them both.
Darker Than Desire is an intense, sexy, and raw story about trust, obsession, and the fight to find a way out of the dark.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Lucinda Wicked
27 books78 followersMeet Lucinda Wicked – a cosplayer with over a decade of experience turning epic characters into reality. When she’s not in costume, she’s crafting magic for her spooky shop at lucindawicked.com. Think haunting stickers and cozy, eerie sweaters – perfect for anyone who loves a touch of the macabre.
Luci isn’t just about business, though. She’s part of the LGBT+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and spoonie communities. Living with a chronic illness, she knows what it’s like to balance creativity with life’s challenges and pours that energy into everything she does.
When she’s not creating, Luci’s writing dark stories, geeking out over spooky vibes, or chasing a little cosmic wonder. Welcome to Lucinda Wicked – where the supernatural meets everyday life.
Luci isn’t just about business, though. She’s part of the LGBT+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and spoonie communities. Living with a chronic illness, she knows what it’s like to balance creativity with life’s challenges and pours that energy into everything she does.
When she’s not creating, Luci’s writing dark stories, geeking out over spooky vibes, or chasing a little cosmic wonder. Welcome to Lucinda Wicked – where the supernatural meets everyday life.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 16, 2025
Firstly, I was given an ARC of this book, & am very greatful to have been chosen to read & review it. I am giving Darker than Desire three stars because while I enjoyed the story & felt it had a good potential to be a great book, it fell flat on world building & character chemistry for me.
I didn’t feel the connection between the two characters, & while there was some good spice in the story as well, it didn’t have me kicking my feet or blushing like I hoped it would.
The story felt rushed & I also started getting confused during some parts of the story because I felt like there were chunks missing. I found myself having to back track to see if I misread or missed something on previous pages. I did, however, LOVE Havoc the dog. As a dog lover, I enjoyed his loyalty & braveness throughout the story.
Although this wasn’t my cup of tea, I think it did have some special moments between the MCs & that others may enjoy the journey Talon embarks on to find himself & Aurora’s spunky & witty attitude that helps him break down his defenses & love very bit of who he is.
“You’re insufferable.” — Aurora
“And you’re stubborn. It’s why we work.” — Talon
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read Talon, Havoc, & Aurora’s story. & I wish you much success with this book & future ones.
I didn’t feel the connection between the two characters, & while there was some good spice in the story as well, it didn’t have me kicking my feet or blushing like I hoped it would.
The story felt rushed & I also started getting confused during some parts of the story because I felt like there were chunks missing. I found myself having to back track to see if I misread or missed something on previous pages. I did, however, LOVE Havoc the dog. As a dog lover, I enjoyed his loyalty & braveness throughout the story.
Although this wasn’t my cup of tea, I think it did have some special moments between the MCs & that others may enjoy the journey Talon embarks on to find himself & Aurora’s spunky & witty attitude that helps him break down his defenses & love very bit of who he is.
“You’re insufferable.” — Aurora
“And you’re stubborn. It’s why we work.” — Talon
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read Talon, Havoc, & Aurora’s story. & I wish you much success with this book & future ones.
October 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This book destroyed me, and I would thank Lucinda Wicked personally if I wasn’t still emotionally bleeding out.”
I entered into Darker Than Desire expecting a dark romance. What I got was an all-out war on my nervous system. This book grabbed me by the throat on page one and whispered, "You wanted pain? You will get devotion."
Talon Hayes isn't a character; he's a wound that walks, breathes, and pretends toward healing while still bleeding underneath it. Talon, a trans man who navigates the ruins of his own trauma and the underworld that made him, writes with the kind of raw humanity that fiction should not make possible at all. Aurora Ben-Yosef exists, a no-nonsense woman chasing ghosts through alleys and gunfire. The first meeting comes about. Electric. Their partnership? Explosive. Their slow, inevitable untangling into something resembling love? Catastrophic in the best way.
And let us not forget Havoc, the Belgian Malinois who might be the only sane living being in this book.
Every chapter is like a confession you weren't meant to overhear, blood and all. There are moments of breath play, and moments so tender that I forget to breathe until the next bullet. Is it Talon's quote "No one touches you but me" or Aurora's stare at death as if she dares it to blink? Screaming into a pillow happened a few times.
Not Lucinda Wicked, though. She loads a gun. She points the gun at her chest. She smiles with the kind of gratitude people only get after a bullet. The writing unfolds like a film desert nights thrum with danger cities feel like fever dreams a cabin is a war zone and a safe haven a slow build-up surges then detonates.
At the end, with Talon and Aurora having the gall to hope for a future beyond what they probably don't deserve for themselves, I was staring at the last page like it had stabbed me in the heart. That made it. That made it dark romance, redemption carved from violence, trauma made holy, love like surviving the apocalypse together.
Yes, Darker Than Desire wrecked me. I will read it again, knowing full well it will wreck me worse the second time. Some stories aren't meant to offer solace, they are meant to consume.
“This book destroyed me, and I would thank Lucinda Wicked personally if I wasn’t still emotionally bleeding out.”
I entered into Darker Than Desire expecting a dark romance. What I got was an all-out war on my nervous system. This book grabbed me by the throat on page one and whispered, "You wanted pain? You will get devotion."
Talon Hayes isn't a character; he's a wound that walks, breathes, and pretends toward healing while still bleeding underneath it. Talon, a trans man who navigates the ruins of his own trauma and the underworld that made him, writes with the kind of raw humanity that fiction should not make possible at all. Aurora Ben-Yosef exists, a no-nonsense woman chasing ghosts through alleys and gunfire. The first meeting comes about. Electric. Their partnership? Explosive. Their slow, inevitable untangling into something resembling love? Catastrophic in the best way.
And let us not forget Havoc, the Belgian Malinois who might be the only sane living being in this book.
Every chapter is like a confession you weren't meant to overhear, blood and all. There are moments of breath play, and moments so tender that I forget to breathe until the next bullet. Is it Talon's quote "No one touches you but me" or Aurora's stare at death as if she dares it to blink? Screaming into a pillow happened a few times.
Not Lucinda Wicked, though. She loads a gun. She points the gun at her chest. She smiles with the kind of gratitude people only get after a bullet. The writing unfolds like a film desert nights thrum with danger cities feel like fever dreams a cabin is a war zone and a safe haven a slow build-up surges then detonates.
At the end, with Talon and Aurora having the gall to hope for a future beyond what they probably don't deserve for themselves, I was staring at the last page like it had stabbed me in the heart. That made it. That made it dark romance, redemption carved from violence, trauma made holy, love like surviving the apocalypse together.
Yes, Darker Than Desire wrecked me. I will read it again, knowing full well it will wreck me worse the second time. Some stories aren't meant to offer solace, they are meant to consume.
March 11, 2025
This book pulled me in from the very beginning. I absolutely loved Talon and Aurora. The enemies to lovers was there. The spice was there. Havoc is my weakness because I'm such a animal lover. Amazing Trans book! Highly recommend!
January 30, 2026
Dark romance...
This dark romance explored obsession and desire in such a bold way. The intensity is high and wasn't afraid of pushing boundaries. Definitely recommend for readers who love dark themes and morally complex characters.
This dark romance explored obsession and desire in such a bold way. The intensity is high and wasn't afraid of pushing boundaries. Definitely recommend for readers who love dark themes and morally complex characters.
February 11, 2026
An enjoyable story with compelling and complex characters in Talon and Aurora whose world collides with a great amount of danger. An intense and emotional read. My first story with a Trans hero which I thought was a great read.
February 20, 2026
Great characters.
Wonderful storyline.
Fantastic plot.
Action packed, drama filled, rollercoaster ride, twist and turns. Right amount of spice.
Couldn't put it down once I started it.
Highly recommend
Wonderful storyline.
Fantastic plot.
Action packed, drama filled, rollercoaster ride, twist and turns. Right amount of spice.
Couldn't put it down once I started it.
Highly recommend
March 9, 2026
It was a ok book just not for me. You need to read and decide
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews