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Our Grave Games #1
The Mourning Game
Lex had never planned on coming back. He’d escaped his family’s estate four years earlier, determined to put as much distance as possible between himself and Morgan. His childhood fixation on his stepbrother wasn’t exactly something he wanted to bring up at a party—especially after witnessing the monster Morgan became in the woods.
When Morgan learned of his father’s death, he wrote it off as an inconvenience to handle—another task to check off before returning to the monotony of his real life. But discovering that the money tied to the estate and business wouldn’t simply be handed over? That he’d have to work with Lex for six months due to some ridiculous clause in his father’s will? That was the final insult.
For Lex, it became a battle to survive Morgan’s sadism and the dark pull of his own obsession. For Morgan, breaking Lex was both pleasure and promise—pawns existed to be sacrificed, after all.
But the line between destruction and control is razor-thin. And as their twisted game spirals into something far more dangerous, every move threatens to destroy not just each other, but what’s left of their sanity.
In the end, the question isn’t who will win—it’s who will survive intact.
Authors Note: The Mourning Game is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers MM dark romance. If you enjoy morally corrupt characters, intense psychological tension, and a love story that teeters on the edge of destruction, this one’s for you.
When Morgan learned of his father’s death, he wrote it off as an inconvenience to handle—another task to check off before returning to the monotony of his real life. But discovering that the money tied to the estate and business wouldn’t simply be handed over? That he’d have to work with Lex for six months due to some ridiculous clause in his father’s will? That was the final insult.
For Lex, it became a battle to survive Morgan’s sadism and the dark pull of his own obsession. For Morgan, breaking Lex was both pleasure and promise—pawns existed to be sacrificed, after all.
But the line between destruction and control is razor-thin. And as their twisted game spirals into something far more dangerous, every move threatens to destroy not just each other, but what’s left of their sanity.
In the end, the question isn’t who will win—it’s who will survive intact.
Authors Note: The Mourning Game is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers MM dark romance. If you enjoy morally corrupt characters, intense psychological tension, and a love story that teeters on the edge of destruction, this one’s for you.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
45 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Rapp
3 books6 followersE.M. Rapp is a queer horror romance author from nowhere, Ohio. They write obsessive, violent love stories where the men are sharp and someone usually bleeds. When they’re not writing, they’re watching game tournaments, building moody playlists, and dreaming up new ways to ruin their characters.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️rounded up!
okay, i thoroughly enjoyed that!! it was slow burn but the good kind 😏
so dark and delicious.
okay, i thoroughly enjoyed that!! it was slow burn but the good kind 😏
so dark and delicious.
Read
April 6, 2025Dnf
Read
April 13, 2025I’m honestly not sure how to take this book so I’m not giving it any rating.
This is supposedly a dark romance but it feels like worse. It’s really Monster vs Monster and not in the fun kind.
We have one MMC who likes to beat up to death other men in the woods for fun (including the other MMC) and the other MMC who likes to have sex with women but only when they are black out drunk enough that they can’t consent and see how long he doesn’t last.
I’m usually not afraid of dark romance/taboo romances - I actually love them - but this one didn’t work for me. Still read it. Not sure if I’ll read the next book.
This is supposedly a dark romance but it feels like worse. It’s really Monster vs Monster and not in the fun kind.
We have one MMC who likes to beat up to death other men in the woods for fun (including the other MMC) and the other MMC who likes to have sex with women but only when they are black out drunk enough that they can’t consent and see how long he doesn’t last.
I’m usually not afraid of dark romance/taboo romances - I actually love them - but this one didn’t work for me. Still read it. Not sure if I’ll read the next book.
April 6, 2025
Debating between a 3.5 stars or actual 4. Overall, I really enjoyed how dark this book went in regards the dynamic, I wasn't expecting it to be that violent, it's something I truly appreciate because I've seen recent books marketed as very dark that don't quite deliver that element as much as I want them to. This one took me by surprise and there were many things I loved, while it had some others details that I wasn't satisfied with. Heads up for a long review incoming.
The story is about Lex, a guy coming back to his family's estate after his father dies. He meets his stepbrother Morgan again after years of not seeing each other. Truth is, Lex has always wanted to get along with him, but Morgan treats him as a nuisance. He started having a fixation on him when they used to live together, remembering the time he saw his brother commit horrid acts in the woods. Both arrange to work together due to a clause in their father’s will, but it won't be easy - especially when Morgan suggests to play a twisted game for the following six months.
One of this book's biggest strength is the writting style. It's been a while since I read a book that didn't have a single dialogue or scene that made me feel that it was cheesy, or that I would've wanted to be worded out better at certain parts. Loved how the author built up many of the crucial moments, delivering good punches thanks to the good writting.
Speaking about a build up, another positive thing I found was the good tension and progression of the mystery surrounding Morgan. There were many scenes were I felt that this was a horror because of how they were written almost like jumpscares. Morgan was just a really creepy character, but very interesting too and this made the story more intriguing. I could never guess when or what would be his next move, meaning the pacing was well balanced.
I also wanted to highlight were the well constructed characters. Lex and Morgan are very different from each other, but at the same time they have a characteristic that draws the other in, to the point of not being able to avoid getting involved with each other. Starting with jealousy and curiosity from both, it went escalating until an explosive moment that was worth the wait. As it's said on the blurb, it is more of a slow ride. The two MCs felt real with actual motives and distinctive personalities, especially Morgan - whom I was worried would act like a caricature of a psychopath but it was the total opposite. I really liked his lines, I love a character with a smart mouth.
The violent dynamic was fascinating as well. I always crave for dark books to go as dark as possible, and this one showed it wasn't afraid to do so. It comes down to a freak4freak couple of two horrible people (considering a jaw-dropping reveal about Lex), and the progression of their relationship up until that point was really well done. It reminds me a bit of Hannibal and Will from the Hannibal show, where one of them is very into the other despite denying it, while said man wants to draw the "hidden monster" inside of him.
Now I'll start with the details I wasn't a big fan of , and I really wished these didn't clouded the story or else it would've easily been a five stars for me:
-While I am thankful the CWs disclosed about the M/F scene because it's something I usually skip or try to avoid, it still bothered me that up until like 70%, Lex . I could perhaps understand it coming from him because even when he was realizing that he was into Morgan, it was still a push-and-pull thing. But still, it didn't allow me to fully enjoy some of the following moments between them. I thought that the "brief M/F scene" meant just one thing, but it just kept going and going (not talking about sex), not really my thing.
-The fact that nothing changed regarding Morgan's fiance. I could find a reasoning about this similar behaviour from Lex, but for Morgan I don't get it. Maybe it's because he wanted to pretend to be a well adjusted person, but still I don't really know why the book ended without a conclusion about it. I was hoping for the epilogue to give clousure on this detail, but nothing, unless I missed a sentenced or two. I'd give it a pass if this wasn't a standalone, but from what I'm seeing so far - it is.
-I have some mixed feelings about how women were used in the book. I'm not assuming or affirming anything, but I believe the execution of their "roles" in the story could've been better. I just don't like the whole "MC takes a girl out/has a fiance" and that serving only to make the other jealous while both still continue with those side(?) relationships. I guess it all comes down to both being horrible men lol. The narrative showed some sympathy towards Kate, but I can't say the same about Wendy. To be fair, most of the thoughts that made me uncomfortable were from Morgan's pov and he is supossed to be creepy, plus he hates everyone lol.
-I saw the list of content warnings had dubcon, and I'm not sure if my standards are different but I didn't feel any scene that could count as that? All of the smut scenes have Morgan bringing out Lex's true desires. As someone who's into dubcon/noncon in fiction, I was looking forward to it, but it never came :(.
Other than those details, I found everything else excelling at what it wanted to deliver. I especially liked the ending, it felt like things came to a full circle and I love finales like that, where everything falls into place.
Ultimately, the book tells a dark story about two very flawed people that find in each other their true desires, a couple made in hell that fit perfectly but not in the healthiest way. The book took its time to develop its characters and show actual evolution in their dynamic. It's a tense and engaging slow ride.
-This was an ARC review.
Tags: (might miss some of them)
-POV: third person
-Content warnings:
-Elements:
-Kinks:
-Sexual act(s):
-Dynamic:
The story is about Lex, a guy coming back to his family's estate after his father dies. He meets his stepbrother Morgan again after years of not seeing each other. Truth is, Lex has always wanted to get along with him, but Morgan treats him as a nuisance. He started having a fixation on him when they used to live together, remembering the time he saw his brother commit horrid acts in the woods. Both arrange to work together due to a clause in their father’s will, but it won't be easy - especially when Morgan suggests to play a twisted game for the following six months.
One of this book's biggest strength is the writting style. It's been a while since I read a book that didn't have a single dialogue or scene that made me feel that it was cheesy, or that I would've wanted to be worded out better at certain parts. Loved how the author built up many of the crucial moments, delivering good punches thanks to the good writting.
Speaking about a build up, another positive thing I found was the good tension and progression of the mystery surrounding Morgan. There were many scenes were I felt that this was a horror because of how they were written almost like jumpscares. Morgan was just a really creepy character, but very interesting too and this made the story more intriguing. I could never guess when or what would be his next move, meaning the pacing was well balanced.
I also wanted to highlight were the well constructed characters. Lex and Morgan are very different from each other, but at the same time they have a characteristic that draws the other in, to the point of not being able to avoid getting involved with each other. Starting with jealousy and curiosity from both, it went escalating until an explosive moment that was worth the wait. As it's said on the blurb, it is more of a slow ride. The two MCs felt real with actual motives and distinctive personalities, especially Morgan - whom I was worried would act like a caricature of a psychopath but it was the total opposite. I really liked his lines, I love a character with a smart mouth.
The violent dynamic was fascinating as well. I always crave for dark books to go as dark as possible, and this one showed it wasn't afraid to do so. It comes down to a freak4freak couple of two horrible people (considering a jaw-dropping reveal about Lex), and the progression of their relationship up until that point was really well done. It reminds me a bit of Hannibal and Will from the Hannibal show, where one of them is very into the other despite denying it, while said man wants to draw the "hidden monster" inside of him.
Now I'll start with the details I wasn't a big fan of , and I really wished these didn't clouded the story or else it would've easily been a five stars for me:
-While I am thankful the CWs disclosed about the M/F scene because it's something I usually skip or try to avoid, it still bothered me that up until like 70%, Lex . I could perhaps understand it coming from him because even when he was realizing that he was into Morgan, it was still a push-and-pull thing. But still, it didn't allow me to fully enjoy some of the following moments between them. I thought that the "brief M/F scene" meant just one thing, but it just kept going and going (not talking about sex), not really my thing.
-The fact that nothing changed regarding Morgan's fiance. I could find a reasoning about this similar behaviour from Lex, but for Morgan I don't get it. Maybe it's because he wanted to pretend to be a well adjusted person, but still I don't really know why the book ended without a conclusion about it. I was hoping for the epilogue to give clousure on this detail, but nothing, unless I missed a sentenced or two. I'd give it a pass if this wasn't a standalone, but from what I'm seeing so far - it is.
-I have some mixed feelings about how women were used in the book. I'm not assuming or affirming anything, but I believe the execution of their "roles" in the story could've been better. I just don't like the whole "MC takes a girl out/has a fiance" and that serving only to make the other jealous while both still continue with those side(?) relationships. I guess it all comes down to both being horrible men lol. The narrative showed some sympathy towards Kate, but I can't say the same about Wendy. To be fair, most of the thoughts that made me uncomfortable were from Morgan's pov and he is supossed to be creepy, plus he hates everyone lol.
-I saw the list of content warnings had dubcon, and I'm not sure if my standards are different but I didn't feel any scene that could count as that? All of the smut scenes have Morgan bringing out Lex's true desires. As someone who's into dubcon/noncon in fiction, I was looking forward to it, but it never came :(.
Other than those details, I found everything else excelling at what it wanted to deliver. I especially liked the ending, it felt like things came to a full circle and I love finales like that, where everything falls into place.
Ultimately, the book tells a dark story about two very flawed people that find in each other their true desires, a couple made in hell that fit perfectly but not in the healthiest way. The book took its time to develop its characters and show actual evolution in their dynamic. It's a tense and engaging slow ride.
-This was an ARC review.
Tags: (might miss some of them)
-POV: third person
-Content warnings:
-Elements:
-Kinks:
-Sexual act(s):
-Dynamic:
June 12, 2025
The author did say this book was pitch black, but it definitely was a “wtf did I just read” but in a good way. One of our MMC’s thrive on conflicting pain and the effects it has after. Which definitely is really dark when it comes to this occurring to our other MMC. Definitely a slow burn but worth the wait, because once it is delivered, ITS DELIVERED!
⚠️Please be mindful this is a very dark book your mental health matters, please read trigger warnings if you at all feel it might be to dark. ⚠️
⚠️Please be mindful this is a very dark book your mental health matters, please read trigger warnings if you at all feel it might be to dark. ⚠️
August 30, 2025
Lose yourself completely... I dare you!!!😍😍😍
A tantalizing and twisted game of depravity. Morgan's mind will leave your breathless. Lex will leave you wondering. Both have such darkness it's hard to find your way. This world inside their minds are brutal and desperate. Demanding truths too costly! This is a mesmerizing fall into the human condition! Truly dizzying!😁 I highly recommend this crazy ride!😘 **Check your triggers**
A tantalizing and twisted game of depravity. Morgan's mind will leave your breathless. Lex will leave you wondering. Both have such darkness it's hard to find your way. This world inside their minds are brutal and desperate. Demanding truths too costly! This is a mesmerizing fall into the human condition! Truly dizzying!😁 I highly recommend this crazy ride!😘 **Check your triggers**
April 1, 2025
Okay seriously, as someone who is fairly new-ish to MM romances this book sits in the top 3 for sure!
This is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, stepbrothers and the dark romance is 😚🤌🏼 *chefs kiss*
E.M rapps, definitely knows how to create an alluring atmosphere that draws you into the story and keeps you captivated. I highly recommend to my dark MM romance lovers!!
This is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, stepbrothers and the dark romance is 😚🤌🏼 *chefs kiss*
E.M rapps, definitely knows how to create an alluring atmosphere that draws you into the story and keeps you captivated. I highly recommend to my dark MM romance lovers!!
March 30, 2025
As a beta and arc reader, this book just kept getting better and better! The characters are very diverse and enjoyable, and so is the plot and story! I would definitely recommend this book for readers who like slowburn, fastburn, or anyone who likes dark mm romance in general.
April 4, 2025
Really enjoyed this one. Nice and dark and fucked up.
I think it would have been better if it wasn’t written in third person though. It’s alright when it’s MF, but with MM it sometimes got confusing who «he» was referring to.
I think it would have been better if it wasn’t written in third person though. It’s alright when it’s MF, but with MM it sometimes got confusing who «he» was referring to.
June 12, 2025
This easily moved to one of my top reads this year. I knew not even halfway through that it would be. This was dark, twisted, and kept my full attention. Lex and Morgan were written so damn well along with the tension and intriguing storyline. Amazing. So ready to dive into the next book.
Read
March 18, 2025Sadly DNF’d it at around 28%
April 10, 2025
“Say my fucking name.”
“Did you come with my cock in your mouth, Lex?”
A little tiresome but even though the romance took a backseat.I was alreadydeep into this shit.
May 27, 2025
dark and messed up
May 14, 2025
It started off good, and I loved the characters. They’re funny. But a lot was lacking. It had so much potential
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews