Ink, Blood, and Other Afflictions: Episode One

Ink, Blood, and Other Afflictions

by Kristen Coar

Do not read this book. Seriously. It’s completely unhinged.
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Still here? Well, crap. Fine. Just remember. I warned you.

Vera would have been a typical librarian—except for that one time she opened the wrong book and got possessed by a dark goddess. Now, every time she ends a life, she experiences the kind of mind-blowing orgasm that could crack the foundations of her apartment. And Nikolai? He’s the immortal begging to be her next victim. It’s dark, spicy, and just the right kind of wrong—want a taste?

A novella.

Genres: Dark Romance, Novella, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural, Dark, Audiobook

88 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2025

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting start to a series! With Halloween coming up, I've been investing more time into short, scary/darker themed stories.

The MFC is a serial killer and the MMC is a masochistic vampire. Maybe. We aren't sure what he is exactly yet. My guess is vampire. He's definitely some ancient immortal. It was a fun quick read and I'm excited to see what comes next!

Triggers definitely apply. Quick spice.

I received an ALC of this book and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this spicy little novella. What a unique and fun concept, a librarian accidentally makes a deal with a goddess, and now she must do some rather questionable things in order to experience pleasure. And yes, it’s just as wild and entertaining as it sounds.

She meets her perfect match, and from there, things really take off. The chemistry was great, the premise felt fresh, and the pacing was spot-on. I also really enjoyed the main character, she’s charming, relatable, and someone you genuinely root for.

There’s a mystery element woven in as well, which added an extra layer to the story and has me so excited for Episode 2. I need to know what happens next.

Big thanks to the author for the ARC. This was such a fun, fast read and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are wanting a good palette cleanser for your reading this novella is what you need to read. It is dual pov but you do get to hear from the goddess. This story is about our fmc who finds a goddess trapped inside of a book and was released with her saying the incantation. What our fmc would soon find out was the only way for the goddess to feel satisfied is through killing and blood. Then we have our mmc who accidentally stumbles upon our fmc after her committing a murder. Don’t worry tho he is a sweetheart and cleans the mess up for her and even leaves a black rose for her to find the next day. Then the story goes on from there with funny banter, spice and a trip to Home Depot for cleaning supplies lol. It does end on a cliff hanger.

[verena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3/5 stars 🌟
This was fast, sharp, and gloriously unhinged—in the best way possible. The tone is wickedly dark with just the right amount of humor and heat. I had fun reading it, no doubt about that.

But I was left wanting more—more world-building, more background, more depth. It felt like a delicious teaser rather than a fully fleshed-out story. The potential here is huge, and if this turns into a longer series or full novel? I’m in.

Thanks to the author for the ARC—this was a wild little ride, and I’ll absolutely be keeping an eye out for what’s next.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera is a librarian who becomes cursed by the goddess. Unfortunately, this turns her into a serial killer who literally cannot climax unless someone dies. When she meets her immortal match...will he be her next victim?

This was such a fun novella! I really enjoyed the little bit of artwork that was inserted toward the end - sweet and spicy! I also liked the chemistry between these two characters and their pacing felt good. I'm looking forward to reading the other episodes in this series!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

[Reading_with_AAron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed so hard throughout this short, quick, and new take on stalker romance! Our main characters are spunky and hilarious I can't wait for episode 2! So happy to have been a part of the beta team for this!Plus size FMC librarian, gets off on unaliving because of a curse? Heck yeah this book is hilarious a must read!

[Elena Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this is a thick girl fmc who is literally ignoring the mmc, giving him no attention even tho she is aware he’s there. I also love that when they finally do interact she keeps that confidence about herself. Vera is totally opposite from most fmcs especially the librarians that are usually very submissive and quiet. She is headstrong and aggressive with him and I love it so much. It’s a breath of fresh air.

The authors writing is very poetic and so well written. Literally she is so good at alliteration… as a creative writing major, it’s a turn on lol.

There was also so many parts where I actually laughed out loud like when Vera calls Nikolai a “gothic secret Santa with a questionable moral compass”

I felt like I related to this fmc so much even the way Nikolai was describing the way she sets up her food to eat and then starts reading a few pages before she actually eats it was just so on point except I drink Coke Zero instead of diet 😂 I really loved Vera and her attitude and the way she presents herself. She’s who I try to be.

I also think the goddess is funny asf and I want to see more of her in the future. When Vera said someone is meddling and the goddess said surely you don’t mean me 😂 I was dead.

This was such a quick read with great writing and a unique storyline. I enjoyed it. Thank you Kristen for the ARC. I can’t wait to read what’s next 👀

[Lacey May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This releases on Sept 8th and will be on KU
ummm this was interesting LOL. I'm so glad the author kept this short and to the point. it makes me excited for part 2. I found the paranormal aspect a fun twist to the story and I actually like all the characters.
When Vera, a Librarian opens the wrong book and gets possessed by a goddess. Now everytime she ends a life she has a mind blowing orgasam lol. Nikolai, is a paranormal being himself but what happens when him and Vera's world collide.

[BookMarkedbyNicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a quick, short little novella. That had spice, a little gore, and a librarian.

[Chelsea fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was a fun little paranormal spicy murder romance! I didn’t know that was a thing, but this story definitely charted its own path. If you want a quick, crazy, sweet and spicy read, I recommend picking this one up!

[Tayler Borre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique and unhinged novella. The snarky goddess was a interesting twist to the FMC.
MMC Nikolai is immortal sunshine stalker who loves getting deleted. Its a nice short read!

[cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, sassy, paranormal read that I absolutely devoured! It was only 80 pages long, so I was left wanting more character development, more yearning, more connection but regardless this a darker theme that I haven't come across yet which was incredibly refreshing and appreciated. I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this, and I can't wait for what's next from this author.

[💕📚Cassie📚💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review!

5⭐️ 🌶️4

It’s a quick, fun read packed with details and action right from the start. So much happens within the first few pages! It’s a paranormal dark romance that follows a librarian with some very interesting extra hobbies lol.

I loved the cat-and-mouse vibes throughout the read It’s dark and twisted, but with humor sprinkled in. I know what you’re thinking how? But trust me, once you read it, it makes sense lol.

The author did a great job of capturing the story and giving us solid perspectives from both the FMC and MMC for this novella. By the end of it, you’ll feel like you need more of this world which is a good thing

What to expect? Unhinged moments mixed with laughter. If that’s your thing, this one’s for you. If not, you might want to look the other way lol.

Such enjoyable read with twist and turns that feeds dark romance readers who also have dark humor vibes

If you enjoyed Butcher and Blackbird, you’ll enjoy this. They’re two different stories, but the vibes definitely there.

A special thank you to the author, thank you Kristen for allowing me to be a part of your arc team i appreciate it. All of your hard work and words mean so much to me

[Madison Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vera is a librarian who read the wrong book out loud. She read a passage from a goddesses book that has a curse on it. Now Vera must do not so legal things to get off, if you know what I mean.

Nikolai is an immortal who can only get off by being 💀. One night, while walking around looking for trouble, he witnesses Vera, covered in a red liquid after doing questionable things. He begins following her. What could go wrong?

First off, I absolutely love when I find a book with a plot I haven't read before. I like new and fresh ideas. The fact that this story is being done in episodes, makes me feel like I'm reading a Netflix series, and it is cool. Except it has cliffhangers just like Netflix series, and no one likes a cliffhanger. Now I must wait for episode 2 to find out what happens next.

[Charley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like your books unhinged, dark, spicy and full of tension with mysterious intrigue then Ink, Blood and Other Afflictions is for you!

The chemistry and tension between the FMC and MMC is immensely intense and had me gasping and squealing constantly! I found the dialogue to be passionate without being cringey, something hard to achieve for me personally, especially within a novel with darker themes such as this one.

The pov’s alternating each chapter kept the story feeling fresh whilst also allowing insight into both characters motives which I found to actually be helpful in keeping up the intrigue rather than squashing it altogether. The pacing felt perfect for the subject matter and length of this episode too.

Kristen Coar has mastered this genre of storytelling and has become as auto-read author for me personally because of this.

I feel so honoured to have been given the opportunity to read this episode ahead of publication. All opinions within this review are my own and are truthful in regard to my personal thoughts and feelings.

That cliffhanger…?! I honestly can’t wait to read episode two!

[Marissa.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun take on a paranormal, spicy, murderous read!

This is a short novella where honestly not much can be said without spoiling it. This follows a librarian who finds an old book and is then cursed. She has a hilarious and blood thirsty goddess now living in her head. She can only feel pleasure while murdering someone, who she usually happens to find on tinder. Until one day someone sees her after the act and proceeds to clean up the crime scene for her, and leaves a single black rose. How romantic right!

She has now found herself with a little stalker who may end up being her perfect match! All while another serial unaliver is on the loose!

I cannot wait to continue this fun murderous little novella series! This was a quick one sitting read that was honestly such a fun time!

Thank you so much to Kristen Coar for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review!

[☆ Allanah • Cosmic's Library ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Oh yeah, what a gift. Mind-blowing orgasms and a corpse to dispose. Truly, I am living the dream.”

What a crazy ride!! This was so hilarious, unique and unhinged. It also had me feeling incredibly conflicted because... It's somehow sexy, but in the weirdest way possible. I genuinely can't explain it without sounding slightly unwell, so you're just going to have to experience this story for yourself. Trust me.

The characters were so much fun, and I was genuinely impressed by the world-building. That's something that can be difficult to pull off in a novella with such limited pages, but Kristen absolutely nailed it. The world felt fully realised, the characters had so much personality.

I'm already so excited to jump into the next episode because I need to see what chaotic, ridiculous, and probably slightly concerning scenes await me next.

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in one sitting. It's so good, By the Goddess do not wait on this. It's a super quick read and so damn entertaining. I cannot believe that I was lucky enough to receive this early and I am so excited for the rest of these episodes to be released. Episode 1 follows our main female character as she has come to terms with what her new life is going to be like and is finding a way to get her fill. The main male character is like her perfect match exactly everything she needs to be absolutely satisfied, they complement each other in all levels, DIFFERENT as they are. And he's so mysteriously charming *swoon*. I had the worst grin when they "met" for the first time it was so damn awkward and cute in all the strange ways possible. I clearly want to get my hands on more. Preferably now.

[Krystle Rafanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this novella in one sitting. I enjoyed the concept of a librarian making a deal with a Goddess. She in turn has to do really bad things to enjoy "pleasure" 😉. She meets someone who can help her achieve these "tasks". There was some great funny banter and really funny moments that had me giggle. This novella does end in a cliffhanger and I am so excited for episode 2.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

[Toni Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely unhinged and I loved everything about this. Reading this I felt as though I was watching a show and I need to watch more and more. She has a goddess within her that that has no issues meddling and he well… he’s definitely okay with her blade in his chest. I immediately ran to get into the next one and I can’t wait for this entire show to read it from beginning to end. I’m just saying that’s librarian you don’t want to mess with.

[LuvKayKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was just scrolling on my kindle and saw this novella series and it looked interesting so I decided to try it out. I can’t lie I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. It’s different and I like it. I like the concept and I’m surprised how much I was into it. I’m very intrigued to know more about Nikolai and Vera. The moment David was introduced I did not like him. Something is up with him and I have my eye on him.

[Misty Majors · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read!
Episode 1 in a 4 part series.
I loved Vera! And fell for Nikolai right away. He’s a stalker. But make it cinnamon roll demon? YES. ALSO cleans up your murder scene and leaves a black rose. 😍

Tropes:
🖤Possessed FMC
🥀Morally grey Immorral MMC
🔪Supernatural Dark romance


This story is everything I needed and then some! 🖤

[SAV · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book and had such a fun time! It was a quick and easy read and an easy plot to follow along. I thought the idea of the book was quite fun as well, the fmc basically gets “possessed” by a goddess, think venom but dark paranormal romance without the shapeshifting bit 🤣 anyways, I’m really excited for the next book in this series! 🥰

[Lydia Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha! This was an interesting read! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but your girl had a good time! It was a fun mix of humor, spice, unaliving, and chaos!
Vera, our librarian friend, makes a deal with a goddess, and the only way she can enjoy herself (😉) is if she has to shmurder…
Yup, you read that right! If that doesn’t get you to read this shortie when it comes out, then I don’t know what will…
Thanks, Kristen Coar, for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Martha Hettel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fast paced quirky paranormal thriller/dark romance I enjoyed this arc read! Vera is a piece of work!

[Bethanys_bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love . Imagine only being able to get the big O when you kick somebody else’s life that’s right our girl here can only get off when well somebody else’s life is cut off. But then she meets somebody and oh boy this mysterious person comes out and ends up being our girls Favorite fantasy come along for this sexy and such a fun ride if you’re looking for spice with plot this, my my friend is the story you need. It’s a little bit fantasy a little bit magic, a little bit death goddess, and a lot of bit hard-core spice and I love it.

[SelkieReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little novella. Easy to read and no big danger…. Yet!!!
But obviously there is a ton we don’t know and I have a sneaky suspicion that Mr. Good Guy, is actually a big bad!
We’ll see!!!!!

[Heather Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick, dark and spicy read! I thought the concept was unique. Their chemistry was great. I really like the FMC. There’s some mystery thrown in there as well. Can’t wait for episode 2!

[Samantha Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and spicy read!I absolutely love Vera, she is a an unsuspecting predator which makes her so much more appealing than an obvious baddie.
I also love seeing a curvy FMC get love and attention! The pair of them is 🔥🔥🔥