Icicle: A Dark Romance Novelette

by Torrence Robb

Calista has been let down by every man she's ever known, from her father to prep school classmates, to random men she meets at clubs. A brutal assault in high school leaves her with emotional scars as well as a deep seated rage that fuels her.

She takes up self-defense when she starts university, and takes her safety and well being into her own hands. Icicles become weapons in her skilled hands, and she leaves no survivors when it comes to abusers. Instead, she leaves a unique calling card on each body.

Months before graduating university, Calista runs into her worst bully from her prep school days. He has no idea who she is, thanks to the glow-up she's had. As she's plotting the details of when and how she's going to end him, she meets someone, but there's a catch: he's the father of her next victim.

If she comes clean to him, will she lose him and go to prison? Or can he accept that the woman he's obsessed with is the Ice Queen of Indiana?

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Amazon, Novella

66 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2025

Reviews

[Amee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and left me wanting more! I love a good vigilante justice served up.

[Layna Leighann · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️/3🔥

Female Vigilante

Icicle is a novella about a woman who suffered emotional and physical abuse at the hands of a high school bully and unfit parents. This woman is no longer taking anybody's sh!t and builds herself into a warrior for women.

Unexpectedly, she meets a much older man who sweeps her off her feet and treats her like the princess she is, but will he accept the darker side of her? Oooohhh, this story went exactly how I wanted it to, and hope that it'll flourish into a full-scale novel so I can read more about Calista and Erich's story.

[Areadingsunflower · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing felt choppy and a little juvenile. Not what I expected exactly, but wasn't the worst thing I've read. Love an older man! Overall it was ok and still recommend if you want a super quick read.

[Emmy Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s a short novella with the perfect mix of smut and plot. I love a good female serial unaliver and some feminine rage. Calista is so morally grey and he’s so sweet, he has no idea what he’s gotten into. Also she’s so smart too, killing with icicles because they leave no fingerprints is genius. Honestly I was expecting that ending to be a little more intense with more substance but I still liked this a lot! And for being less than 100 pages it had an amazing plot! I give it a 4/5

[Sydnie Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a thing for feminine rage….

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts: 👉 While I feel this story could’ve benefited from a bit more character development and overall more detail, I still enjoyed it. Some novellas are well put together and detailed despite being short, whereas others feel a bit rushed as if everything was stuffed inside the short number of pages, this one felt rushed.

What I Enjoyed: 👉 Love a good feminine rage story! A girl who’s treated like trash, made fun of due to her weight and then brutally attacked and possibly SA’ed, who then turns around and learns self defense and becomes a bada$$ who takes out men that abuse women… go girl! Female serial unaliver stories are my jam, because strong women are inspiring. I also enjoyed the age gap trope between her and the man she falls for.

What I Didn’t Care For: 👉 It felt a bit unrealistic to say that an almost 23 y/o woman has never touched herself before. Also felt a bit off that she’d go home with this man she doesn’t know on a first date after all she’s been through. And I felt there needed to be more said regarding the revelation that her school bully and attacker wound up being her love interests’ son. That was just glossed right over. And the ending felt extremely hurried, leaving me a bit disappointed.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Tropes 👇

- Female Serial Unaliver
- Age gap (20+ yrs)
- Pierced 🍆
- Daddy k!nk
- Insta-Lust
- On page spice
- Revenge
- First person, single POV

TW’s 👇

- Implied SA (but unsure due to being unconscious)
- Physical Assault/bodily harm
- Drugging
- Improper use of icicles
- Minor gore
- Murder
- Explicit language
- Torture
- Verbal and physical bullying due to body size
- Kidnapping
- Spicy scene in room w corpse present

[Priscilla Herchold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, let's get this out of the way immediately. When it says, "Dark Romance Novelette"... heavy emphasis on the dark. Read those trigger warnings - no, really, read them because I can imagine someone flipping past them and then whining that this dark. Yeah... duh.

Cool, you've read the trigger warnings. Dive on in! It's a novelette so I really can't give much away, and the synopsis sums the story up. Age gap + bully's father? As if I wasn't going to read this.

That being said, I have the same critique with this novelette that I have with all novelettes and novellas when they pack a punch - give me more! Robb does a lot here and could certainly have made this a full-length novel if desired. The psychology of the FMC, Calista, alone would have been a deep dive novel and then the bully's father, Erich? Could totally be a novel (Torrence, if you make this a full-length novel, I fully support you!!).

The only other thing for me was the pacing - with so much here it did take me a bit to grasp what was going on when. But that sorted itself out and I carried on reading about the (mis)use of icicles.

So if you want something dark and short with a side of rage, give this a go!

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy

[Rhiannon Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Icicle - Torrence Robb

I’m a sucker for any book that has a good for her vibe and this book has it. I just love books with a feminine rage and revenge and getting justice and vengeance on abusers and the people that hurt them. I love Calista and I would love to read more books about her or have this book be a series. I loved Calista and Erich and the chemistry they had and how he didn’t stop her, but helped her. I really do love this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 66 pages

Release Date 🌟 6/13/25

Format 💫 Digital

Series 🌙 Unknown/Not Applicable

Genre/Tropes ✨ dark romance, serial killer FMC, plus sized FMC, age gap, revenge plots, vengeance, good for her

Favorite Character ☀️ Calista

Favorite Line 🌟 ‘I want to play with him before I kill him.’

[Shellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't had the chance to read Torrence's Hoof It, but I've already seen and heard good things! However, Icicle was my first introduction to Torrence's work, and I loved it for a novelette. It felt like reading lengthy one-shot of a character. But with that thought, it had a bit of a rushed feel. Torrence did say this was not the end for Calista, so knowing a longer version will be coming sometime in the future, I'm eager to see more of Erich and Calista together. I loved this book, and I'd recommend it in a heart beat to anyone who wants spicy but doesn't have time for a super long book sitting. - There are so many books out there where women for their stalkers or murderous MMCs, so I'm glad there's a FMC grabbing the reins and getting loved for all the dark corners of her soul.

[Samantha Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED reading this female rag3 novella! It’s fast paced, spicy and full of rag3 and v3ngence!


SPOILERS BELOW 👇🏼






Calista is a strong MFC, she endured a tr@um@tic a$$ult in high school. In college she comes across the man who bulli3d and a$$ulted her. She has plans to let her rage out. Enter smexy Erich.

Erich see a gorgeous young woman on his way to a dinner meeting. They decided to have dinner together. He is captivated by her beauty and Calista is hooked by his smexy body! 😉

When Erich learns the truth about her he doesn’t leave or run, he stays with her and tells her how much she means to him.


🔥Age Gap (47/23)
💀Female Serial Unaliver
🔥Spicy
💀Pierced 🍆
🔥Novella

[Felicia Seay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark and twisted accounting of a trauma survivor's journey to empowerment. This novelette is an incredible read. With a strong and resilient young female lead character, an array of drastically violent bullying and surprising reveals. Justice is a dish, best served cold. I only wish there was more to the story. A great quick read choice for fans of Dark Romance, Crime Drama, Age-Gap Romance and Thriller stories.

[Ivy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, oh man, do I love a woman with a thirst for vengeance!

This gave big-time Lana Myers’s energy and I was absolutely here for it.

If I had to complain, I would complain that I wanted the story to go on a little bit longer, but I definitely think that there is room for that in the future if the author ever wants to explore it.

What I did read, I thoroughly enjoyed. Dark (check those triggers), gritty, and satisfying in all the ways that female rage should be. Loved it.

[Sierra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, should've DNFd this. Absolute garbage and not the 'it's so unhinged but I love it!' kind. I read the trigger warnings so I was expecting the fat phobia. However, I was expecting it from other characters! Not the FMC's thoughts about herself! And the way in which it was mentioned in literally every other chapter was exhausting! And then the ending?! The MMC is her bully's dad and helps her unalive him?! I'm calling bs! If I could give it negative stars I would.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

[SPOILER ALERT - Just in case]

Okay, this is my first impression of this author and I enjoyed this novelette. I understand since it is a short read, some of the writing felt a bit rushed, so I would LOVE to see this as a complete novel with more in-depth world building, character development, and plot development.

Now on to the story, in a nutshell, Calista is not here to play! This girl has been through it: absentee dad, asshole prep school boys, creepy club dudes, and the absolute worst—a violent assault that left her scarred in every possible way. But instead of breaking, she gets therapy and goes full vigilante. (I love me a good FMC being her own hero!) Fast forward a few years to college, she’s been working out, training in self-defense, is dangerous, and done putting up with anyone’s BS. She’s not just protecting herself, she’s cleaning house.

Just when she’s wrapping up her revenge tour, who does she run into but her biggest high school nightmare—older, smug, and blissfully unaware of who she is now. But plot twist: she also meets a guy who’s actually… nice? Smart? Kind?? The catch? A silver fox if you will, who starts mending her damaged parts and happens to be the dad of her high school bully.

Calista is a certified badass and is unapologetically herself (love that for her). Angry, brilliant, and deadly. She’s complicated and scarred and totally captivating. You get why she’s doing what she’s doing. And honestly? It’s hard not to cheer her on. This isn’t a “justice is served and we all go home happy” kind of story. It’s about trauma, rage, power, and the cost of taking control. And it never gets preachy—it just lets you sit in the grey.

[Celeste Norsworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short novellette. I think that it had great development, and I could personally relate to some of the trauma the FMC was put through. I liked how she was a serial unaliver, which had a significant impact on the overall plot. I am very interested to see where her and Erich's love story goes from the end of the book. Definitely worth reading going forward!

[Kayleigh Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book from a self-rec, and honestly, I’m so glad they put it out there. As a woman, I totally connected with Calista/Lynette. We love a girl who takes charge and gets revenge for the ones who can’t. If you're in the mood for a quick read packed with feminine rage, spice, and some serious payback with a plot twist this book is for you!

[Phoenixinruin P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
4🌶️

Okay, we love a female that takes charge and she meets a DILF, okay!! We also love a female that isn’t just fit with the perfect butt and boobs, and is realistic. I’m glad that she got her revenge and was able to do so in her own time.

Honestly this is another book I read that has Jacob’s ladder, are authors getting together and putting it in their books now?

[Abbey Antwine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy female rage

I don't normally review on novellas but this one deserves one. It deserves an amazing review. Is the quickly developed love a little hokey for me, yes, but I am totally new to the novella reading game and how can we have our hea in a super quick read without quickly moving feelings?! The scene at the end, yes. Please yes.

[RissaReadsBooks91 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the triggers but really good!!

This novelette was only 66 pages but it packed a whole lot of a punch. The triggers definitely need to be read because there was a lot of dark themes in it. But I have to say even though it was short, it was still really good. This book would be such a great full length book and I would soak up every bit of it.

[Brittany Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the pleasure of being selected for the ARC team and I loved this novelette so much, the perfect amount of darkness and love and just! I can't wait to read more about Calista and Erich, and the twist🤯

[thekatz_meoww · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good novella. My heart was breaking for the fmc and what she went through in her younger years. I’m glad she was able to get herself the justice she deserved, while also finding love and a supportive man 💜💜

[Ashley Serino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Novelette was really good. It's fast-paced, tells a full story, and has no plot holes.

The FMC is insecure, bullied, and traumatized in the beginning. In this short story, you see her growth and regain some power.

It's also spicy🤭

It's a good, quick read.

[Manda PandaMonium · Rating 5 out of 5]

Icicle
Torrence Robb
rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

this is a short but amazing story of feminine rage and taking empowerment from being bullied.... to the extreme.
this taste of Calista has me craving more of her.

Preorder today! https://books2read.com/Icicle

#bookstagram #booksta #Icicle #TorrenceRobbauthor #preorder #darkromance #femininerage #revenge #bullysfather #agegap @torrence.robb.author

[Tattedbooknerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, short high spice but like the ending was wtf
Don't get me wrong it was good and had plot but like umm excuse me why did it end so abruptly.
But if your looking for a short spicy amd has plot then this is for you.

[Jules Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calista the baddie!!!! Another fantastically written story by Torrence Robb. The bully made me want to vomit quite a few times, but then there was that one bit with the icicle. I can't wait for her to take this story deeper in its lore

[Dayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fast read! You get a little back ground and then a time jump, you get a plot twist when she’s partnered with someone from her past, then another sort of time jump to her meeting Erich, then BAM it all comes full circle.

A nice read!

[Katrina Annamae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, fast paced, smutty read. I cannot wait to read more in the future from this author!

[616Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and effective. I love a book with no filler. I did not expect that ending. Can’t wait to see what the full length book evolves into.

[Jessica Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found Torrence on TikTok and I’m happy I did. This is my first book from her and I was in desperate need of a Novella. Icicle was perfect… a short, easy, spicy read with some feminine rage/revenge. It leaves you satisfied but also craving more of these two and their dynamic.

[Lauren Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torrence once again has hooked me with her works! First with hoof it and now icicle! I mean who doesn’t love a strong FMC! It’s a short book but definitely one that leaves you wanting more!