Under the quiet stillness of Corvus College, where ravens flock, and the grounds themselves whisper, Asher Ambrose and Silas Blackwood’s paths are irrevocably changed.
Silas
I’ve never been myself at Corvus College. I was obligated to come here because my dad is the university president, and I wanted to play collegiate rugby. But behind closed doors, I’m not who they’ve made me out to be.
When my failing grades force me under the wing of the school’s most notorious bookworm, my resolve is tested more than ever. I can’t let him know who I really am, but the more time we spend in the concealed archives, surrounded by candlelight, dust, and books, Asher starts to see straight through me.
What’s more, Corvus’ Halloween Fright Nights have led to a series of encounters with a masked stranger, and I can’t shake the feeling that I already know him.
Asher
My senior year was supposed to be a breeze, until a series of events changed everything. I suddenly find myself consumed by a blond, slacker jock, who is more complex than any book I’ve ever read. Silas Blackwood is everything I shouldn’t care about, but there’s something fractured behind his eyes that calls to me.
Corvus College hides its ghosts well, but I’ve always been sensitive to the things others seem to ignore. Like the way Silas watches me, starving for something no one else has ever given him.
When our masks are finally dropped, and everything he fears is at his feet, we’ll have to decide if what we’ve found in the dark can survive the light.
Nothing to Fear is book one in the interconnected Wicked Games series set at the elite, invite-only Corvus College. You can jock x nerd, enemies to friends to lovers, forced proximity, masked Fright Night encounters, dark academia vibes, a little bit of rugby, and a whole lot of spice. Nothing to Fear can be read as a standalone. Welcome to Corvus College.
Author, wife, mother, lover of reading, overcast skies, chilly weather, and hockey.
A romantic at heart, Jenn has always been a lover of books, and is constantly dreaming up heart-wrenching stories that will have you reaching for tissues and make you blush.
When Jenn's not writing, she can be found reading a spicy romance novel, watching scary movies, and enjoying her quiet life in New England, living out her real-life romance story.
Chill out, whatcha yellin' for? / Lay back, it's all been done before / And if you could only let it be… You will see~eee (Complicated – Avril Lavigne).
So, the fun stuff my YouTube algorithm's been showing me lately are those “gamer rage compilations” where people, Twitch Streamers usually, lose in a video game and go completely apeshit, all punching the hell out of anything in their immediate surroundings. Trust me, I could watch somebody get possessed with rage over video games made for children thousands of times and still laugh uproariously. And I don't do anything uproariously! Another's intense anger over something trivial never gets old to me, and you just know that controllers hate to see these dudes coming their way! I guess my point here is that whenever I feel I'm being too negative, I watch these videos of grown ass men slamming their keyboards over a game, and I suddenly don’t feel so bad about the ways I handle my anger. "I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad" and all that. In fact, maybe I should apply to be a monk or something, because I’m downright enlightened... I mean, comparatively so! Anyway, I didn’t like Nothing to Fear, and don't worry, I’m not going to sit here talking about how “this book is Temu Heated Rivalry” or how “the only thing we should fear is that it’s a generic sports romance in cheap Evanescence cosplay”, I would never say such things, I’m Zen, remember? Besides, a lot of the times I don’t even trust my own distaste, as there's a good chance this dislike doesn’t even belong to me. You know that movie Saltburn and how everybody hates it because it’s a cheap knockoff of Talented Mr. Ripley? It's directed by a hack director named Emerald Fennell whose “spicy Booktok” interpretation of Wuthering Heights ruined her film adaptation of the book... but anyway, the funny thing is that I actually enjoyed Saltburn a lot when I first watched it, and my souring on the movie only happened after I saw the poor reception that came afterward. I’m a wave rider, is what I’m trying to say. No but really, I think there’s an intoxicating kind of euphoria when you’re able to get together with other people and hate one thing specifically, and it’s easy to get caught up in the act of hating without actually examining what it is that made you hate in the first place.
While I can’t honestly say that I liked Nothing to Fear, I’m not going to sit here and proudly claim it’s a bad book that nobody should read. In fact, I’m sure that a lot of people will love it, as the dreary atmospheric landscape of Corvus College immediately gave off a strong sense of narrative presence in the same vein as Gotham City or Blackwell Academy from Life is Strange. Also, while I never grew to like either Asher or Silas, I still thought it was cool how the author made them as generic as possible in the beginning in order to give them ample time to shed their respective school stereotypes that defined them prior to their romance. It was very Breakfast Club in that way, and hey, if you’re going to take strong inspiration from something, it might as well be from one of the all-time greats! Cool, now let’s talk about something else, why don’t we? Like maybe we could start with what didn’t quite work for me. For one, even though Nothing to Fear tries its hardest to give off a gothic epic vibe, with every character having highly stylistic names like “Ambrose” or “Heart-Thorne” or whatever name you'd find using the “Edgar Allen Poe name generator”, I still found this book to more in line with typical “shirtless-man-on-the-cover books” like Tempted by Becca Steele and Felix by Emmy Sanders rather than something that really feels like a love letter to the genre à la the Dark is the Night series by Kelley York. I’ll stop name-dropping now, but I don't find it interesting when an aesthetic is just copied without an understanding of the societal context surrounding. It's the Cuphead conundrum! I just think that if you’re going for a gothic tale, then you’ve got to fully embrace all things gothic! I’m talking gargoyles perched on buildings, the prose being as dramatic and flowery as possible, a heavy emphasis on madness and isolation as a major theme, and hey... there had better be crows flying around somewhere! It’s like when The Weeknd started his Dawn FM era in a full old man costume because it fit the thematic styling of the album, and yet halfway through the tour he must have realized that it was too hard to sing and dance in a full Nosferatu outfit and instead swapped costumes with a too tight and unflattering G-Unit bullet-proof vest that made him look like Roadblock from G.I. Joe. I’m just saying, if you’re going commit to a bit, then you’ve got to put your whole bussy into it!
“He loved the beautifully broken boy I am and gave me the confidence to be who I am, fear be damned. The bookworm and the jock.”
Otherwise, one issue I had with the dynamic between Silas and Asher is that for long stretches of the book, they might have played into their respective roles a little too well. For one, Silas doesn’t really feel like Stardew Valley jock with a secret sensitive side and second, Asher is Jimmy Neutron pedantic. You might even say that I found the both of them insufferable! Small nitpick, but I noticed whenever authors write dudebro characters like Silas and there’s any mention of the hobbies they enjoy like video games, the narration never actually says what game they’re playing. It's a small thing, but come on now, nobody's ever out here saying, “hey, want to go play some video games?” instead they're like, “hey, let’s play [insert video game name here]!” Super Smash Bros., ARC Raiders, or even Call of Duty, I just feel like authors could do a little research when it comes to the typical things their characters are into. Are they competitive to where they'll smash the shit out of their keyboards? Trust me, I want to know! Besides, this way, I can then make fun of whatever games the characters are playing! It’s like how Donna Tart constantly used “Dragon Ball Z hair” as a descriptor for some side character’s hairdo in The Goldfinch, and it was instantly clear that her frame of reference for pop culture ended somewhere in the late 1990’s. Moving on though, it’s a good thing I already prefaced all of this haterade by introducing you to insane gamer rage up there, huh? Because otherwise, I might have seemed like a Negative Nancy! Look, I try not to go too hard in on criticizing writing in my reviews because the obvious retort is “let’s see you do better”, but I feel like Silas and his crew didn’t feel like bullies, just like... a bunch of dicks. I’m not saying I need them to be throwing slurs around every other page (actually, I’m totally okay with that), but I can’t deny that they existed more as mere nuisances than a real imposing threat to Silas and Asher’s relationship. I'm just wondering what was the point in fashioning their dynamic as a “nerd and jock” romance if there aren’t any real obstacles standing in the way of their happiness? Maybe I’m just too much of a dialogue hound, but it was so weak how the only thing they would taunt Asher with was calling him an “ass-kisser” throughout the entire book. “I know you are, but what am I?” ass insults.
And not to brag, but I feel like I’d be really good at being, like, a “bully advisor” to authors who need jabs with a bit more color. Have you ever seen that one tweet that’s like “how do little kids on Xbox Live know exactly what specific insult to call you” or whatever, and while I’m definitely not endorsing such behavior, if you’re writing a despicable character, then it would do you some good to study from the greats. Just spend some time in an Overwatch chat lobby and you'll learn the evil's of humanity. My final thoughts is that I was a little disappointed at the lack of a third-act conflict. That's not too weird, is it? Look, I know miscommunication as a story convention is often frustrating, but I really don’t think it’s necessarily a failure of the writing. As a blanket statement, I mean. Because the thing is, you can hardly say that people reading into every statement with the worst possible interpretation is an uncommon thing in real life. It’s like whenever influencers get into a little tiff with each other and in order to milk the most content out of the situation, they spread out several videos reacting to whatever the other person said in excruciating detail. And whenever they’re reading out the TwitLonger to their Twitch chat, they always, always, pause to make some inane counter-point after reading one sentence, and I'm just wondering if these clowns know how reading works!? You can’t read line by line when they're a part of a whole paragraph! Read the entire thing in its entirety and then react, you dolts! Do they not have object permanence or something? Because that’s wild. I’m just saying, you know a game of Peek-a-boo would fuck them up. Anyway, I would have been okay with a third-act break-up here caused by miscommunication. I just feel like there's no real point to a "nerd and jock" romance if they don't work out the differences in their social hierarchy, and if there's no dramatic climax, then the story goes out on a whimper. I didn’t love this, but I truly believe that sometimes the best palate cleanser is a book that’s kind of bad. Sure, Nothing to Fear was the reason why I’ve been reading so many comics recently, but you won't catch me slumping! ...I'ma get slouched instead.
You come over unannounced / Dressed up like you're somethin' else / Where you are ain't where it's at / You see, you're makin' me~ee.
This novella had me locked in to every single word!! Silas & Asher are enemies in real life, and unknowingly hook up after one masked, steamy night of fun. The two are forced together when Asher is tasked with tutoring Silas to bring his grades up. Forced proximity does its magic and one thing leads to another… 😏. Also contains some spooky suspense and hidden secrets!
Okay first of all, the vibes the setting provided were *chef’s kiss*. So spooky, sexy, and intimate!
Getting to see Silas and Asher find confidence and solace in each other was so beautiful. I loved their journey.
And that mutual self care scene?? 🥵 I have no lie thought about that every day since I finished this novella! I truly cannot explain how hot the spice was in this one 🌶️.
Thank you so much to Jenn Plummer and the smuthood for the arc of Nothing to Fear!
⚠️ My Goodreads shelves may be spoilerish in nature for microtropes, etc. look at your own risk!
If you were ever curious about what kind of book I enjoy reading, just pick up this one and find out for yourself because I had a GREAT time with Silas & Asher!
This book was equal parts spicy, thrilling, mysterious, sweet, possessive, and just simply FUN. So much fun.
It all starts with a secret, masked hookup that leads to so much more. Asher is the top of his class, a “nerd” if you will. He has big aspirations and nothing will stand in his way of perfect attendance and the highest grades he can possibly manage. So when he’s tasked with tutoring his enemy, Silas.. he knows everything is about to go to shit. Silas is a popular jock, good looking, and a slacker. He’s lazy, spoiled, and is hiding some big secrets about himself from everyone he knows.
These two strike up a bit of a friendship, an understanding, which leads to more in the HOTTEST of ways. And I mean HOT. We’re talking primal play, glory holes, hallway hookups in the dark & so much more.
Tag on a little bit of mystery, a hidden cemetery, and Halloween shenanigans? Well, you’ve got the perfect fall read right in your greedy little hands.
These two had me captivated from page one, and I can’t wait to see more of them in the future. Jenn has a new fan in me, and I’m so happy 🥹
Nothing to Fear gave me total God of Fury vibes (because of the masks 👀) and a bit of Infamous Park Avenue Prince — with that rich vs. poor / bookworm x sports prince dynamic and the whole school setting 🏫💫
The story was so sweet and just the right amount of spicy 😏 No unnecessary drama, no silly misunderstandings — just pure chemistry, great pacing, and a romance that made me smile the whole time 🥹💞
I could NOT put this down, and I can't believe it was my very first Jenn Plummer book!
The second I saw dark academia plus mm romance I went feral. The vibes? Immaculate. The atmosphere? Perfection. And Silas and Asher? Hands down one of my favorite couples of the year. Their dynamic was addictive, their connection had me screaming into my pillow (soulmates!), and I loved every single second with them.
🎃 The ultimate cozy-dark read for spooky season vibes.
This had such a strong start for me but ultimately fell right off the face of the earth. From the beginning, there were hints and clues dropped that seemed to be setting up the plot for a reveal or a moment of truth. Well, we got no such thing. Didn’t get anything at all the last 30% of the book except for spice.
I loved Asher’s character and was really intrigued to see how he fit into the school and the history, but we were robbed of any explanation. It gets mentioned that he had no idea why he received a letter to the college when he was a kid and it’s never touched on again in the book.
Silas was an interesting character. I appreciated his growth over the story but again we barely got a glimpse of it. It was all super rushed towards the end and just didn’t do their story justice in my opinion.
The setting was my favorite part. I loved the dark academia vibes but all other elements kind of felt forced. Almost like let’s just throw things at the wall and see what sticks.
This was soooo yummy that I finished it in ONE sitting.
As soon as I saw dark academia, MM, jock x nerd, I knew this would be too good to be true. TURNS OUT, IT WAS A 5 STAR READ 🤤😍
Asher, our nerd, is such a dominant character and I LOVE when the nerds are the dominant ones. It just hits different. When the captain of the rugby team, Silas Blackwood, turns into a whimpering mess for him? Jesus, hold me back. Charge my devices. Start running my cold shower.
The creepiness of this college mixed with the masked sexual encounters (yes, there is a gløry holy scene) AND having Silas figure out how to be who he truly is was an absolute fire combo.
This will now be one of my top spooky reads, AND top mm reads of the year 😍
Thank you so much to Jenn and The Smuthood for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Nothing to Fear!
Gothic MM romance in a creepy college with opposites attract and a delicious helping of “good boy” moments? Say LESS.
Asher is forced to tutor his nemesis, captain of the rugby team and all around jerk, Silas. When the two are behind closed doors they start to realize that maybe their dislike for each other has hidden their true feelings all along. While simultaneously exploring their connection, they also stumble upon more information that the school has hidden. When secrets start to be exposed- so do feelings and deep down- the love they have for one another.
Asher and Silas were such a fun little spooky novella with top notch spice and some of my most favorite microtropes. I loved seeing Asher come out of his shell and take charge in his relationship with Silas. And sweet baby Silas 🥹 his growth was beautiful and heartwarming while also being HOT AF. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Happy release day to my lovey, Jenn!! Number NINE in the books and I have loved being a part of your journey every step of the way. I hope everyone loves this fun, flirty + spooky novella just in time for October reads 🖤
Jenn Plummer continues to set the bar high for M/M romances.
While this book is a novella, it is not short on details or character development. This is also a book that I wish I could read for the first time again.
Asher Ambrose & Silas Blackwood are fated mates. They are brought together by Corvus College. A college that the grounds and walls are rumored to be deeply haunted, that the families that founded the school belonged to a secret society with dark magic and beliefs at the center.
Silas Blackwood Son of the college president Forced to attend Corvus College Not close with his family Captain of the Rugby team Assumed to be straight (fearful of being open with his true sexuality) Failing his senior year
Asher Ambrose Son of a single mother Close with his family (mother, sister, grandmother) His family received a postcard from Corvus College when Asher was 7. It left an impression on Asher. Known as a bookworm. Always studying and working hard Very interested in the history of Corvus College and the rumors of it being haunted Tutor
Read the book to learn how these perceived enemies come together (pun intended). You won’t’ regret it.
Thank you Jenn Plummer and The Smuthood for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy.
Tropes: MM romance, jock x nerd, opposites attract, forced proximity, gothic academia
⚠️ Please read trigger warnings before diving in
A deliciously eerie romance that’s equal parts haunting and seductive—this book was made for spooky season. The gothic academia setting wrapped me in shadows, and the creeping, haunted undertones added a sharp edge that kept me hooked.
Silas and Asher’s slow burn from enemies to lovers was intoxicating. Silas carried his secret desire in silence, afraid of the consequences of coming out, until the forced proximity of tutoring shattered his walls. The tension that unraveled between them was thick, dangerous, and oh-so-hot.
Asher stole the show for me—confident, commanding, and every bit the kind of dominant that makes your pulse race. And the anonymity scenes? Dark, thrilling, toe-curling perfection.
If you crave gothic vibes with a side of heat and heart, Nothing to Fear is one you won’t want to miss.
I devoured this book!!! The characters & the spooky vibes were exactly what I needed for a fall vibe.
Silas & Asher are going to live rent free in my brain for a long time. They started as masked strangers who hated each other & had anonymous hookups but then they quickly fell in love and their story was so beautiful 😭
Asher helps Silas embrace who he really is without shame & helps strip away his fear. Even though this book is extra spicy, there was so much emotion woven throughout that had me an absolute puddle for both of these men.
The tension & spice though….MY GODDDDD does it hit so good😮💨👏🏻
I’m completely obsessed. Thank you so much Jenn Plummer & The Smuthood for this ARC 🤍
i sat and read this book in a sitting. it had the perfect fall/spooky season vibes and is perfect for this time of year!
silas and asher were so perfect for each other! i loved how vulnerable silas was with asher, he let him see a side to him that nobody ever has! and i loved asher obsessiveness, he knew what he wanted and he was going to get it. i think the way that their relationship starts is very different and i loved that, it brought a whole other layer to them!
this book was so fun to read, i’m always going to love a dark academia setting.
Silas and Asher…please adopt me and let me see you in love for the rest of your lives! Safe to say I was obsessed with them since page one…maybe even since the cover reveal but whatever.
Jenn never fails to deliver characters that have layers and complexities all while writing a beautiful love story with the most amazing settings and interesting side characters that make you yearn for their stories.
Silas was heartbreaking and soft, so confused and scared but had the courage to be brave, he just needed the right motivation to get there. His journey was inspiring and so well written. Finding your spot in the world is hard but doing it with Asher next to you is a lot easier than alone.
Asher Ambrose (can we appreciate the beautiful names chosen!?) what a man. He was the soft dom of my dreams. He was independent, unapologetic and vulnerable to a fault. He was also so damn understanding and accepting. I loved his judgment free vibe while still having a backbone against what’s wrong. He found a reason to break out of his carefully crafted routine and his life was better for it. I loved seeing him interact with his surroundings and how connected to nature, the school and himself he was.
Oh and don’t get me started on the spice! Every scene had me blushing and kicking my feet. I loved the tension, the yearning, the secrecy and sneaking…knocked it out of the park!
Like I said, I haven’t read a Jenn book I haven’t lover and this one is no different. Jenn, thank you so very much for the opportunity to read this as an ARC, it’s invaluable to me and I know I’ll read any and all the books you write!
PS: I seriously need that professor to fall hard for someone, and if that isn’t in the plans, I’ll daydream about it lol
Quotes:
Maybe everything I've been feeling lately has been pushing me toward this. Toward Silas. Maybe I'm his more.
"Well, if none of those things work, then you could always kidnap him."
"Walk away if you don't want this, because if you stay, I'm going to do dirty, dirty things to you."
I want to eat him alive, bury myself into the marrow of his bones so I'm forever part of him.
"You may be king of this castle, Silas, the school's prized player, the president's golden child, but here? With me? You're mine. No more running away."
Yeah. Silas Blackwood is an obsession I refuse to give up.
"You tasted too good. The world could have gone up in flames around us, and I wouldn't have stopped."
"I can't believe Asher Ambrose is on his knees in front of me, looking up at me like I'm worthy of his affection." "You're worthy of everything, Silas."
When we’re together, I feel more me than I have in a very long time.
Story: 3/5 Spice: Medium Characters: 4/5 -ˏˋ⋆⋆ˊˎ- Overall reco: Highly enjoyable, the best ARC I've read in a while and looking forward to the rest of the series.
MY only complaint was that the end of the book sort of came out of nowhere, and maybe that's because it's going to get touched on by other books? but that part fell a little flat. They solved the mystery that was pushing one of the characters along and the story along in spots and it just ended. It was kind of out of no where, especially since all the things said it was 260 pages and I was only around 215? Not sure. Honestly this book felt like it could have been longer, I would happily have read another 100 pages of this.
The main characters were fun and interesting. It did feel a little bit of dark romance 'light', which is fine. I think this might be a good entry for people who are interested in seeing if the darker romances are something they'd like but want to dip their toes. Hardened veterans of the genre might find it tame but it was still enjoyable.
Thank you to the Author and The Smuthood for an ARC copy!
This has been such a fun ARC read, this dark academia style MM romance is so easy to devour!
I breezed through this, the passion and insane spice makes it hard to put down. The characters are likeable and polar opposites it seems. I like how the author tackles their secret romance and one character being in the closet so to speak.
There’s some secret society type mystery unfolding in the background which did interest me, but the romance is the sole focus of this book I think and I didn’t mind that one bit.
“We call it a competition, but there are no losers in glory hole roulette!”
“We can’t possibly be friends. We’re from two different worlds; we may attend the same college and share the same courses, but we’re still living separate realities. The jock doesn’t hang with the book nerd. It was stupid of me to think it could be anything but exactly what it is, an arrangement made out of our control.”
“I thought having Asher tutor me would be a death sentence, having to maintain the persona I’ve perfected here, but spending time with him, alone in our little piece of the school where no one bothers us, has me excited for something I desperately need: a place where I can be whoever I want to be. A place where maybe I can just be myself.”
I freaking love Silas and Asher!! They are so hot and sexy. Asher lives his true self without fear, while Silas lives his life in fear and what others will think. Together Asher shows Silas how to be his true self and enjoy life without fear. It’s a beautiful story with hot s*x! And can we talk about the setting for this Halloween Novella?! A creepy old college, fright night parties each Friday and myths and legends about the school. All leading us up to Halloween and discovering secrets about the school. I love this book and it’s perfect for spooky season! So glad we are getting 2 more books and coming back to Corvus College!!
Tropes: Jock x Nerd Gothic University Opposites Attract Enemies to Friends to Lovers Forced Proximity Halloween Setting
The jock and the bookworm! No actual words for how good this book was. It’s giving all the Halloween spooky vibes, mixed in with enemies that become friends that turn to lovers. And then just to top it off you have these two- Silas and Asher unbeknownst to either of them being pulled together by fate, behind masks and sharing intimate moments in the dark without realising who the other is! Silas hides who he is for fear of being judged by his peers, he’s put on this front for all of his time at college, gives the impression that he hates Asher when in fact he’s lusted after him since he started college three years ago. Asher has no idea why he hates him but there’s been a rivalry between them for so long that it’s just second nature that they banter back-and-forth with each other. But when Asher is told he has to tutor Silas to get his grades up, then, things start to change and they get to know each other on a much deeper level with Asher realising the Silas is so misunderstood. He helps Silas to combat his fears to live openly and freely and be the man who he wants to be and shows him that he’s so worthy of his love. And Asher? well Asher is unapologetically himself and has enough confidence for both of them to show Silas what it would be like to live how he wants to. I could not have loved this book more! it’s giving all the Halloween vibes with enough spice to make you sweat like you’re in a sauna and all the beautiful heartfelt moments to have you swooning over these two for years to come. And then to top it off?? Throw in a glory hole scene, spicy moments behind masks and you’ve got yourself here a five star banging book!
I absolutely loved Silas and Asher—what a perfect duo! The chemistry between them was off the charts, giving me the ideal mix of romance, smut, and just the right amount of spooky vibes to keep things deliciously dark. Both characters were totally drool-worthy, the kind you can’t stop thinking about long after the book ends. 🤤
I have only one complaint… this wasn’t long enough for me!!! I am absolutely obsessed with them but their story felt so rushed and left me wanting more 😩 The connection between them was everything and you could really feel the emotions through the page 😭 Silas’ longing for Asher HURT especially knowing it was him hiding behind fear of being himself. For years he hid behind the jock facade because he felt like Asher was too good for him but UGH the way Asher just completely took away that fear?? Telling him that being authentically himself is the best feeling in the world and that he wouldn’t be happier to be by his said while feeling that (like yeah I’m crying what about it).
The whole premise of them connecting in the archives and quickly falling in love is so special to me because it was a place that was just theirs. They were able to be explicitly themselves when they were down there, it especially a place for Silas to let go and be himself. To understand that he was smarter than he thought he was, that his life had meaning and immense potential… all he had to do was let go of all of that fear and let it seep into his skin. And we thank Asher for being that person for him, for taking our boy out of the darkness and into the light, where he can be the truest version of himself with the person he loves. The ending was perfectly tied together with Asher finding the cemetery and Silas finding out that his masked man was Asher all along. All those moments they had together behind the masks where they imagined it was each other, were feelings they ultimately knew to be true deep inside their souls. Their journey was a true story of fate 🥹 the bookworm and the jock— two souls who were always meant to be together.
P.S. We thank not only Corvus for bringing Asher into Silas’ life, but to Silas’ dad for picking Asher as his tutor. The moment between them where his dad tells him that Asher’s name just stood out to him just further solidified their fate. It was almost as if his dad knew that Asher was the key to his son’s happiness, which is all he could’ve ever wanted.
P.S.S The spice was 😮💨😮💨🥵 Leave it to the bookworm to have a filthy mouth 👄
—
“Everything in my brain is telling me to run. But it’s the dangerous recklessness of the situation that is so thrilling. He’s a predator assessing his prey, and although fear is pumping through my veins, I’m more than willing.”
“This isn’t just a taboo sexual experience—this is an awakening. A reckoning. Who the hell is this man? And why do I feel like he just changed my entire life?”
“And damn if it isn’t a beautiful smile. Even though it doesn’t reach his eyes, the way his light blush lips turn up at the corners is enough to bring me to my knees. He’s so handsome.”
“The epigraph of The Fall of the House of Usher is a metaphor for one being deeply isolated, but desiring connection and more. Maybe everything I’ve been feeling lately has been pushing me toward this. Toward Silas. Maybe I’m his more.” (Like 🥹🥹)
“You with me?” — “Asher’s voice is calming, sweet, and smooth like melted butter. I study his eyes, dark chocolate brown, so severe against his features that they should be terrifying. They pull me in like a storm, claiming everything in its wake.”
“For the first time in my life, I wanted to be somewhere else other than on the field. I wanted to be in the archives with Asher.”
“You may be king of this castle, Silas, the school’s prized player, the president’s golden child, but here? With me? You’re mine. No more running away.”
“His touch. It’s everything. It’s so much different than with anyone else I’ve been with before him, yet so comfortably familiar, I’m completely at ease.”
“I kiss him back like I hate him. Like I don’t hate him at all. I kiss him like the only thing in the world that matters is right this second, and I wish like hell I could make it last for eternity.”
“You’ve been hiding who you are. I see you, Silas, and I’m obsessed with what I see. Let me help you.” — “It means that now that I’ve had you? Now that I know there’s more to you than being a slacker jock,” he pauses and chuckles under his breath, “now that I know what you sound like when you come, what your cum tastes like, what your lips taste like, I’m not giving it up.”
“Of course it was him. Being anyone else was never even an option. Everything is leading us to each other. If I had any doubts about fate, I don’t now. Silas and I are meant to be together. Fear be damned.”
“The big, strong, athletic captain of the rugby team is melting for the bookworm. They should write books about this someday.”
“I fell for him. I’m obsessed. Everything about him is infectious. He’s soft in all the best places, and strong in all the rest.”
“With Silas, I’d walk through the fiery pits of hell if he were waiting for me on the other side.”
“I can’t believe Asher Ambrose is on his knees in front of me, looking up at me like I’m worthy of his affection.” — “You’re worthy of everything, Silas.”
“I want you to spend the rest of your time at Corvus being yourself, out in the open, with no fucks to give.” — “With you?” “Yes, with me, baby. Like I said, if you try to run again, I will chase you down.”
“Do you think the school brought you to me?” — “I ask on a whisper and a prayer. Asher answers without hesitation. “Yes.””
“Has anyone ever made you feel what I do?” — “No, Silas. No one’s ever made me feel what you do. In any way.”
“I love you, Asher.” — “I look down on him, this beautiful man that I’ve fallen so rapidly for, so unexpectedly, yet so goddamn wanted. A smirk lifts on my lips that he said it first, that he put himself out there and was vulnerable, letting his emotions bleed freely.” — “I love you, Silas.”
“I told you, you’re mine, Silas, and now I’m going to prove it. Your body knows it. I know it. Let me taste your fear and take it all away until there’s nothing left.”
“Familiarity washes over me, the first Fright Night with my masked stranger blending with the man I’ve fallen in love with. He’s the same. Of course he’s the same. I felt it all along, and it makes so much sense now. The comfort. The ease. The inexplicable way my body craves being close to him. The way my eyes always seek him out. Of course it’s Asher. We’re two halves of one whole.”
“Watching you walk across that stage after seeing you work so hard for it, watching you grow and embrace yourself . . . that is the best feeling in the world. Being with you, Si? It tops everything.” (Yeah i cried)
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” — “No. You earned this. I just lit the path.” — You did more than light the path; you pulled me from the darkness, you walked it with me.”
“Don’t stop, Asher. Never stop.” — “Never, baby. This is it for me.”
“In the dark depths of the school, surrounded by books, under the flickering flames of candles, we found each other. He loved the beautifully broken boy I am and gave me the confidence to be who I am, fear be damned. The bookworm and the jock.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
➤ Quick Thoughts: This book pulled me straight into its haunting, atmospheric world of secrets, fear, and forbidden longing. The tension between Silas and Asher was palpable from the very start — sharp, charged, and impossible to ignore. Every scene between them felt like a battle between desire and restraint, and the gothic academia backdrop only made it all more intoxicating.
➤ Favorite Quotes: ✨ I want to eat him alive, bury myself into the marrow of his bones so I’m forever part of him.
✨ “You may be king of this castle, Silas, the school’s prized player, the president’s golden child, but here? With me? You’re mine. No more running away.”
✨ “How did we get here, Asher?” Gentle fingers trace along my hairline, rubbing softly against my temple. “Fate.”
✨ “I told you, you���re mine, Silas, and now I’m going to prove it. Your body knows it. I know it. Let me taste your fear and take it all away until there’s nothing left.”
✨ The big, strong, athletic captain of the rugby team is melting for the bookworm. They should write books about this someday.
➤ The Good Stuff: ✧ NERD × JOCK ✧ TUTOR × STAR ATHLETE ✧ HATE TO FRIENDS TO LOVERS ✧ OPPOSITES ATTRACT ✧ FORCED PROXIMITY ✧ DARK ACADEMIA ✧ GOTHIC UNIVERSITY SETTING ✧ HALLOWEEN / FRIGHT NIGHT VIBES ✧ A LITTLE BIT OF RUGBY ✧ ANONYMOUS HOOKUPS ✧ “IF YOU RUN, I WILL FIND YOU.” ✧ TENSION + PINING + DESIRE
➤ Final Thought: Some stories haunt you softly — Nothing to Fear is one of them. It wrapped me in its shadows and never let go. Asher’s quiet strength and burning devotion completely undid me, he feels achingly real, the kind of book boyfriend you can’t help but wish were yours. This was my first experience with Jenn Plummer’s writing, and now I’m completely hooked. The chemistry? Electric. The spice? Scorching. The connection? Unforgettable.
Jokers and jesters, Jenn Plummer has don’t it again!! Nothing to Fear absolutely took over my mind and if I could have I would have demolished this read in one sitting! I was absolutely absorbed into this world that Jenn Plummer has created!
These characters are unique and have a depth to them that I enjoyed seeing! This is a great spooky season read with interesting characters and an interesting plot line! I definitely ate this one up!! We get to see these two grow with each-other which is nice as we see Asher really help Silas to step out of his comfort zone, step away from the fear and shame that was keeping him hidden!
This one is tense, emotional, and spicy as hell! You will be sucked in by the spice and kept hooked by the plot! I am obsessed with this read (as I am with everything Jenn Plummer writes) and I love the different tropes included throughout especially forced proximity!
Plus the dynamics at play are so interesting and I really love seeing the nerd be the dominant archetype! Overall this is the perfect October read for anyone wanting a little (or well a lot) of spice with their spook!
Silas and Asher!!! Okay first, this was HOT. I mean from the very beginning all the way through I was sweating.. the chemistry between these two? I couldn’t handle it!!
Some spooky, gothic vibes with a hot jock and his even hotter tutor? YES PLEASE. Silas was adorable. I loved how this man found his happiness and was able to finally be himself. But Asher? This man stole my heart from the very beginning. I wouldn’t be able to resist him either.
There was some mystery, and history happening.. but my mind was stuck in that first scene. Well the first scene until the g l o r y hole scene like I was UNPREPARED. 🫠🫠
Just read this. You won’t regret it 🤭
This was my first by Jenn, it definitely won’t be my last! I really loved her writing style and will be diving into her backlist! 🫶🏼
MM Romance Forced Proximity Jock x Tutor Enemies to Lovers Gothic University vibes Opposites Attract
5 freaking stars!!! I loved this book! Ate this book up from start to finish!
Silas and Asher was everything and this book delivered on so much. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Silas, oh how my heart broke for him, but I loved how he and Asher found each other and how Asher helped him. The way these two love was so beautiful to read.
How this, relatively, short story managed to get so many feelings in I don't really understand... but it did, it really had everything to me. This was my first Jenn Plummer book and I will definitely go back and read more Jenn after this!
Thank you Jenn Plummer and the smuthood for letting me ARC this book, I am leaving my review voluntarily.
First of all, thank you Jenn Plummer and the Smuthood for the ARC copy 🙏🏼
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 — rounded up because NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP 👏🏼🤌🏼 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Main Tropes: • Jock/Nerd • Spooky college setting • Forced proximity
Micro Tropes: • Mask play • Side-by-side… wanking session 😅
Opinions + Spoilers! 🚨
This wasn’t a true enemies to lovers in my opinion. Silas always liked Asher from the beginning—he just let his pride and fear get in the way. He was being in the closet and envious. That’s does not an enemy make (as said like Moira from Shitts creek)
It really started to pick up for me around the 40–50% mark. At first, I kept getting distracted and wasn’t enjoying it. I almost DNF’d, but I’m glad I pushed through. Once they started actually communicating and stopped being weird about it, I liked their dynamic a lot more.
I loved that Silas’s dad didn’t freak out about him being gay, and I really appreciated that his teammates weren’t douchebags about it either.
⸻
Main Issues: • Writing style: Not my favorite. Each chapter would describe a scene and then just… end. Abruptly. Then the next chapter would completely shift gears. It felt unfinished. Also, there were so many repetitive phrases (how many times can someone “card their fingers through their hair”?). • The gloryhole chapter: This one really didn’t work for me. A gloryhole at a Halloween party? I just didn’t get it. The concept didn’t land and felt out of place. • The gothic setting / cemetery subplot: Meh. It didn’t really add anything to the story. It felt like flavor with no substance.
✨ARC review✨ completely obsessed with this book and a perfect read to transition into spooky month!
the first chapter involves a masked hookup so like, what’s not to love about it and keep you wanting more. it’s a dark academia, MM romance where Silas is a jock and dealing with being the captain of the rugby team but not being out about his sexuality and who has always been into Asher, his enemy nerd who is openly out and his authentic self.
they are forced together by Asher being designated as Silas’s tutor and then we get to go along with their journey of being friends to more than friends which includes fright nights, glory holes, primal play, masked hookups and everything is just real real hot 🥵
If Jenn writes it, I’m going to read it. She’s also quickly become one of my auto buy authors. Diving into a whole new series is so exciting! This was something so complete different than what she’s written before, yet reading it was somehow familiar, it almost felt like I was coming home!
Jenn has a way of making you connect so deeply with the characters that you feel everything along with them. Asher and Silas were no different.
I loved the slow build between Asher and Silas, the tension was so thick between them, and every quick hidden moment was filled with passion and heat! Asher was truly perfect for Silas.
I loved how the theme of Fear was carried throughout the entire book relating to both internal feelings, and spooky season.
I am so excited to see what else happens at Corvus!
DNF 57% I’ve started skimming so I’m out. This could have been so good. I love the idea of it but it’s boring and I’m not feeling a connection besides their words to themselves. Ahhhh, that’s it - so much internal dialogue. It’s plagued with it.