Hex the Blackthorne Boys

by Kat Blackthorne

From the bestselling author of the viral Halloween Boys series, comes another dark gothic group of boys to fall for and a monster to root for. Two sisters, opposing sides, and an epic gothic fantasy.



Arcane and The Love Witch meets Maleficent and Pan’s Labyrinth with a steamy love triangle, witchcraft and monster romance.

Kat Blackthorne’s haunting yet cozy world building brings to life two sisters, who couldn’t be more different, who are thrown into opposing sides of a magical conflict.

Rumor Malefic

Magic is outlawed in Willowspire.

Only the most basic of spells are permitted, our gifts reduced to sudsing laundry water and banishing mice. Our town was abandoned by the ones appointed to protect The Blackthorne Boys. High and mighty, they hide in their castle while our town suffers. When our two beloved mothers were taken by the rapture and our town plagued by the monsters in the woods, my one job became protecting my sister Prism at all costs.

But I failed— and she was taken.

With my coven’s blessing, I began my quest to punish and compel the only ones who could help— The Blackthorne Boys.

They are more enigmatic and powerful than I ever could have imagined.

Their power beckons me. It dances over my skin, it haunts my dreams, and entices me forward.

Will I be able to follow through with my task at any cost? Or will the allure of the dark magic on their tongues prove too impossible to resist?

I’ll make them listen, I’ll force them to help me get my sister back, nothing, not even their piercing eyes and tender touches will stop me.

I will Hex the Blackthorne Boys.

Prism Malefic

It was my wedding day when I was taken.

My first night as a married woman should have been spent in the arms of my new husband— instead, I was stolen away in the claws of a monster. Not just any monster, a Wither— the most terrifying and powerful creature in our realm. The monsters that haunted the legends of old, the creatures who plagued our town and did Asunder’s bidding, the beings who stole women at their marriage rites if their fiancé’s didn’t show.

And my fiancé didn’t show.

Now the worst of the worst had happened and I’d been one of the unlucky women stolen away from everything she’d known.

I had two give up and die… or fight to be alive.

Yet through my delirium and heartache, something about the monster began to connect with me in ways I never could have imagined. A new world beyond my gloomy little town was revealed and the claws and fangs of the beast became less of a terror and more of a comfort.

When it comes time to decide between who everyone thought I was and who I really am… what would I choose? The safety of my past or the roaring and dangerous reality of an unknown future?

The clock is ticking, my sister is coming for me, and the time to choose a side is here.

The question is… do I rest in familiar hate or do I accept a horrifying new love?

How far would you go to protect the people you love? Would you sacrifice your humanity? Surrender to the dark? HEX THE BLACKTHORNE BOYS is a gothic fantasy story about two sisters, their romances, and the dark magic surrounding them.

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2025

About the author

Kat Blackthorne is a bestselling author of haunting romance. She writes passion, characters, and worlds that linger past the last page. Her tales embrace cozy darkness with magical and spooky twists. Catnip for her is banter, begging, challenging norms, and beings who worship their women.

Kat lives somewhere deep in the mountains in a witch's cottage with her talking feline. She has a collection of quotes and character names a mile long, her favorite holiday is Halloween, and her favorite book is whatever she read last.

Join her spooky reader coven on Facebook: Kat Blackthorne and The Black Hearts Coven
Follow her on Tiktok where The Halloween Boys hashtags have over six million views: @katblackthorne
Find her on Instagram: @katblackthorneauthor

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've been so angry with the FMC after finishing the story. I can not be the only one, right? That last scene in the book broke my heart. The stubbornness and lack of willingness to listen in Rumor enraged me! The cliffhanger!!! I really need a next book like yesterday, lol
But let's start from the beginning. The story follows two sisters, Rumor the feisty and protective one, and Prism, the younger, more delicate sibling.
One night thier lifes took an unexpected turn when Prism is being taken by an evil creature from the woods on her wedding rite and in that moment Rumor swears to do everything in her power to get her sister back.
One way to archive her goal is to somehow convince the Blackburne Boys to help her. But it's easier said than done. So that's how the story begins...

The book is full of witchcraft, curses, secrets, twists, and turns. Things aren't what they seem to be. We have a sexy love triangle and unexpected monster romance, which I found really sweet.
I have to say that this story takes place in the same universe as The Halloween Boys! When Ash Grove was mentioned, I was smiling like crazy! Im excited to see how both worlds will mix together!

[Jami M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

I loved this book! But I have to say that rumor (FMC) really drove me crazy. She was really selfish, self-absorbed, and quite frankly a brat. I really hope she changes in the next book. Her poor sister...smh

[bluevioletbb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, deliciously fun gothic fantasy, but at the same time, cozy. Perfect Fall, October read!

"Fuck you, Blackthorne Boys."

Hex The Blackthorne Boys by Kat Blackthorne was such a fun and engaging read! I absolutely loved the gothic atmosphere—dark, moody, and totally immersive. The worldbuilding was fascinating, with just the right amount of mystery and magic to keep me hooked from the first page.

Rumor and Prism Malefic (like, that’s such a cool last name!) were such intriguing characters. I’ll admit, Rumor kind of got on my nerves at first with some of her choices, but because of her drive to find and save her sister—I really started to root for her. Her dynamic with the Blackthorne boys was hilarious and chaotic in the best way. She couldn’t pick just one, and honestly, I don’t blame her—they were all equally magnetic and complex in their own ways.

"I will hex the Blackthorne Boys."

The relationships were one of my favorite parts. Watching the connections develop between Rumor and the boys, and then Prism’s bond with Vore, added so much depth. The character development throughout the story was really well done, and by the end, I felt fully invested in everyone. I’m looking forward to book 2 because I NEED to know how Kat is going to continue the story. Now I’ll need to read the Halloween Boys series because 2026 can’t get here fast enough!

If you're into gothic fantasy with paranormal romance, morally gray characters, and a bit of spice and chaos, this is definitely a must-read.

[Kata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great dark and gothic, witchy fantasy story about two sisters. I highly recommend adding this book to your spooky season tbr if you enjoy tropes like magical conflict, monster romance, love triangle, witchcraft and forced proximity.

I really liked Rumor as a character. All she wanted was to save her sister and make sure that she was okay, but unfortunately things didn’t go quite as planned.

The haunting, gothic atmosphere was great and just what I expected from the author, Kat really knows how to write gothic dark fantasy.

I can’t wait to read book 2! And now I need to read The Halloween Boys series


“Might as well die with style—or by some strange curse that turns me into a toad or something, at least that would be interesting.”
“I chose door number two. I chose the monster I didn’t know over the one I did.”
“What do you say? Ever wondered what it’d be like to fuck a lord?”
“Fortunate for you, I’m an excellent guide. Haven’t lost a witch yet.”


I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

[Willie Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ HEX THE BLACKTHORNE BOYS ✨
Book 1 of the Rest in Peace series 🕯️ A gothic fantasy filled with sisters, secrets, romance, and dangerous magic.

Rumor was cursed, clawing her way out of a grave. Prism thought she was walking into a marriage… until she was left at the altar and taken by the very magic that stole their mother. In their town, power comes at a price—use too much and the Rapture claims you.

Now Rumor will do anything to save her sister, even if it means facing the darkness itself.

Dark. Gripping. Twisty. Just what you’d expect from Kat Blackthorne. 🖤

Things to know
Dark Gothic fantasy, monster romance, magical conflict, halloween boys universe, witchcraft, graphic sexxual content, dark magic, violence, captivity, hunting, death, fantasy violence, pregnancy of side character, parental loss, cliffhanger

[Tiphini · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did it again.

Kat Blackthorne has officially hexed me. She made me fall for monstrous men once again and then dropped a cliffhanger that left my soul twitching. I’m convinced someone else needs to be hexed for this ending. 💀

[Piper James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slump breaking read

This was everything I could have wanted form a slightly darker fantasy romance. Witches, withers, Lord's without care- all of this wrapped up in a beauty and the beast toned story. Amazing

[Teddi Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gothic fantasy. All the witchy vibes and haunting tone. This book is going to be my whole personality. It’s a must read. Need book 2 like last week.

[Diane Gigs · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been 10 days since i read this book and I am stillt hinking about the cliff hanger. I loved how the book switched POVs between the two sisters and what each was going thru.

I do have to admit that I felt Rumor had a rough go of it but she was self absorbed and just couldn't get out of her own way. I really feel bad what she did to Prism and can understand why Prism did what she did at the end of the book. I hope it's a wake up call for Rumor and she can redeem herself in the second book.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat Blackthorne came in with this one just in time for Halloween month. The dark, gothic atmosphere she builds really sets the scene for this tale of two sisters and I absolutely couldn't put it down. I actually read it while on a flight and I stayed seated while everyone else got off the plane just so I could finish it. As usual with a Kat Blackthorne book, the world building was sensational, I loved the build up of the magic system, and all the characters were thoroughly fleshed out. And even though the ending was technically a cliff-hanger, Kat can get away with it. I mean I was still screaming internally at the ending because of what Rumor did, but at least I didn't feel cheated out of an ending like I usually do with cliff hangers. I'm really intrigued to see how the series continues based on how we last saw Rumor and the Blackthorne boys.

[Book Ghoulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review coming