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Blackwood Brothers #1
Haunted
I signed away my freedom for seventy-two hours, agreeing to be hunted through a maze by fifteen masked men.The Hollow's Hunt—the Blackwood brothers' most closely guarded secret. As an investigative journalist, I thought this was my chance to expose their criminal empire. I never expected Xavier Blackwood to know exactly who I was from the start.
"You'll be the prey," he promised, fingers tracing my collarbone. "And I will hunt you through every inch of my domain until you're mine."
Now I'm running through corridors designed for surrender, my body betraying me with every heated memory of Xavier'stouch. Each dead end brings me closer to capture, submission, and becoming the prize of whoever finds me first. Worse, I've dragged my best friend into this nightmare with me.
The most terrifying realization? Part of me longs to be caught—to discover what happens when Xavier Blackwood finally has me exactly where he wants me.
The Hunt begins at midnight. And Xavier Blackwood always gets what he wants.
Haunted is the first book in the Blackwood Brothers Series and it's a dark romance which has subjects that some readers may find triggering. There will be a link to a full list of the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. This story has no cliffhanger and ends with a HEA.
"You'll be the prey," he promised, fingers tracing my collarbone. "And I will hunt you through every inch of my domain until you're mine."
Now I'm running through corridors designed for surrender, my body betraying me with every heated memory of Xavier'stouch. Each dead end brings me closer to capture, submission, and becoming the prize of whoever finds me first. Worse, I've dragged my best friend into this nightmare with me.
The most terrifying realization? Part of me longs to be caught—to discover what happens when Xavier Blackwood finally has me exactly where he wants me.
The Hunt begins at midnight. And Xavier Blackwood always gets what he wants.
Haunted is the first book in the Blackwood Brothers Series and it's a dark romance which has subjects that some readers may find triggering. There will be a link to a full list of the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. This story has no cliffhanger and ends with a HEA.
524 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
May 2, 2026
Into the Hollows: A Dark and Twisted Romance
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🩷💙
Spice/Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😀😉🥰😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
Main Characters & Plot Overview
Haunted: A Dark Primal Romance centers on Xavier Blackwood, one of four powerful brothers who control both the legitimate and underground pulse of their city. Together, the Blackwoods own Purgatory, a nightclub that serves as a front for their far more dangerous operations, including a hidden labyrinth that houses an exclusive and deeply disturbing underground club. Their empire extends into drug distribution, and as the story opens, they are preparing to expand aggressively, negotiating new alliances that will solidify their dominance.
Xavier is ruthless, calculating, and unapologetically dark. He thrives on control, both in business and in his personal desires, which lean far beyond conventional boundaries. Enter Mira Sullivan, an investigative journalist determined to expose the Blackwood empire. She goes undercover at Purgatory, fully aware of the danger but driven by ambition and a need for the truth. What she does not anticipate is that Xavier already knows exactly who she is and why she is there.
Instead of eliminating the threat, Xavier pulls Mira deeper into his world by inviting her to the Hollows Hunt, an annual and highly secretive event where power, control, and survival collide. The Hunt becomes both a trap and a twisted game, binding Mira in ways she never intended. As the lines between hunter and prey blur, so do the boundaries between manipulation, obsession, and something more complicated.
Highlights & Limitations
One of the strongest elements of this audiobook is its atmosphere. The world-building leans heavily into dark, gothic tones, creating a setting that feels oppressive, dangerous, and immersive. The labyrinth beneath Purgatory is particularly effective as a symbolic and literal descent into the darker aspects of the story. The tension between Xavier and Mira is another highlight. Their dynamic is charged, layered with power imbalance, psychological games, and reluctant fascination.
The concept itself is bold and unapologetically dark, which will appeal to listeners who enjoy boundary-pushing romance with anti-hero leads. The stakes feel high throughout, especially as Mira navigates a world where she is constantly at risk of losing control over her own situation.
That said, the story may not work for everyone. The labyrinth where the hunt takes place is a bit beyond believable, with hydraulics and moving walls, including elaborate traps. Then the fact that the women act like they don’t want what happens to them even though they signed an iron-clad NDA, so what did they expect would happen?
The darker themes, particularly surrounding control and consent within the framework of the Hunt, can feel extreme and at times overshadow character development. Some listeners may find it difficult to connect emotionally with Xavier due to his intensity and lack of traditional redeeming qualities. Additionally, while the premise is gripping, certain plot elements lean more into shock value than depth, leaving some aspects of the world and supporting characters under-explored.
Narration & Performances
Marie Hawkins and Von Necros bring a strong dual narration to the audiobook. Marie Hawkins captures Mira’s determination and vulnerability effectively, balancing her strength with the fear and uncertainty of her situation. Her performance helps ground the story emotionally, making Mira feel more relatable even in extreme circumstances.
Von Necros delivers a commanding performance as Xavier. His voice suits the character’s dominance and controlled menace, adding weight to Xavier’s presence. He leans into the darker tone of the story, enhancing the intensity of key moments without overplaying them.
Together, the narrators create a compelling listening experience, particularly in scenes where the tension between the characters is at its peak. Their performances elevate the material, helping maintain engagement even when the story veers into heavier or more controversial territory.
Final Thoughts
Haunted: A Dark Primal Romance is a story that fully embraces its dark themes, offering a mix of suspense, power dynamics, and intense chemistry. It is not a light or traditional romance, and it does not try to be. The balance between story and spice leans heavily toward the darker, more primal elements, though there is still a narrative thread that keeps the plot moving forward. I wanted a bit more story than smut and there wasn’t enough of a storyline other than the hunt. The hunters would capture the girls and let them go and capture them again and so on.
For listeners who enjoy morally gray characters, high-stakes tension, and a romance that pushes boundaries, this audiobook delivers a gripping, if sometimes unsettling, experience. For others, the intensity of the themes and the dominance of the darker elements may feel overwhelming.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🩷💙
Spice/Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😀😉🥰😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration
Main Characters & Plot Overview
Haunted: A Dark Primal Romance centers on Xavier Blackwood, one of four powerful brothers who control both the legitimate and underground pulse of their city. Together, the Blackwoods own Purgatory, a nightclub that serves as a front for their far more dangerous operations, including a hidden labyrinth that houses an exclusive and deeply disturbing underground club. Their empire extends into drug distribution, and as the story opens, they are preparing to expand aggressively, negotiating new alliances that will solidify their dominance.
Xavier is ruthless, calculating, and unapologetically dark. He thrives on control, both in business and in his personal desires, which lean far beyond conventional boundaries. Enter Mira Sullivan, an investigative journalist determined to expose the Blackwood empire. She goes undercover at Purgatory, fully aware of the danger but driven by ambition and a need for the truth. What she does not anticipate is that Xavier already knows exactly who she is and why she is there.
Instead of eliminating the threat, Xavier pulls Mira deeper into his world by inviting her to the Hollows Hunt, an annual and highly secretive event where power, control, and survival collide. The Hunt becomes both a trap and a twisted game, binding Mira in ways she never intended. As the lines between hunter and prey blur, so do the boundaries between manipulation, obsession, and something more complicated.
Highlights & Limitations
One of the strongest elements of this audiobook is its atmosphere. The world-building leans heavily into dark, gothic tones, creating a setting that feels oppressive, dangerous, and immersive. The labyrinth beneath Purgatory is particularly effective as a symbolic and literal descent into the darker aspects of the story. The tension between Xavier and Mira is another highlight. Their dynamic is charged, layered with power imbalance, psychological games, and reluctant fascination.
The concept itself is bold and unapologetically dark, which will appeal to listeners who enjoy boundary-pushing romance with anti-hero leads. The stakes feel high throughout, especially as Mira navigates a world where she is constantly at risk of losing control over her own situation.
That said, the story may not work for everyone. The labyrinth where the hunt takes place is a bit beyond believable, with hydraulics and moving walls, including elaborate traps. Then the fact that the women act like they don’t want what happens to them even though they signed an iron-clad NDA, so what did they expect would happen?
The darker themes, particularly surrounding control and consent within the framework of the Hunt, can feel extreme and at times overshadow character development. Some listeners may find it difficult to connect emotionally with Xavier due to his intensity and lack of traditional redeeming qualities. Additionally, while the premise is gripping, certain plot elements lean more into shock value than depth, leaving some aspects of the world and supporting characters under-explored.
Narration & Performances
Marie Hawkins and Von Necros bring a strong dual narration to the audiobook. Marie Hawkins captures Mira’s determination and vulnerability effectively, balancing her strength with the fear and uncertainty of her situation. Her performance helps ground the story emotionally, making Mira feel more relatable even in extreme circumstances.
Von Necros delivers a commanding performance as Xavier. His voice suits the character’s dominance and controlled menace, adding weight to Xavier’s presence. He leans into the darker tone of the story, enhancing the intensity of key moments without overplaying them.
Together, the narrators create a compelling listening experience, particularly in scenes where the tension between the characters is at its peak. Their performances elevate the material, helping maintain engagement even when the story veers into heavier or more controversial territory.
Final Thoughts
Haunted: A Dark Primal Romance is a story that fully embraces its dark themes, offering a mix of suspense, power dynamics, and intense chemistry. It is not a light or traditional romance, and it does not try to be. The balance between story and spice leans heavily toward the darker, more primal elements, though there is still a narrative thread that keeps the plot moving forward. I wanted a bit more story than smut and there wasn’t enough of a storyline other than the hunt. The hunters would capture the girls and let them go and capture them again and so on.
For listeners who enjoy morally gray characters, high-stakes tension, and a romance that pushes boundaries, this audiobook delivers a gripping, if sometimes unsettling, experience. For others, the intensity of the themes and the dominance of the darker elements may feel overwhelming.
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July 6, 2025
If you’ve ever whispered “just one little kidnapping fantasy” to your search bar at 3AM—this one’s for you.
Selena Winters’ Haunted is a jaw-clenching, thigh-clenching, morally gray masterpiece wrapped in leather, shadows, and bad decisions you’ll absolutely support. Xavier Blackwood, your new toxic obsession in a bespoke suit, invites Mira Sullivan—a journalist with more bravery than sense—into a secret, erotic bloodsport called The Hollow’s Hunt. It’s part Hunger Games, part BDSM labyrinth, and entirely unhinged.
Let’s be honest: consent here is a contract, autonomy is negotiable, and danger comes with a jawline that could cut glass. Mira should run—but she wants to be caught. And Xavier? He’s not chasing. He’s claiming.
TRIGGERS:
⚠️ Dubious consent
⚠️ Power imbalance
⚠️ Stalking/obsession
⚠️ Sexual dominance/control
⚠️ Violence, degradation, psychological warfare
⚠️ Adult themes (extreme)
RATING:
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 (Scorching)
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 (Dark and delicious)
🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓 (If you know, you know)
Mood: Sinister, seductive, morally corrupt
Genre: Dark romance / erotic thriller
Pacing: Addictive and fast—like your sanity slipping away page by page
Pro tip: Don’t read this in public unless you’re ready to explain why your face is flushed and you’re crossing your legs like it’s the Victorian era.
Final Thoughts:
This isn’t just a book—it’s a trap you’ll beg to fall into. And when Xavier says “run,” you’ll ask how fast.
Selena Winters’ Haunted is a jaw-clenching, thigh-clenching, morally gray masterpiece wrapped in leather, shadows, and bad decisions you’ll absolutely support. Xavier Blackwood, your new toxic obsession in a bespoke suit, invites Mira Sullivan—a journalist with more bravery than sense—into a secret, erotic bloodsport called The Hollow’s Hunt. It’s part Hunger Games, part BDSM labyrinth, and entirely unhinged.
Let’s be honest: consent here is a contract, autonomy is negotiable, and danger comes with a jawline that could cut glass. Mira should run—but she wants to be caught. And Xavier? He’s not chasing. He’s claiming.
TRIGGERS:
⚠️ Dubious consent
⚠️ Power imbalance
⚠️ Stalking/obsession
⚠️ Sexual dominance/control
⚠️ Violence, degradation, psychological warfare
⚠️ Adult themes (extreme)
RATING:
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 (Scorching)
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 (Dark and delicious)
🪓🪓🪓🪓🪓 (If you know, you know)
Mood: Sinister, seductive, morally corrupt
Genre: Dark romance / erotic thriller
Pacing: Addictive and fast—like your sanity slipping away page by page
Pro tip: Don’t read this in public unless you’re ready to explain why your face is flushed and you’re crossing your legs like it’s the Victorian era.
Final Thoughts:
This isn’t just a book—it’s a trap you’ll beg to fall into. And when Xavier says “run,” you’ll ask how fast.
August 12, 2025
If you're looking for spice, this is it. If you're looking for a good story and believable characters, this isn't it. I didn't hate the book, I read the whole thing, but I didn't like it enough to read the series. Honestly, I had to skim over a lot because they just kept repeating the same things, thoughts, my brain is like "ugh, this again?"... and really, how many times do you need to use the phrase "The irony in it"... apparently, there isn't a limit.
October 12, 2025
You know, I think he rides a bmw motorcycle but I could be mistaken, it wasn't really clarified.
June 27, 2025
This is mainly an MF but has some amazing MM and MMM scenes!!
FMC Mira is a journalist who's on a mission to take down the "Big Bad Xavier Blackwood" and goes undercover in his bar... Unbeknown to her, she's falling into his trap.
MMC Xavier is ruthless and takes what he wants - whatever that is. And now Mira is in his sights and demands she will be his prey. His to hunt, his to catch and maybe his to keep. All she has to do is sign the contract.
During MANY 🌶 scenes - We meet the other hunters and prey. Including one man who has always denied his preference for men but when he's faced with another hunter who makes him bend until he breaks... He can't deny it any longer. As someone who 🖤 MM - These scenes are friggin spicy and maybe, just maybe, there will be more between them 👀🫦
FMC Mira is a journalist who's on a mission to take down the "Big Bad Xavier Blackwood" and goes undercover in his bar... Unbeknown to her, she's falling into his trap.
MMC Xavier is ruthless and takes what he wants - whatever that is. And now Mira is in his sights and demands she will be his prey. His to hunt, his to catch and maybe his to keep. All she has to do is sign the contract.
During MANY 🌶 scenes - We meet the other hunters and prey. Including one man who has always denied his preference for men but when he's faced with another hunter who makes him bend until he breaks... He can't deny it any longer. As someone who 🖤 MM - These scenes are friggin spicy and maybe, just maybe, there will be more between them 👀🫦
August 14, 2025
I enjoyed the book despite it being repetitive in places. I mean, how many times do we have to read "you fit me so well"? Oh yeah, I've forgotten - what kind of motorcycles do they drive again?
unsafe
April 6, 2026Safety note - very heavy voyeurism and exhibitionism, I consider it as a sharing, but no OP touch MCs and vice versa. On page scenes of other people fucking.
October 10, 2025
Plot: 4.5/5 • Plot: 5/5 ————> This was a wonderful primal play hunt/game read. She’s (Mira) working “undercover”, even though the boss and all his brothers know exactly what she’s doing. She accepts an invitation to “the hunt”. Along with her best friend they must survive 72 hours while being hunted by 15 men. Both of them are “captured”. After the hunt the men decide if they want their captures for a whole year. The one (Xavier) who captures Mire sign up for a year together. Their feelings for each other bloomed the second the hunt started. Their relationship develops quickly and passionately.
So much smut. 70% of this read is smut. There’s MM, which is always a plus. This was such a fun, twisty read. Love that it was a standalone!
So much smut. 70% of this read is smut. There’s MM, which is always a plus. This was such a fun, twisty read. Love that it was a standalone!
December 26, 2025
Xavier & Mira
December 31, 2025
I really don't have anything good to say about this book, so let's get into it.
My thought the entire time: "okay calm down, edge lord."
My thought near the end: "this is just Stockholm syndrome, right?"
Overused phrases that made my eye twitch:
-"My bare feet slap against the marble floor"
-"My bare feet slap against the cold marble"
-"My bare feet slap against the cold stone"
-"The red silk clings to my sweat-dampened skin"
-"a prayer and a curse rolled into one"
Other crap that annoyed me:
-the FMC, and her not having a back bone.
-the MMC, and him thinking he's so smart and calculated and edgy.
-"... my black silk dress flowing behind me like tendrils of obsidian smoke dancing in my wake." The author is trying way too hard to be poetic here.
-misspelling dais as Dias (capitalization included).
-another misspelling: "...his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my exposed beck." Remind me where the "beck" is on a body?
-switching between present tense and past tense??
-writing that "her red hair falls like a curtain between us" and then just a moment later "I stroke her chestnut locks." .... soooo what color is Cora's hair?
-there's no substance to this relationship!!! It's all just sex! And while Mira keeps saying her "darkness recognizes his darkness," we as the readers had no inclination or evidence in the start of the book that she had had any inkling of darkness. I think she convinced herself that this is all what her heart desired all along as a way of coping with this trauma (Stockholm syndrome, anyone?).
-and for the amount of sex, there's no mention of any kind of birth control. No condoms, pills, or mention of already having your tubes tied. No pregnancy scares. Nothing.
My thought the entire time: "okay calm down, edge lord."
My thought near the end: "this is just Stockholm syndrome, right?"
Overused phrases that made my eye twitch:
-"My bare feet slap against the marble floor"
-"My bare feet slap against the cold marble"
-"My bare feet slap against the cold stone"
-"The red silk clings to my sweat-dampened skin"
-"a prayer and a curse rolled into one"
Other crap that annoyed me:
-the FMC, and her not having a back bone.
-the MMC, and him thinking he's so smart and calculated and edgy.
-"... my black silk dress flowing behind me like tendrils of obsidian smoke dancing in my wake." The author is trying way too hard to be poetic here.
-misspelling dais as Dias (capitalization included).
-another misspelling: "...his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my exposed beck." Remind me where the "beck" is on a body?
-switching between present tense and past tense??
-writing that "her red hair falls like a curtain between us" and then just a moment later "I stroke her chestnut locks." .... soooo what color is Cora's hair?
-there's no substance to this relationship!!! It's all just sex! And while Mira keeps saying her "darkness recognizes his darkness," we as the readers had no inclination or evidence in the start of the book that she had had any inkling of darkness. I think she convinced herself that this is all what her heart desired all along as a way of coping with this trauma (Stockholm syndrome, anyone?).
-and for the amount of sex, there's no mention of any kind of birth control. No condoms, pills, or mention of already having your tubes tied. No pregnancy scares. Nothing.
July 31, 2025
Amazing yet disappointing
This book is a really great sequel to the carnival series. It has great plot points and tells the story well.
The reason I gave it 4 and not a stars is my own personal problem. It did not hit me quite right.
I like a book to tell the story of one couple. This one got lost telling the story of seven. Every time I'd start to get lost in the story it would switch to what was going on with another couple. That would have been okay if it had been about the sex, but it was a whole thing about their relationship.
I don't feel like I even need to read the other books in the series, because they have been told in this one.
My own personal view on the book, not trying to take anything away from your enjoyment. 🤷♀️
This book is a really great sequel to the carnival series. It has great plot points and tells the story well.
The reason I gave it 4 and not a stars is my own personal problem. It did not hit me quite right.
I like a book to tell the story of one couple. This one got lost telling the story of seven. Every time I'd start to get lost in the story it would switch to what was going on with another couple. That would have been okay if it had been about the sex, but it was a whole thing about their relationship.
I don't feel like I even need to read the other books in the series, because they have been told in this one.
My own personal view on the book, not trying to take anything away from your enjoyment. 🤷♀️
November 7, 2025
5⭐️ Its been a hot minute since i gave a book 5 stars but this was the one!! 🌶️x a million.
10000% Recommend. If you need a dark romance that gives off Ritual vibes. Here ya go. You are welcome.
10000% Recommend. If you need a dark romance that gives off Ritual vibes. Here ya go. You are welcome.
Read
December 29, 2025I’m not sure how to rate this exactly…here’s my breakdown.
Spice is 5/5 hands down. I’m one who tends to get bored in most sex scenes, and this book had me on my toes excited for more- and it was almost entirely spice.
Character devlopment is 3/5 at best. The characters individually are fairly predictable and we’ve all seen them over and over. The relationships between the characters are fun- good banter.
Plot is somewhere between 2/5-4/5 depending on which focus you want in it. If you look at it only wanting spice content and ignoring everything else, the rating is MUCH higher. If you’re looking for backstory or something in addition to the spice, this is just not it.
I loved the elaborate setting and the concept of the Hunt. And the spicy scenes were MANY and sooo good. I loved that so many things were covered- kinks, MF, MM, MMM, MMMF, orgy, and so much more. Even if some things were only touched on briefly, it felt right.
I hated the attempt at throwing more content in- the bit about the Russians didn’t add anything to the book, felt rushed and sloppy, and could have been left out entirely. There were so many repetitive phrases. One or two I’ll usually ignore, but I ended up skimming or skipping whole paragraphs here and there to avoid them.
I do wish more aftercare and contraception were discussed.
Spice is 5/5 hands down. I’m one who tends to get bored in most sex scenes, and this book had me on my toes excited for more- and it was almost entirely spice.
Character devlopment is 3/5 at best. The characters individually are fairly predictable and we’ve all seen them over and over. The relationships between the characters are fun- good banter.
Plot is somewhere between 2/5-4/5 depending on which focus you want in it. If you look at it only wanting spice content and ignoring everything else, the rating is MUCH higher. If you’re looking for backstory or something in addition to the spice, this is just not it.
I loved the elaborate setting and the concept of the Hunt. And the spicy scenes were MANY and sooo good. I loved that so many things were covered- kinks, MF, MM, MMM, MMMF, orgy, and so much more. Even if some things were only touched on briefly, it felt right.
I hated the attempt at throwing more content in- the bit about the Russians didn’t add anything to the book, felt rushed and sloppy, and could have been left out entirely. There were so many repetitive phrases. One or two I’ll usually ignore, but I ended up skimming or skipping whole paragraphs here and there to avoid them.
I do wish more aftercare and contraception were discussed.
January 7, 2026
Audible - 4.5⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ The Blackwood Brothers…. Dark gray, morally. The maze, the whole premise of the maze, and how the brothers use the maze. Oh my! I couldn’t put this down. The after-the-maze part was a little awkward, but still, a satisfying ending.
Selena Winters’ writing is getting better. The details, not repeating herself, each scene being different, yada yada yada - better and better with each new book. But her continuity editor really, really needs some help (raises hand to volunteer). Having said that… This book is not for everyone. In fact, it’s probably for a small niche. The Blackwood Brothers have zero remorse and are very dark.
The narrator/actors were perfect for these characters. Marie Hopkins (always so great!) and Von Necros (first time I’ve heard him narrate/act) excellent! Von should voice more sociopaths. His voice is so rumbly with very little inflection. Just like you would expect from Xavier. So. Sexy.
Selena Winters’ writing is getting better. The details, not repeating herself, each scene being different, yada yada yada - better and better with each new book. But her continuity editor really, really needs some help (raises hand to volunteer). Having said that… This book is not for everyone. In fact, it’s probably for a small niche. The Blackwood Brothers have zero remorse and are very dark.
The narrator/actors were perfect for these characters. Marie Hopkins (always so great!) and Von Necros (first time I’ve heard him narrate/act) excellent! Von should voice more sociopaths. His voice is so rumbly with very little inflection. Just like you would expect from Xavier. So. Sexy.
June 10, 2026
If you are looking for a plot that is 99% spice and 1% logic, congratulations, you found it. This book is basically "Stockholm Syndrome: The Romance."
My biggest issue? Mira undergoes a complete, medical-mystery level personality change halfway through the book. Why? Because Xavier "claimed" her. Give me a break. Apparently, all it takes to completely rewrite a woman’s DNA and erase a man's highly questionable, illegal dealings is a little ✨spice✨.
I literally couldn’t with this book.
My biggest issue? Mira undergoes a complete, medical-mystery level personality change halfway through the book. Why? Because Xavier "claimed" her. Give me a break. Apparently, all it takes to completely rewrite a woman’s DNA and erase a man's highly questionable, illegal dealings is a little ✨spice✨.
I literally couldn’t with this book.
August 11, 2025
H o t.
At first I was thinking this was another Arrans Obsession (which is great!)... I was wrong. This is so much better in a whole other way. Yes for the Carnival crew being included in parts.
I have questions like who used the pool for the past year? Does this game only happen yearly?
At first I was thinking this was another Arrans Obsession (which is great!)... I was wrong. This is so much better in a whole other way. Yes for the Carnival crew being included in parts.
I have questions like who used the pool for the past year? Does this game only happen yearly?
September 27, 2025
Haunted review
It's a story about corruption and depravity. Hot, dark & smutty. Alot of triggers. Six girls singing a contract to consent for 15 marked men to hunt them and when they catch them, 🥵. It has, dominance, submission, primal play, bondages and the list goes on. If you like it dark, smutty and just wrong this dark romance is for you....
It's a story about corruption and depravity. Hot, dark & smutty. Alot of triggers. Six girls singing a contract to consent for 15 marked men to hunt them and when they catch them, 🥵. It has, dominance, submission, primal play, bondages and the list goes on. If you like it dark, smutty and just wrong this dark romance is for you....
November 2, 2025
good read
Really enjoyed this book. Definitely one to get stuck into. Fantasies you didn’t even know you had. Only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star was that the ending seemed very rushed and just repeated the same thing about her feelings etc.
Really enjoyed this book. Definitely one to get stuck into. Fantasies you didn’t even know you had. Only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star was that the ending seemed very rushed and just repeated the same thing about her feelings etc.
May 25, 2026
great book
I honestly loved the beginning/middle of this book so much! I wish the author wouldn’t have rushed the ending as much and given us more of what their life was like post hunt! I was hoping book #2 in this series was going to follow the same characters and give us MORE
I honestly loved the beginning/middle of this book so much! I wish the author wouldn’t have rushed the ending as much and given us more of what their life was like post hunt! I was hoping book #2 in this series was going to follow the same characters and give us MORE
July 19, 2025
Holy cr@p wow this is hot, spicy and amazing 👏 😍
August 27, 2025
What began in the shadows becomes her greatest awakening; secrets taste sweeter in the dark.
This book technically has a plot and it pops in to say high every now and then. While I am usually one for a more developed storyline-the steam is deliciously dark and totally worth the read.
Think: emotionally damaged characters who somehow have the stamina of Greek gods and just enough backstory to keep you wondering. If you're looking for morally questionable decisions and toe-curling tension - Welcome Home.
This book technically has a plot and it pops in to say high every now and then. While I am usually one for a more developed storyline-the steam is deliciously dark and totally worth the read.
Think: emotionally damaged characters who somehow have the stamina of Greek gods and just enough backstory to keep you wondering. If you're looking for morally questionable decisions and toe-curling tension - Welcome Home.
December 29, 2025
Kdyby hlavni hrdinka a jeji kamaradka byly o trosku chytrejsi, tak by to byl mnohem lepsi pribeh. Ale jinak super dark jednohubka.
October 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — Dark, Sinful, and Absolutely Addictive
Haunted by Selena Winters is everything I crave in a dark romance — dangerous, primal, emotional, and downright intoxicating. From the very first chapter, it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.
Mira is bold, defiant, and walking straight into a world she doesn’t understand — and Xavier Blackwood? He’s the definition of a beautifully broken monster. Their chemistry is raw and unrestrained, built on obsession, power, and desire that borders on madness. Every scene between them crackles with tension, lust, and danger.
The premise — a secretive “hunt” where women fight for freedom against masked men — is twisted but brilliantly written. Selena Winters builds a world that feels both luxurious and deadly, balancing the erotic with the psychological in a way that keeps you on edge the entire time.
This book isn’t sweet or gentle — it’s dark, gritty, and full of triggers — but it’s also hauntingly beautiful. It shows how love can bloom even in the darkest places, between two people who should have destroyed each other but somehow found peace in the chaos.
If you love books that blur the line between pain and passion, fear and desire — Haunted will ruin you in the best way.
⚠️ Trigger warning: intense sexual content, violence, captivity, and psychological manipulation.
But if you’re into dark, primal, morally grey love stories — this one is pure perfection.
Haunted by Selena Winters is everything I crave in a dark romance — dangerous, primal, emotional, and downright intoxicating. From the very first chapter, it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.
Mira is bold, defiant, and walking straight into a world she doesn’t understand — and Xavier Blackwood? He’s the definition of a beautifully broken monster. Their chemistry is raw and unrestrained, built on obsession, power, and desire that borders on madness. Every scene between them crackles with tension, lust, and danger.
The premise — a secretive “hunt” where women fight for freedom against masked men — is twisted but brilliantly written. Selena Winters builds a world that feels both luxurious and deadly, balancing the erotic with the psychological in a way that keeps you on edge the entire time.
This book isn’t sweet or gentle — it’s dark, gritty, and full of triggers — but it’s also hauntingly beautiful. It shows how love can bloom even in the darkest places, between two people who should have destroyed each other but somehow found peace in the chaos.
If you love books that blur the line between pain and passion, fear and desire — Haunted will ruin you in the best way.
⚠️ Trigger warning: intense sexual content, violence, captivity, and psychological manipulation.
But if you’re into dark, primal, morally grey love stories — this one is pure perfection.
May 20, 2026
If you take out every instance where the FMC berates herself for being into what's happening to her, or when she puts a stigma on her BFF actions, the book would be 3-4 chapters in length. The writer should have spent more time elaborating on what caused her to have the thoughts and feelings that the things happening are morally beneath her, instead of just the claim of it, the book would probably be more relatable. As it stands you have an FMC that's confused and thinks that what she's doing has a stigma for making her beneath other "normal" people. Instead of pointing out that you shouldn't shame kink or have a growth story line, it basically still shames the fetish/kink at the end of the day, which makes this book not cool in my opinion.
April 6, 2026
Nope. Hard no. DNF.
I hated this book. I tried. I actually enjoyed the book until the hunt started. There was plot and fun tension between Mira and Xavier. But I didn’t understand the majority of the book was going to be the hunt itself. I was shocked by how much unnecessary time was spent describing 36 hours in the hunt. Sooooo many pages to say: sex rooms that get worse and worse w/ little to no thought of whether the woman is agreeable or not. That’s it. A bunch of masked dudes running around like rapists trying to scare & dominate women. All culminating in an orgy room. Then a dinner where they all are having sex with their captors … and this is where I DNF’d. At the dinner, one of the girl’s FATHER’S is there and they make him watch. Disgusting. So fucking disgusting. This is where it truly got to be too much for me. The psychological damage would be permanent. How the fuck are we supposed to move past this as readers??? Also, the amount of sex that occurs in this 36 hour period seems medically impossible. The whole plot was just so unbelievable. I’m supposed to think that by the end the women are suddenly into it? And Mira gets turned on being forced to watch her childhood best friend get gang banged?? Just none of it worked for me & I love dark romance. I’m supposed to believe the FMC hates the MMC but he forces her into sex and she all of a sudden loves him???? I really hated this. Nothing about it was sexy. Our FMC went from normal, logical, intelligent, etc .. to a complete brainless sex toy.
I hated this book. I tried. I actually enjoyed the book until the hunt started. There was plot and fun tension between Mira and Xavier. But I didn’t understand the majority of the book was going to be the hunt itself. I was shocked by how much unnecessary time was spent describing 36 hours in the hunt. Sooooo many pages to say: sex rooms that get worse and worse w/ little to no thought of whether the woman is agreeable or not. That’s it. A bunch of masked dudes running around like rapists trying to scare & dominate women. All culminating in an orgy room. Then a dinner where they all are having sex with their captors … and this is where I DNF’d. At the dinner, one of the girl’s FATHER’S is there and they make him watch. Disgusting. So fucking disgusting. This is where it truly got to be too much for me. The psychological damage would be permanent. How the fuck are we supposed to move past this as readers??? Also, the amount of sex that occurs in this 36 hour period seems medically impossible. The whole plot was just so unbelievable. I’m supposed to think that by the end the women are suddenly into it? And Mira gets turned on being forced to watch her childhood best friend get gang banged?? Just none of it worked for me & I love dark romance. I’m supposed to believe the FMC hates the MMC but he forces her into sex and she all of a sudden loves him???? I really hated this. Nothing about it was sexy. Our FMC went from normal, logical, intelligent, etc .. to a complete brainless sex toy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2025
Haunted is an incredible, darkly spicy book that will have you flying through the pages. I made the mistake of beginning this book in the middle of the night a few nights ago... and have spent the subsequent nights working to finish reading. I was not disappointed. The spice was intense and explosive (like a flame to gasoline), and the storyline was both heavy and hot. This book has a bit of everything for every dark romance reader. Haunted is utterly unhinged but also blissfully fantastic.
August 16, 2025
The smut was on point 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️.. But in the beginning I kinda thought there would be more plot about his business since it was introduced and the Russians. kinda figured there'd be some action (outside of the smut) once the Hunting ended, hit after the Hunting ended it fell flat for me.
November 6, 2025
I kept reading because it was set up to have potential. All I found was sex and humiliation. If you’re into that than this book is for you. I prefer my stories, sex, and characters to have depth
November 4, 2025
PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS BOOK 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I understand that this won't be for everyone as the themes running through this are quite dark, with dubious consent among them. And although I'm recommending this book some people may be uncomfortable with the content within.
I was looking for something dark and twisty to fit my current mood, so when my friend (a dark romance girly) recommended this to me I thought I'd check it out. And I was immediately pulled down in to a rabbit hole so deep I didn't think I'd be able to claw my way out again, but hell I'd be lying if I didn't enjoy the journey. This series is set around one particular hunt, an event that is held every year by the Blackwood brothers, each book will be told from the four brothers POV starting with Xavier. It's fast paced, the spice extremely hot (and although I've found out after reading this, it's a spin-off from another series by this author) you can dive in as it stands by itself. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Xavier and Mira, who's mix of want, possession, desire and need pretty much ended up in the same place, with a surprising HEA ending. I'll definitely be checking out book two as I need more of these devilish brothers in my life....
Mira, an investigative journalist is working undercover at the exclusive Purgatory club, looking for dirt for her exposé to bring down the Blackwood brothers. So when she is invited to the annual hunt as 'prey' she thinks this is her in to get the information she needs. Little does she realise what that entails, until after she signs the contract and even worse finds out that Xavier knows exactly who she is and what she was trying to do, getting herself caught in a web of a man who is determined to claim her as his. I took to Mira's character straight away, a strong independent woman who wants to battle corruption and not scared who she fights is always someone I can get behind. But what really drew me to her was watching her internal struggle between her sense of self, and the darker urges she has hidden beneath, with Xavier being the key to unlock them. I loved her complexity, duel desires and the genuine bond that formed with her and Xavier.
Xavier, primal, criminal, feral,monster. These four words sum him up perfectly and I couldn't help but find myself falling for him in spite of this, as this morally grey (possibly edging on black) man also possesses a heart. One he soon discovers on this year's hunt. Never before has he been so drawn to his 'prey' and Mira pushes him to the edge entirely. Yes he wants to dominate her, break her down and extract revenge on her when he finds out that she was trying to gather information to bring him and his brothers down. But in this twisted game of cat and mouse he realises that he needs her as much as she fights her darker urges and wants him. Giving him one thing he has never had before someone to not only possess, but to love.. Ohh brother I thoroughly checked my mortal compass at the door when it came to this guy and still I couldn't help myself being drawn to him. Especially when his hidden heart becomes exposed, yep it turns out I like a darker shade of man and Xavier was just the one to give it to me.....
Although I've read darker books before, they have mainly been fantasy dark not explicitly romance dark. But after reading this I think I'll walking on a wilder side and adding more to my TBR. Can't say I was disappointed at all. Definitely recommend 😁
I was looking for something dark and twisty to fit my current mood, so when my friend (a dark romance girly) recommended this to me I thought I'd check it out. And I was immediately pulled down in to a rabbit hole so deep I didn't think I'd be able to claw my way out again, but hell I'd be lying if I didn't enjoy the journey. This series is set around one particular hunt, an event that is held every year by the Blackwood brothers, each book will be told from the four brothers POV starting with Xavier. It's fast paced, the spice extremely hot (and although I've found out after reading this, it's a spin-off from another series by this author) you can dive in as it stands by itself. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Xavier and Mira, who's mix of want, possession, desire and need pretty much ended up in the same place, with a surprising HEA ending. I'll definitely be checking out book two as I need more of these devilish brothers in my life....
Mira, an investigative journalist is working undercover at the exclusive Purgatory club, looking for dirt for her exposé to bring down the Blackwood brothers. So when she is invited to the annual hunt as 'prey' she thinks this is her in to get the information she needs. Little does she realise what that entails, until after she signs the contract and even worse finds out that Xavier knows exactly who she is and what she was trying to do, getting herself caught in a web of a man who is determined to claim her as his. I took to Mira's character straight away, a strong independent woman who wants to battle corruption and not scared who she fights is always someone I can get behind. But what really drew me to her was watching her internal struggle between her sense of self, and the darker urges she has hidden beneath, with Xavier being the key to unlock them. I loved her complexity, duel desires and the genuine bond that formed with her and Xavier.
Xavier, primal, criminal, feral,monster. These four words sum him up perfectly and I couldn't help but find myself falling for him in spite of this, as this morally grey (possibly edging on black) man also possesses a heart. One he soon discovers on this year's hunt. Never before has he been so drawn to his 'prey' and Mira pushes him to the edge entirely. Yes he wants to dominate her, break her down and extract revenge on her when he finds out that she was trying to gather information to bring him and his brothers down. But in this twisted game of cat and mouse he realises that he needs her as much as she fights her darker urges and wants him. Giving him one thing he has never had before someone to not only possess, but to love.. Ohh brother I thoroughly checked my mortal compass at the door when it came to this guy and still I couldn't help myself being drawn to him. Especially when his hidden heart becomes exposed, yep it turns out I like a darker shade of man and Xavier was just the one to give it to me.....
Although I've read darker books before, they have mainly been fantasy dark not explicitly romance dark. But after reading this I think I'll walking on a wilder side and adding more to my TBR. Can't say I was disappointed at all. Definitely recommend 😁
November 13, 2025
Dedication
To the women whose forbidden desires involve being hunted by masked men until you're caught, claimed, and thoroughly owned…
Favorite lines and quotes
He reaches for me, and the instant our hands meet, something sparks—too sudden, too intense to ignore.
"Perhaps you’ll receive an invitation soon. We’re preparing for something special. An event where desires become a reality and only the worthy survive.”
Rules exist to be followed—except when breaking them serves a greater purpose. And I want to see what Mira Sullivan does when she’s truly afraid and at my mercy.
“The Hunt isn’t some childish competition. It’s primal. Raw.” “You’ll be prey, Miss Sullivan. One of five women who will run, hide, and eventually be caught.”
“And the hunters?” I continue, lips grazing her earlobe. “Fifteen masked men, including myself, who will track you through every inch of the back rooms of this club.” “Whichever man catches you first stakes his claim on you. He can do whatever he wants with you. Fuck you, pass you around, decide exactly how to use you, and you have no say in the matter.”
There’s something magnetic about him that makes my heart race every time he’s near—and not just from fear. That’s the part I hadn’t counted on. My helpless response to him contradicts my brain’s warnings.
“You’ll be the prey,” I promise, fingers tracing her collarbone. “And I will hunt you through every inch of my domain until you’re mine.”
“Now,” I murmur against her swollen lips, my hand sliding down to position myself at her entrance. “Now you learn what it really means to belong to a Blackwood.”
I’m his, completely and utterly, in ways that should terrify me.
I thought restraining her in chains would give me ultimate power over her. But somehow, in giving me everything, she’s taken a piece of me I didn’t even know I had to lose.
“I hate that you’ve made me want things I never wanted before. That you’ve shown me parts of myself I didn’t know existed.” Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “And I hate that despite all of that, despite knowing exactly what you are and what you’ve taken from me, I still...”
“You still want?” His voice is a whisper.
“I still want you. Need you, even. Like you’ve rewired my brain, and now I can’t function as anything but a shell without you.”
“You think I planned this?” His hand rakes through his hair again, a tell I’m starting to recognize. “You think I wanted to become obsessed with a woman who came into my world specifically to destroy it, to destroy me?”
“I’ve had dozens of women. Used them and discarded them without a second thought. But you? You’ve made me question everything. Made me protective, possessive, obsessive in ways that go far beyond ownership.”
“A bad man sees nothing sacred except the woman who bears his mark—everything else is collateral damage in her protection.”
“I believed I was incapable of love. Thought it was beaten out of me years ago, that it was a weakness I couldn’t afford.” I take a step toward her, then stop, unsure if I have the right to close the distance anymore. “You changed that. You’ve become my entire world, Mira. Not my obsession or my possession—my world. And I don’t know what the fuck that makes me now. Monsters can’t love, so why do I love you?”
"...I’m also the man who would burn this entire city to the ground before I let anyone hurt you. I’m the man who would die before I let harm come to anyone you care about.”
To the women whose forbidden desires involve being hunted by masked men until you're caught, claimed, and thoroughly owned…
Favorite lines and quotes
He reaches for me, and the instant our hands meet, something sparks—too sudden, too intense to ignore.
"Perhaps you’ll receive an invitation soon. We’re preparing for something special. An event where desires become a reality and only the worthy survive.”
Rules exist to be followed—except when breaking them serves a greater purpose. And I want to see what Mira Sullivan does when she’s truly afraid and at my mercy.
“The Hunt isn’t some childish competition. It’s primal. Raw.” “You’ll be prey, Miss Sullivan. One of five women who will run, hide, and eventually be caught.”
“And the hunters?” I continue, lips grazing her earlobe. “Fifteen masked men, including myself, who will track you through every inch of the back rooms of this club.” “Whichever man catches you first stakes his claim on you. He can do whatever he wants with you. Fuck you, pass you around, decide exactly how to use you, and you have no say in the matter.”
There’s something magnetic about him that makes my heart race every time he’s near—and not just from fear. That’s the part I hadn’t counted on. My helpless response to him contradicts my brain’s warnings.
“You’ll be the prey,” I promise, fingers tracing her collarbone. “And I will hunt you through every inch of my domain until you’re mine.”
“Now,” I murmur against her swollen lips, my hand sliding down to position myself at her entrance. “Now you learn what it really means to belong to a Blackwood.”
I’m his, completely and utterly, in ways that should terrify me.
I thought restraining her in chains would give me ultimate power over her. But somehow, in giving me everything, she’s taken a piece of me I didn’t even know I had to lose.
“I hate that you’ve made me want things I never wanted before. That you’ve shown me parts of myself I didn’t know existed.” Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “And I hate that despite all of that, despite knowing exactly what you are and what you’ve taken from me, I still...”
“You still want?” His voice is a whisper.
“I still want you. Need you, even. Like you’ve rewired my brain, and now I can’t function as anything but a shell without you.”
“You think I planned this?” His hand rakes through his hair again, a tell I’m starting to recognize. “You think I wanted to become obsessed with a woman who came into my world specifically to destroy it, to destroy me?”
“I’ve had dozens of women. Used them and discarded them without a second thought. But you? You’ve made me question everything. Made me protective, possessive, obsessive in ways that go far beyond ownership.”
“A bad man sees nothing sacred except the woman who bears his mark—everything else is collateral damage in her protection.”
“I believed I was incapable of love. Thought it was beaten out of me years ago, that it was a weakness I couldn’t afford.” I take a step toward her, then stop, unsure if I have the right to close the distance anymore. “You changed that. You’ve become my entire world, Mira. Not my obsession or my possession—my world. And I don’t know what the fuck that makes me now. Monsters can’t love, so why do I love you?”
"...I’m also the man who would burn this entire city to the ground before I let anyone hurt you. I’m the man who would die before I let harm come to anyone you care about.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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