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The conclusion to Hollow, a spicy mmf gothic romance dark academia retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Book 2 in a duet.

480 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2023

477 people are currently reading
13308 people want to read

About the author

Karina Halle

122 books19.6k followers
Karina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.

When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 452 reviews
Profile Image for 1000_books_1000_lives.
507 reviews42 followers
November 1, 2023
I really wanted to love this after I adored book 1, but I just didn’t. I found it ridiculous and too much spice at the expense of the plot, key moments felt underdeveloped and it just fell really flat for me.
Profile Image for Heather myfriendsdontread.
324 reviews743 followers
August 22, 2024
I absolutely loved Hollow, the first book in this duology, so I wasn’t expecting to dislike this one as much as I did.

My main complaint is that this book was so long for absolutely no reason. It could have wrapped up much sooner, and been more satisfying, but it was pointlessly dragged on.

I also started to really dislike the dynamic between Katrina, Brom, and Ichabod.

And as much as I LOVE my smutty romance books (they’re my favorite thing in the world) this book was basically all anal sex and no plot.

If I had to read one more time about how fucking tight Brom’s asshole was I think I would have had to set this book on fire.

TRUST ME, I know. I know his asshole is tight. Yes. Uh huh. Thank you!! I got it! The tightest asshole there ever was apparently! 🙄

With it being the second in the duology, I expected more actual action and progress in the story rather than constant anal.

The conclusion/resolution with the other witches and Katrina’s mom was not very memorable and satisfying to me. I can’t even remember what happened toward the end.

Lastly, the atmosphere and vibe that I fell in love with in book one, didn’t come across in book two.

This makes me so sad 😭
Profile Image for littlegirlbigbook.
383 reviews221 followers
November 2, 2024
4✨ this was so fucking hot

my heart broke for brom. shattered. he deserves so much love and happiness and devotion and he doesn’t see it. it’s all right there in front of him and he is so convinced he doesn’t deserve it. but damn if kat and crane don’t make him believe otherwise.

at some points in the beginning i almost feel like crane was being unfair. getting everything he wants with brom and kat but not letting them get anything with each other. but i know it comes from a place of love and possessiveness and jealousy and care. but i also think it was necessary for this growth and development. and i so loved his curiosity and determination throughout this. his devotion and protectiveness. his family. beautiful.

i love how kat wants to know about brom and crane and what they do together. and i couldn’t wait to see the three of them together. they way she continued to grow into herself and change and grow in such a short amount of time was lovely. she took everything in stride and she wore her determination like a coat. i so admired her.

a stunning continuation to hollow and the legend of sleepy hollow. once again, i could not put this down. and my god the smut…hot damn i had to keep fanning myself i was sweating so much. but the love was so incredibly beautiful. these three are so wrapped up in each other and it just warms my heart. neither of them will accept any reality in which they are not all together. i feel like i didn’t totally, fully, 100% love the ending. but karina never disappoints or lets me down. i will always love her book and she is absolutely an auto-buy author.

”Farewell to Sleep Hollow. May you never look back.”

“The three of us, we have chosen each other, and that counts for everything.”

“I want to with you. Just like this. Now and in the future, in all my futures.”

“Please know, please know that no matter what happens, no matter what happens to me, I am choosing you. I am choosing this. Us.”

“One body, one beating heart, one damned soul.”

“As if just gazing upon you is a gift, one that you know can be taken away.”
“Then don’t let me be taken away.”

”I have my pretty boy and my sweet witch, and it’s in loving them both that I truly know I’m home. And I’m finally safe.


• why choose / MMF
• professor x student
• forbidden
• age gap
• childhood friends to lovers
• mystery / suspense / a lil horror
• praise & degradation kinks
• breath play
• dom/sub
• witches & demons & magic
Profile Image for Caroline.
539 reviews169 followers
November 11, 2023
It had moments where it was a little slow and repetitive, but overall, it was a good and exciting end to this MMF Romance/Sleepy Hollow retelling duet.

The spice is HOT. I also immediately ran to sign up for Karina Halle's newsletter to read the bonus scene about Crane's tryst with the male vampire.

It sounds like there will be standalone romance retellings about Frankenstein, Abraham Van Helsing, Heathcliff, and Dorian Gray, which I'm very excited to read!!
Profile Image for Ali Alley EscapeThroughABook.
731 reviews23 followers
November 5, 2025
Such a good book! I definitely enjoyed this book. It is very heavy on the spice (which is absolutely fine with me). There is still a plot happening, but the spice and romance are definitely taking the focus for the majority of the book. Which means this book is angsty. So get prepared to have your emotions go from one extreme to another. One minute you might be “awe’ing” a sweet moment to a “wtt” a moment of anger, or a moment of “oof” when you are fanning yourself because the spice is spicing. I was super excited to read this book as I absolutely loved book 1! There is suspense with the who-dun-it feel as well. The ending though was really good, and it was exactly what I could’ve wanted for this story! This is my first set of books I’ve read from this author, and I can say I will be picking up her books again. Due to the genre there are darker themes/scenes which I think adds depth to the story and I appreciated that. This was a wonderful retelling of Sleepy Hollow! I absolutely enjoyed it. I definitely will recommend it to people who enjoy this genre, and especially to a spice lover!

This fantasy romance is book 2 in the Gothic Shade of Romance series. The romance in this book is a why choose. The book is very spicy with lots of descriptive open door spice. Kat, and Ichabod are still struggling to find a way to subdue the Headless Horseman, and save Brom from him. There are disappearances in the school, and the secrets seem to be piling up. Kat, Brom, and Ichabod know there is more to the school than what they’ve been told and are determined to find out what it is before too many more people are hurt. This is a page turning steamy read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
📱Ebook
Profile Image for Sammie Reads.
1,134 reviews183 followers
November 1, 2023
Absolutely loved this conclusion to this Duology! What a great way to round out my October reads. We begin exactly where book one left off. Katrina, Brom, and Crane must work together to solve the mystery of the Headless Horseman possessing Brom, while also ensuring that they do whatever they can to remove themselves from The Sisters snare. We’re not sure what Katrina’s mother and the sisters are up to, but it’s not good. Teachers start to go missing, students begin dying, and it’s very apparent that while Brom thinks he has a handle on the Horseman, he doesn’t.

Let’s not forget about the very sexy times between the three of them…that’s right, we now have group scenes and they were everything. Crane and his mouth…oy vey, his praise and dirty talk are *chefs kiss.* I also loved the evolution of Brom and Crane, Katrina coming into her own against her mother, and the general layer of mystery and dark academia that surrounds the story. I had such a great time immersed in this world!!
Profile Image for EPendleton.
99 reviews5 followers
November 4, 2023
This book was beyond disappointing. I very much enjoyed Hollow, and was excited to read the next book to finish out this exciting story. What did I get? So much sex that I got tired of it, I started skipping pages, and I started loathing the book. There was no story or plot or even thought to finishing out the storyline started in Hollow. The first 66 pages made me desperately want to stop reading but I continued trudging through. I thought maybe like Crane says “it will hurt at first but feel better later,” yeah no chance. This was painful to read though and certainly needed some “oiling.”

Also, the amount of editing errors seriously made this hard to read as well.
Profile Image for ❦PoisonApple❦.
102 reviews17 followers
November 17, 2024
Karina never disappoints me! This series was better than imagined! So many twists and turns and the spice 🥵🥵 If you are thinking about picking up this series, I will go ahead and say read it ASAP. You will not regret it 🔥🔥🔥
Profile Image for ⚔️Caitlyn🌙.
176 reviews18 followers
October 17, 2025
I AM SO RELIEVED TO BE DONE WITH THIS OMFG. look I think more objectively this book wasn’t horrible. I was just SO not into it after being pleasantly surprised by the first book. I rarely say this but there was too much smut in this at the expense of the plot. And some of the smut was too cringe for even me to handle.

I think the whole headless horseman thing could have been done so much better. The actual plot and mystery part of him were glazed over to instead focus on the characters wanting to f*ck each other all the time… do NOT get me started on the absolute clusterf*ck that was the ending. WTF was the moment when all the students came back like “we will help save you cuz you’re such a good professor!” Like WHEN WAS HE A GOOD PROFESSOR HE WAS SO BUSY FUCKING KAT AND BROM THIS WHOLE BOOK

Also all the side characters either died or disappeared and we got no closure? This was basically a book about a threesome with a faux plot thrown it to mark it as a “gothic fantasy romance”

The characters in this were also worse. There were some inconsistencies with them in the first book and Crane was honestly a red flag but I waived it off because they kept alluding to some tragic backstory and I figured he was a control freak but honestly. Man is just a red flag. And Kat literally felt like she had bipolar disorder from one chapter to the next. Don’t get me started on Brom, man was so one dimensional (but she kept trying to pretend he had depth??) that he might as well have been a piece of paper. Which technically he is. Did not come alive for me at all lol. I loved flawed characters or characters evolving but they changed with no actual plot to back up the change or evolved for no reason. Like Kat literally watched her mom get burned alive and had zero reaction basically??? My disbelief only gets suspended so far.

I think I’m just finally realizing that even though Karina’s books have really promising blurbs, her writing, pacing, and plots are not for me
Profile Image for angélique.
52 reviews
April 1, 2024
pov : you're possessed by an evil spirit. the only way to save you ? a threesome
Profile Image for Betül.
1,067 reviews291 followers
November 5, 2023
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

Legend by Karina Halle is a wickedly enticing blend of spooky, steamy, and dark academia, putting a unique spin on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The chemistry between the Kat, Crane, and Brom is electric, igniting the pages with passion and intensity. The steamy scenes are off-the-charts, delivering a sizzling reading experience.

What sets Legend apart is its intricate plot and rich lore, adding depth and keeping the story engaging from start to finish. You'll find yourself pleasantly surprised by unexpected twists and turns. The connection between the three characters feels genuine and natural, making their dynamic a joy to read.

I'm already counting down the days for the next book in the Gothic Shade of Romance series. Halle strikes a perfect balance between romance, suspense, smut, and magic, creating a multi-layered story that keeps you hooked. I didn't want it to end!

Legend has easily secured a spot as one of my top reads this year. I'm eagerly looking forward to what Karina Halle has in store next.
Profile Image for Shannon K G.
288 reviews23 followers
November 20, 2025
I was very intrigued wondering where Legend would go after the unravelings of Hollow. I do feel a tad let down. I feel there was so much potential for a really interesting plot line. I did enjoy the overall gothic vibes and headless horseman lore.
This book seemed to skim over the rituals and the actual secrets and focus on the physical relationship of Crane, Kat, and Brom. Not bad if you're just wanting to check out for a 🌶 read.
Profile Image for Natalia Farnham.
316 reviews13 followers
November 25, 2025
Oh my goodness what a crazy roller coaster in such a good way!!!!!! Gotta say growing up I was always obsessed with the legend of sleepy hollow and this was such a cool take on that world. I definitely did not see any of this coming when I started the duology but so happy with both books. Both a super fast to read and keeps you on your toes!!!!
Profile Image for Danielle Pulliam .
481 reviews77 followers
November 21, 2023
The ending for this book blew me out of the water. I had my issues with it in the middle, which I will explain later, but the ending was just too good. This was a Victorian Horror Movie and a Love Story mashed together in the most beautiful way. It has dark academia, dark romance, Victorian-era, Sleepy Hollow, and crazy-witch vibes. If you're a spooky person all year round like I am, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.

** Spoilers ahead**

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Okay, I had issues within the three-some relationship. Don't get me wrong, I love a threesome. However, the amount of jealousy between these three really started to get on my nerves. It's mentioned often, and whenever I read the word "jealous," I just wanted to strike it out, and I think it would have made the overall book better. But I understand that in real life, that any threesome has it's jealously issues to overcome. By the end of the book, it seems that they have mostly laid these feelings to rest.

The ending with the references to Dorian Gray, Dracula, Heathcliff, and Frankenstein, I loved it, and it made the ending really memorable.
Profile Image for Fey Flowers (enbytweenthepages).
292 reviews65 followers
November 13, 2023
I really love how the relationship between Brom and Crane is portrayed, their love happens independently of the relationship with Kat and the relationship between all 3, I think this kind of representation is very important.

In general, I really like the dynamic of the three of them, polyamory isn't something you can do straight (hehe) away if you've been socialized monogamously and I think it's portrayed very authentically.

Nevertheless, I liked the first volume better overall. The plot, while I liked it, was neglected a bit too much for my taste, I would prefer a better balance between smut/plot.
Towards the end everything became much simpler and, above all, quicker, although the solution was actually discussed earlier in the book but was discarded.

The ending, even though I wanted a good ending for them, was sweet as a toothache - I would have liked a scary farewell greeting. After all, we had constant horror elements and their last party just screams for a little more goosebumps.
Profile Image for Lotte Schwalb.
495 reviews54 followers
October 30, 2023
“I love you because that’s just how it is. It’s as automatic as taking my next breath.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

ARC review
Book 2/2
Gothic romance
Paranormal romance
MMF romance
Professor x Student (2x)
Friends to lovers
Age gap (30-19 and 30-22ish)
Dirty talk (praise and degradation)
MM/MF/MMF action
Impact play
Breath play
Backdoor action
Exhibitionism/voyeurism
Blood play
Dom/sub dynamic
Bondage
DP/DVP
Breeding kink

This was perfect. Kat, Brom and Crane. They fit together like three puzzle pieces. Let me start by saying the VIBE of this duet is immaculate. So spooky, creepy, a little gorey, but just PERFECT to read in October and November. Kat really finds her fire in this book, and I loved it. Her relationship with both Brom and Crane is so beautiful, even if she has to overcome some issues with Brom. Crane, that man is perfection and the star of this book in my opinion. So caring, protective, but also proud of his two lovers. And he is soooo filthy, I was just along for the dirty ride and I enjoyed it from start to finish. The relationships with Brom needed the most work, and I loved how Brom stepped up and fought for Kat and Crane. And can I just say I adored all the Dutch references. I saw my name in a book!!!! Plus there's banketstaaf!!!
Profile Image for Jasmine ⋆。‧˚ʚ🥀ɞ˚‧。⋆.
25 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2024
⭐️:3/5
🌶️:5/5
The plot was a little lost for me in this book. It felt very drawn out and I almost didn’t finish it. The goal they’re trying to achieve thru the whole series comes together within 3 chapters and then it is done and dropped. Besides the trio there are no other characters that are rlly interacted with and that you get a background on. This book definitely lacked a balance between spicy and plot. Literally 87% of this book is spice. With the first book there was a fair bit of spice but it at least had plot and there was some building in both plot, characters, and the world they are In. The only reason this book isn’t a 2 is because of the first book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
2,299 reviews97 followers
October 26, 2025
Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Return to the dark and haunted world of the Sleepy Hollow Institute in Legend . Author Karina Halle brings her erotic reimagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to a close as Kat, Crane, and Brom work to unmask the school’s secrets and find a way to break the curse of the Headless Horseman.

I absolutely loved the first book in this duology, Hollow. It’s eerie, imaginative, horrifying, and sexy all at once. Legend maintains those elements, but ups the steam sometimes at the expense of substance. I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion of Kat, Crane, and Brom’s tale, but not quite as much as the beginning of their story. Kat and Crane remain as curious as ever, which I loved. I liked seeing them both work out the puzzles surrounding them, looking horror straight in the eye and moving forward anyway. Brom is the most mysterious of the lot, feeling somewhat inferior due to his lack of magic. Where Kat’s character was explored in the first book, here it’s Brom and Crane whose history, insecurities, and ghosts must be faced.

Where Hollow raised a lot of questions, Legend provides satisfactory answers. We learn the secrets of the school, of Crane and Brom’s pasts, and who or what the Headless Horseman is. Halle satisfactorily wraps up the story and I only wish we got to delve more into the history behind what happened. The majority of this book is focused on the heat and connection between Brom, Crane, and Kat. Sex, jealousy, rituals, and magic weave through every bit of their relationships, tangling them together sometimes not comfortably. I liked that everything wasn’t perfectly smooth with the three of them and wanted just a bit more of the emotional development between Brom and Crane. As with the mysteries and horror, the love stories and romance are satisfying at the end of the book but there’s so much possibility there that I could have read more to dive deeper.

While I can’t help but compare Legend to Hollow, that doesn’t mean I was let down by the book. I devoured it in one sitting, enjoying the unbridled heat between the three protagonists. The worldbuilding Halle did was so compelling that I – an avowed chicken when it comes to horror – could have spent a long time in it, unpacking all the secrets of the Institute. As it was, I finished this book hoping Halle continues the Gothic Shade of Romance series with the characters introduced in the epilogue. She has a talent for delivering dark and sensual reimaginings of gothic tales.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Serial Romance Librarian.
1,187 reviews297 followers
November 14, 2023
I loved the mood of this story and I really wanted to love this book. First of all, I didn’t feel like I was actually in a historical romance because the dialogue and attitudes were so modern. Secondly, I’m really not a fan of a why-choose romance, but I don’t hold it against the authorI picked this up for the Sleepy Hollow retelling aspect.

The author is super talented and creative, it’s just that several aspects just weren’t for me. Also, I felt that the plot of the second book dragged due to the gratuitous saixy times. I actually started skimming them!!!

Overall, it was a fun read, just not 100% my cuppa.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sammy Storey.
318 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2024
I enjoy the spicy gothic retellings, some parts were a bit cringe but overall I enjoyed it
Profile Image for Maddy Freitas.
228 reviews10 followers
September 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spicy, Sinister, and So Satisfying

WOW. If Hollow set the stage with its eerie, haunting vibes, Legend lit the whole thing on fire 🔥. This book was everything I wanted and more with the perfect dark, spicy, gothic finale to a duet that has fully possessed my soul.

Let’s talk spice: this one turned up the heat. 🥵 The tension from Hollow finally combusts into full-blown, deliciously filthy chaos and I was living for it. There’s a lot of smut (no complaints!), and while the plot dips into the background for a bit, it all ties together in the end in a way that feels earned, intense, and oh-so-satisfying.

The gothic atmosphere? Still 10/10. Karina nails the dark fairytale energy with cursed woods, ancient secrets, and morally grey romance that walks the line between beauty and horror. It’s seductive. It’s sinister. It’s everything I love in a dark romance, with a mythic, haunted twist.

This is hands down, the best dark gothic romance I’ve ever read. The chemistry. The setting. The vibes. Everything just works. And as a finale to the duet? Perfection. I will recommend this to EVERYONE every single spooky season and continue to hype it up.

If you loved Hollow, Legend is going to wreck you in the best way. If you haven’t started this duet yet, what are you waiting for?! Karina Halle has officially cemented herself as the queen of dark romance in my eyes. Her books are always ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

🌟For some reason, Goodreads won't let me edit my review for Hollow, so here it is:

Spooky, Seductive, and So Addictive

WOW. Hollow is the dark, delicious prelude to one of the most atmospheric duets I’ve ever read. Karina Halle kicks off this eerie gothic tale with all the spooky season vibes I crave with misty forests, cursed legends, mystery, slow-burning tension, and a creeping sense of dread that wraps around you like fog.

This book feels like walking into a haunted fairytale. A loose retelling of Sleepy Hollow, yes—but Karina takes that skeleton and breathes in her own brand of sinister seduction, mystery, and dark romance. Around the 65% mark, I had to queue up the Johnny Depp movie just for the vibes—but honestly, this story? So much better. More twisted. More layered. More Karina.

Let’s talk spice: it’s definitely dialed back a bit compared to her other books (Ship of Bones and Teeth fans, you know), but when it hits, it hits. 🔥 Karina promises Legend brings the heat, and knowing her track record? I believe her. The sexual tension in Hollow simmers beneath the surface, keeping you hooked and hungry for more.

Also… that cliffhanger. 😱
It nearly killed me, but THANK GOD Legend was already out. The way this ends will leave your jaw on the floor and your Kindle in hand, frantically one-clicking the next book.

Hollow is haunting, horny, and hella addictive. A spooky, sexy setup to a duet that completely consumed me. If you’re into gothic romance, cursed legends, morally gray men, and stories that drip with atmosphere, this is your next obsession.

Karina Halle is in her dark romance era, and I’m absolutely here for it. 🖤💀

Also, thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review this with the new covers for Hollow and Legend. They are beautiful, but I still prefer the darker OG ones that line my Karina Halle shelf.
Profile Image for Tatianna.
294 reviews92 followers
May 25, 2024
Legend by Karina Halle is the second and final book in Halle's spicy why-choose Sleepy Hollow retelling. If you have your eyes on this one, make sure you read Hollow first because they cannot be read as standalones.

Hollow left its readers with a taste of the desire and emotions bubbling up amongst our three main characters, as well as a significant mystery to be solved. Legend explores their polyamorous relationship more in depth and also provides us with answers about the Sisters and the Horseman. Heads continue to roll and the spice is turned way up.. Dare I say, a little too high?

I enjoyed and appreciated Crane and Brom's history independent of Kat, and especially Crane's backstory. The way they come together feels organic to the characters, and their love for each other is very tender and pure... save for a bit of jealousy. I enjoyed the forbidden student (x2) teacher trope — I don't think I've ever come across that before in romance and it was double the fun. I would have loved more sneaking around from them all.

I feel like Halle must have had a lot of fun writing this. Many things made me laugh as she continued to blend her quirky and ridiculous sense of humour with suspense and horror elements. I found myself thinking: there are few authors from whom I would absolutely expect a book that involves using a sex ritual to exorcise a demon. And well, Karina Halle is one of them.

While it was fun, I was underwhelmed by the plot. The villain did not end up being very formidable and the resolution came very quick and easy... too quick and easy for a 700 page story (between both novels) with so much suspenseful buildup. The smut took centre stage.

I said in my review for Hollow that I was disappointed this was being split into a duet rather than a standalone as originally intended, and after reading both I do feel that this story as a whole could have been tightened up to have better balance and structure. Overall this story was a wild ride and a fun, spooky adventure that shouldn't be taken too seriously.

I really enjoyed the hints of other classic gothic characters dropped in the epilogue, clearly nodding to the potential for them to get their own stories in Halle's A Gothic Shade of Romance retellings.

I am truly grateful to have received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Chezza's life.
256 reviews28 followers
September 28, 2024
Easy 4.5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not just for the spice, which by the way was beautifully written but for the plot. So many twists and turns and when one question was possibly answered another came along. Loved it
Profile Image for ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn.
1,942 reviews104 followers
November 3, 2023
"The three of us are one. We don't work without the other."

Legend is book 2 in the Hollow duet and MUST be read in order. READ HOLLOW FIRST!!
Legend continues (and completes) Kat, Brom and Crane's epic story that starts off with a bang!

Right from the start, we see the connection that these 3 characters have formed and what they are trying to do in order to bring peace and understanding to the Institute of Sleepy Hollow. But forces beyond them are taking lives one by one because of a past deal. These 3 have to find their powers to figure out how to put on end to it while also making their triangle stronger than ever.

Well, hot damn did Karina Halle bring everything together from Hollow and Legend and make it one perfectly spiced duet that I will be thinking about for some time to come! While Hollow introduced the characters and built an amazing world, Legend gave us more background and the ultimate spice to take it all down and I was 100% here for it.

This story built on from book one with the atmospheric setting and the perfect vibes for the season. From the witches and ghosts of pasts, to disappearances of faculty that were getting too close to answers, the spooky and creepy darkness shone through making it a perfect duet for spooky season. The 3 MCs fit together like a strong triangle and each piece was needed in order to take down the witches in charge. Daddy Crane (and boy is he ALL Daddy in Legend 🥵) used his knowledge and research and love for Kat and Brom, while Brom learned to control his inner beast of the Headless Horseman giving him a power that he had to grow into. Kat was finally able to use her witchy magic and really came into her own throughout this epic duet. It was entertaining to see each character grow into their strengths and for them to form a strong love for each other separately and together.

BUT I have to say something about the spice of this book. Because it was the perfect balance to the story. Yes, it was absolute fire and created some one-handed reading (#iykyk), but it was total and utter awesomeness. The first blood sex magic ritual was out of this world! I could feel what they were trying to do and it was totally on point. I could see it playing out in my head and it was HOT! As I said before, Crane is totally Daddy in Legend and boy did he own it. I would bow down to that man any day. He was careful, protective and concise but also dirty, powerful and sexy. He brought these 3 characters together to take down something that they initially thought was more powerful than them, but ultimately, their power and their love was used to defeat the evil lurking within the school.

Lastly, can we talk about the Easter eggs? For past readers, you'll notice some characters that have made appearance in other Halle books, but I also saw some sneak peak into characters in that epic 2nd epilogue. And that makes me super excited for what is to come in these 'Gothic Shades of Romance' books.

With all that said, Legend is obviously for the readers that read Hollow. But this duet in general is for the spooky, smutty, dark academia lovers that enjoy why choose/MMF romance with dark themes of witches, evil, gothic vibes, blood play and sex scenes that may be uncomfortable for some. I simply LOVED it! Karina Halle knows how to build a world and characters that fit in that world perfectly. The pacing and mystery all intertwined to the love story was just what I needed. I can't wait to see what sexy retelling will be next!
Profile Image for ⚡eli⚡.
388 reviews25 followers
November 7, 2023
''I'm not sacrificing any of that, and I'm not sacrificing either of you to fit in to someone else's standards of what it means to be good. They can all fuck right off.''

Thank you Karina Halle and RRS, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Actual rating: 4.25 ⭐

Legend is the second and final book in the duology (first book is Hollow) - a dark academia and gothic romance reimagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

We pick up right after the events of Hollow. In this conclusion, we get answers regarding the mystery behind the Headless Horseman, The Sisters, and the fate of our devious trio. Karina managed to effortlessly deliver a wonderfully creepy atmosphere with some intensified elements of the classic mysteries of Sleepy Hollow. And we see how the superstitions and greed of the initial party influenced the future decisions that led to the disaster.

The story itself was fast-paced, had some great flashbacks, and was filled to the brim with spicy scenes. Those rituals? Dear lord! Talk about filthy smut haha

What I liked about our trio was how natural and genuine they were to each other. Their love and chemistry were scorching hot, and their emotional connection was palpable. Some may say that Kat was a bit sidelined this time as the most focus we got was between Brom and Crane. But I'm not salty. I absolutely enjoyed the scenes between both male leads and I craved more. Also, I wish that we could see more domineering Brom. That would be such a treat as he's my boo.

Despite me loving Legend, I wish our trio had a more difficult time dealing with Goruun and The Sisters. I know I know, but if you think about it - the confrontation scenes between them were, in my opinion, too fast done. I get why Karina chose to make this a duology and not a standalone. Many questions needed more time to be answered, but I felt it was a bit rushed at the end.

Lastly, the epilogue?! If you have read previous Karina's books, you will find some easter eggs that will make this universe even more intriguing. And we get to see hints of who the next stories will be about. I can't wait!

"I'm your god and he's your devil."

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
✨ Why Choose
✨ MMF
✨ Childhood Friends to Lovers
✨ Professor x Student x2
✨ Age Gap
✨ Second Chance Romance
✨ One Horse/Touch her and ☠️
✨ Who did this to you/Did I did this to you?
✨ Paranormal and Spooky/Twists & Turns
✨ Different Kinks
✨ & more.
Profile Image for Elle MacDonald.
224 reviews2 followers
October 3, 2024
4.5⭐️
The first book was great but this second book in the duology absolutely slapped and had me in a literal choke hold! It was completely unpredictable and o had to pick my jaw up off the ground on numerous occasions!

I am OBSESSED with this duology right now! It was the perfect read for Halloween season and I would recommend it to any paranormal, dark academia lovers out there. It was deliciously spooky, and fifty shades of f**ked up in all the best ways. It was dark as hell, with lots of eery elements to it and quite frankly THE spiciest book I have ever read.

If you are not a you choose/polyamory fan, then this duet is not for you, but I ate it up. I could literally not put it down. This book contains scenes of MF, MM & MMF.

When 4 years after the disappearance of her best friend and betrothed, Kat gets sent away to a very spooky school for witches, she meets an intriguing and extremely attractive magic teacher called Ichabod Crane. The 2 of them soon develop a relationship that doesn’t quite match up to that of a student-teacher and they both quickly discover that all is not what it seems at the school.

When Brom( Kats betrothed)unexpectedly re-appears at the school, these three main characters must embark on a journey to unpick and unravel the secrets that run deep within the school, in order to save themselves and those around them. There are lots of unexpected twist and turns along the way and it makes for such a page turner.
Each character must also come face to face with their own inner truths and demons to help save the ones they love.

These characters are so well written, they are so interesting, with lots of depth. Reading Crane help Brom come to accept and flourish in his sexuality was so special and I loved every minute of it. The spice my scenes were like nothing I have read and I cannot wait to read more from this author because WOW her brain works in wonderful ways!
Profile Image for Bex.
76 reviews3 followers
October 30, 2023
I said Hollow was perfect in my review and Legend, it just brings the perfection to an amazing end. What a wild ride this duet was. This is probably one of my favorite retellings to date!

Daddy Crane! I can’t with this man. I am obsessed. I absolutely love the whole dynamic between Crane, Brom and Kat. We got to taste them in Hollow and now in Legend we really get to experience them and their relationship. The spice was next level. Causes butterflies and tingles. It was yummy.

Then there’s the plot. First, the creepy factor progressed from Hollow… Yes, it gets creepier. I loved it but why? Why that specific thing? My own fears just heightened the experience. The twists left me shocked. I wasn’t expecting things, but oh was it great. Then there’s the second epilogue! Like what??? There’s things in there that just made my book hangover a little easier to handle. I can’t wait!!! 👀

Overall, I definitely recommend this. Hollow & Legend are the perfect reads for spooky season, or any season really. Karina put her own spin on the classic story of Sleepy Hollow, and really did it justice!
Profile Image for Unspokenbooks.
253 reviews16 followers
November 12, 2023
Io non so che problemi abbia Karina Halle con i sequel ma spero li risolva presto perché sono stanca di amare il primo libro e poi restare delusa (abbastanza o tanto) dal secondo, è stato così per ogni suo libro che ho letto.
Qui abbiamo troppo sesso, a volte inutile per la trama, personaggi piatti e che non crescono, Kat che fa scelte stupide (tipo confidare tutto alla madre) e una relazione poli assolutamente sbilanciata e tossica.
Il conflitto viene risolto esattamente in mezza pagina per poi tornare a scopare.
Tutto il discorso sulla gravidanza è stato insopportabile e veramente lungo


SPOILER EPILOGO
c'è la gravidanza
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