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Once Upon A Midnight Dreary
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 26Dear Reader,
If you are holding this book, then know this: I did not imagine it.
Someone wanted to drive me mad.
Whether you believe me by the final page is entirely up to you.
You do believe me, don’t you?
Lucy Deveroux, Duchess of Blackthorn
Penniless, shunned by society, and marked forever by her mother’s descent into madness, Lucy makes a desperate choice. She slips uninvited into London’s most lavish masquerade ball, hiding behind a mask of desperation to secure the one thing she cannot survive without—marriage.
Champagne loosens her fear. Music blurs her judgment. And then she sees him.
The masked stranger that sends her heart racing. Seductive, watchful, and unsettlingly familiar, he draws Lucy into a dangerous dance that ends in public ruin… and a forced marriage neither of them can escape.
When the masks come off, the man who broke her heart years ago stands before her.
Sylum Deveroux, Duke of Blackthorn, vanished into scandal after a forced engagement to a woman who would never walk down the aisle. Tarnished by accusations of murder, he was never supposed to be in London…
Now she must risk it all to be with the man she never stopped loving. But once Lucy arrives at Blackthorn Manor, the true nightmare begins.
Footsteps echo outside her door. The servants watch her too closely. Sylum appears where he should not, says things he swears he never said, and a raven named Poe croons riddles about shadows, bones, and divided minds.
Is her new husband plotting her destruction?
Is the manor haunted by the ghost of his dead fiancée?
Or is Lucy unraveling exactly as everyone always feared she would?
Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Once Upon A Midnight Dreary is a gothic psychological romance with a torturously slow descent into madness, steeped in obsession, and macabre desire. A fever-dream of a novel where truth fractures, love becomes dangerous, and the mind may be the most treacherous monster of all.
And when the final revelation comes, one question will remain:
Who is the true villain in the story?
This book is a dark gothic romance intended for adult readers 18+
If you are holding this book, then know this: I did not imagine it.
Someone wanted to drive me mad.
Whether you believe me by the final page is entirely up to you.
You do believe me, don’t you?
Lucy Deveroux, Duchess of Blackthorn
Penniless, shunned by society, and marked forever by her mother’s descent into madness, Lucy makes a desperate choice. She slips uninvited into London’s most lavish masquerade ball, hiding behind a mask of desperation to secure the one thing she cannot survive without—marriage.
Champagne loosens her fear. Music blurs her judgment. And then she sees him.
The masked stranger that sends her heart racing. Seductive, watchful, and unsettlingly familiar, he draws Lucy into a dangerous dance that ends in public ruin… and a forced marriage neither of them can escape.
When the masks come off, the man who broke her heart years ago stands before her.
Sylum Deveroux, Duke of Blackthorn, vanished into scandal after a forced engagement to a woman who would never walk down the aisle. Tarnished by accusations of murder, he was never supposed to be in London…
Now she must risk it all to be with the man she never stopped loving. But once Lucy arrives at Blackthorn Manor, the true nightmare begins.
Footsteps echo outside her door. The servants watch her too closely. Sylum appears where he should not, says things he swears he never said, and a raven named Poe croons riddles about shadows, bones, and divided minds.
Is her new husband plotting her destruction?
Is the manor haunted by the ghost of his dead fiancée?
Or is Lucy unraveling exactly as everyone always feared she would?
Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Once Upon A Midnight Dreary is a gothic psychological romance with a torturously slow descent into madness, steeped in obsession, and macabre desire. A fever-dream of a novel where truth fractures, love becomes dangerous, and the mind may be the most treacherous monster of all.
And when the final revelation comes, one question will remain:
Who is the true villain in the story?
This book is a dark gothic romance intended for adult readers 18+
Paperback
Expected publication March 2, 2026
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh, what a journey! The story is enticing and eerie. The poems laced with riddles and the diary entries where she tried to make sense of what had happened made me question what was real and what wasn't.
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary is a psychological Gothic romance filled with mystery and hauntings. It's dark, poetic and full of twists and turns. Every theory I formed collapsed almost immediately. I questioned every character again and again; trusting them, doubting them, condemning them only to realize I had it all wrong. I absolutely loved it! It didn't feel rushed, and though unexpected, the ending left me gasping!
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary is a psychological Gothic romance filled with mystery and hauntings. It's dark, poetic and full of twists and turns. Every theory I formed collapsed almost immediately. I questioned every character again and again; trusting them, doubting them, condemning them only to realize I had it all wrong. I absolutely loved it! It didn't feel rushed, and though unexpected, the ending left me gasping!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy shit my mind is warped right now.......
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, thank you so much to Cora Raven for the early copy, this book was an experience. I had an incredible time reading Once Upon A Midnight Dreary, and I’m pretty sure I’ve found a new favourite author.
Dreams could resurrect the dead. Dreams could make monsters look like lovers.
The writing style is absolutely beautiful. Lyrical, immersive, and dripping with atmosphere, it pulls you in from the very first page and never lets go. The gothic tone is perfectly executed. Eerie, unsettling, and dreamlike in a way that constantly keeps you questioning what is real and what is not. Even now, I’m still wondering… who was the true villain in the end? Dear reader, I truly don’t know.
Lucy is such a compelling heroine. Watching her slowly unravel within the walls of Blackthorn Manor was haunting. The setting itself felt alive. The echoing halls, the cries, the watching servants, the unsettling “teas,” the constant sense of being observed. The tension and suspicion were palpable, and I genuinely felt Lucy’s fear, confusion, and gradual loss of certainty. Her descent was written with such care and nuance that it felt painfully real.
And Sylum… what a character. Seductive, mysterious, and impossible to fully trust. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the romance was woven beautifully into the psychological horror. The spice deserves a special mention! Tender, emotional, and deeply passionate. Not once did it feel awkward or cringey; it fit the story perfectly and heightened their connection.
The secrets, though. The secrets. I loved the twisted, unsettling ending and how it re-framed everything that came before it. By the final page, I was left questioning every truth I thought I understood, and I loved that. Part of me hopes Lucy simply woke from a nightmare with Sylum by her side… but another part of me suspects the nightmare version might be the truer one.
Once Upon A Midnight Dreary is a gorgeously written gothic psychological romance. Obsessive, macabre, and emotionally gripping. A true fever dream of a novel.
Well done, Cora Raven. Whatever you write next, I’m there. You officially have me. 🖤📖
Dreams could resurrect the dead. Dreams could make monsters look like lovers.
The writing style is absolutely beautiful. Lyrical, immersive, and dripping with atmosphere, it pulls you in from the very first page and never lets go. The gothic tone is perfectly executed. Eerie, unsettling, and dreamlike in a way that constantly keeps you questioning what is real and what is not. Even now, I’m still wondering… who was the true villain in the end? Dear reader, I truly don’t know.
Lucy is such a compelling heroine. Watching her slowly unravel within the walls of Blackthorn Manor was haunting. The setting itself felt alive. The echoing halls, the cries, the watching servants, the unsettling “teas,” the constant sense of being observed. The tension and suspicion were palpable, and I genuinely felt Lucy’s fear, confusion, and gradual loss of certainty. Her descent was written with such care and nuance that it felt painfully real.
And Sylum… what a character. Seductive, mysterious, and impossible to fully trust. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the romance was woven beautifully into the psychological horror. The spice deserves a special mention! Tender, emotional, and deeply passionate. Not once did it feel awkward or cringey; it fit the story perfectly and heightened their connection.
The secrets, though. The secrets. I loved the twisted, unsettling ending and how it re-framed everything that came before it. By the final page, I was left questioning every truth I thought I understood, and I loved that. Part of me hopes Lucy simply woke from a nightmare with Sylum by her side… but another part of me suspects the nightmare version might be the truer one.
Once Upon A Midnight Dreary is a gorgeously written gothic psychological romance. Obsessive, macabre, and emotionally gripping. A true fever dream of a novel.
Well done, Cora Raven. Whatever you write next, I’m there. You officially have me. 🖤📖
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, thank you so so so much to Cora Raven for this ARC. You've become one of my favorite authors and I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to read your work.
"Madness is an easy verdict and society has always found it convenient-particularly when a woman speaks too much, remembers too well, or dares to insist upon her own version of events."
Dear reader, WHAT DID I JUST READ. We follow Lucy, our unreliable and haunted heroine. She's shunned by society following her mother's fall into madness. She falls back into the arms of the man that broke her heart and before she knows it, she's forced into marrying him. Sylum is the Duke of Blackthorn. He's mysterious, seductive, and untrustworthy. The yearning spills off of the pages. But Lucy is questioning her sanity. She starts hearing and seeing things that aren't there. She's scared that she's following in her mother's footsteps.
The story is beautifully written. You're enamoured from the first page. It's gothic, eerie, unsettling. You're questioning your sanity for the entirety of the book. It's mysterious and psychological; influenced by the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. Its tragic and romantic and has a sweet little Raven friend.
Easy 5 stars.
"Madness is an easy verdict and society has always found it convenient-particularly when a woman speaks too much, remembers too well, or dares to insist upon her own version of events."
Dear reader, WHAT DID I JUST READ. We follow Lucy, our unreliable and haunted heroine. She's shunned by society following her mother's fall into madness. She falls back into the arms of the man that broke her heart and before she knows it, she's forced into marrying him. Sylum is the Duke of Blackthorn. He's mysterious, seductive, and untrustworthy. The yearning spills off of the pages. But Lucy is questioning her sanity. She starts hearing and seeing things that aren't there. She's scared that she's following in her mother's footsteps.
The story is beautifully written. You're enamoured from the first page. It's gothic, eerie, unsettling. You're questioning your sanity for the entirety of the book. It's mysterious and psychological; influenced by the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. Its tragic and romantic and has a sweet little Raven friend.
Easy 5 stars.
February 15, 2026
So grateful to have received yet another arc from the author. This book is an amazing gothic fever dream that will have you begging for answers and then questioning them when you get them. My favorite read of the year so far and another 5 star from Cora, who has fully cemented a place as one of my all time favorite authors.
Review of advance copy received from Author
One of the BEST books I’ve ever read. Beautifully seductive with a gorgeous gothic atmosphere. Twins and turns that truly made me feel as though I was losing my mind. I will now be forever chasing the high of this book <3
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5
What the heck was that!
This book was written beautifully which brought to life haunting and captivating imagery. I had no idea that that was where the book was headed. Im not really sure how to explain what happened to my brain reading that.
I guess you’ll just have to read it to find out just what I mean.
Thank you Cora Raven for the ARC of this book!
What the heck was that!
This book was written beautifully which brought to life haunting and captivating imagery. I had no idea that that was where the book was headed. Im not really sure how to explain what happened to my brain reading that.
I guess you’ll just have to read it to find out just what I mean.
Thank you Cora Raven for the ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow!!! 5⭐️’s!!!!!!!
I don’t think I have ever read anything like this book! It was so good!
I don’t even know if I can put into words the details without spoiling an absolute delicious plot! This book has romance (it’s dark & tragic yet somehow really sweet). The overall plot is so much deeper though as we are told the story of the FMC’s life through her eyes with letters from her as well.
This is twisty, spicy, and full of Edgar Allan Poe-esque imagery, vibes, and scenes!
This is gothic, mysterious, and there is truly no way to understand how incredible this book is without reading it.
Just trust me because I don’t want to spoil any of it! You want to read this if you like gothic atmospheres, a twisty Poe-ish mystery, beautiful/tragic romance, and omg a TALKING RAVEN that is the FMC’s macabre little friend!!
I loved this and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it!! The more I think about it, the more I love it!
I don’t think I have ever read anything like this book! It was so good!
I don’t even know if I can put into words the details without spoiling an absolute delicious plot! This book has romance (it’s dark & tragic yet somehow really sweet). The overall plot is so much deeper though as we are told the story of the FMC’s life through her eyes with letters from her as well.
This is twisty, spicy, and full of Edgar Allan Poe-esque imagery, vibes, and scenes!
This is gothic, mysterious, and there is truly no way to understand how incredible this book is without reading it.
Just trust me because I don’t want to spoil any of it! You want to read this if you like gothic atmospheres, a twisty Poe-ish mystery, beautiful/tragic romance, and omg a TALKING RAVEN that is the FMC’s macabre little friend!!
I loved this and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it!! The more I think about it, the more I love it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews