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Fractured Devotion: A Dark Stalker Romance
Obsession is not love. But what if it’s all you've ever known?
At the remote Miramont Neuroclinic, nestled deep in Darnell Hollow’s mist-shrouded woods, trauma isn’t just treated—it’s dissected, rewired, and reconditioned. Dr. Celeste Varon, a brilliant neurobiologist haunted by fragmented memories of her own childhood horrors, is on the verge of a breakthrough that could redefine memory recovery. But when she hires a new technician, something in the lab—and inside her—begins to unravel.
Kade Lorran is too capable. Too charming. Too interested. Behind his attentive smiles and quiet competence hides a dangerous obsession. Sent to sabotage her project, Kade quickly loses sight of his mission, seduced by Celeste’s brilliance and brokenness. What begins as manipulation spirals into fixation. And Celeste, plagued by nightmares, missing time, and flickering images of blood-soaked lullabies, finds herself drawn to the one man she should fear most.
As buried memories claw their way to the surface, surveillance becomes seduction. Control turns to captivity. And the line between research and reality blurs into madness.
But Celeste isn’t the only one with ghosts. And when betrayal bleeds into violence, she must will she reclaim her fractured self—or let a stranger rewrite her mind for good?
Obsession can mimic love.
But in the dark, only one survives.
18+ mature content with triggers. Not suitable for younger readers.
At the remote Miramont Neuroclinic, nestled deep in Darnell Hollow’s mist-shrouded woods, trauma isn’t just treated—it’s dissected, rewired, and reconditioned. Dr. Celeste Varon, a brilliant neurobiologist haunted by fragmented memories of her own childhood horrors, is on the verge of a breakthrough that could redefine memory recovery. But when she hires a new technician, something in the lab—and inside her—begins to unravel.
Kade Lorran is too capable. Too charming. Too interested. Behind his attentive smiles and quiet competence hides a dangerous obsession. Sent to sabotage her project, Kade quickly loses sight of his mission, seduced by Celeste’s brilliance and brokenness. What begins as manipulation spirals into fixation. And Celeste, plagued by nightmares, missing time, and flickering images of blood-soaked lullabies, finds herself drawn to the one man she should fear most.
As buried memories claw their way to the surface, surveillance becomes seduction. Control turns to captivity. And the line between research and reality blurs into madness.
But Celeste isn’t the only one with ghosts. And when betrayal bleeds into violence, she must will she reclaim her fractured self—or let a stranger rewrite her mind for good?
Obsession can mimic love.
But in the dark, only one survives.
18+ mature content with triggers. Not suitable for younger readers.
- GenresDark Romance
500 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2025
32 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 19, 2025
This book started as a solid 5-star read dark, gothic, mysterious and then somewhere along the way, it completely lost its rhythm. The pacing went from gripping to slow and confusing, and honestly, at times it felt like emotional whiplash.
The whole clinic-gothic setup was fantastic eerie, unique, and filled with secrets. I loved Celeste’s backstory and how her childhood trauma shaped her. The love triangle between Kade, Alec, and Celeste had real potential too.
But here’s the thing: Kade dominated the story. He was dark, gritty, obsessive everything that screamed “main love interest.” Alec, on the other hand, stayed sweet and protective but very much in the background. Then, out of nowhere (around 86% in), Kade just sleeps with his old acquaintance and completely derails his arc. Like… what was that even for?
By the end, Celeste chooses Alec, but their reunion felt shallow. There was no build-up, all that emotional tension nothing she just chooses Alec.
The whole book was Celeste and Kade fucking and taking down the organization, digging the past and truth. They were together.
Overall: Loved the gothic vibe and concept, but the execution lost steam. It had the bones of a 5-star story but the choices, pacing, and emotional disconnect dragged it down to a 3.
The whole clinic-gothic setup was fantastic eerie, unique, and filled with secrets. I loved Celeste’s backstory and how her childhood trauma shaped her. The love triangle between Kade, Alec, and Celeste had real potential too.
But here’s the thing: Kade dominated the story. He was dark, gritty, obsessive everything that screamed “main love interest.” Alec, on the other hand, stayed sweet and protective but very much in the background. Then, out of nowhere (around 86% in), Kade just sleeps with his old acquaintance and completely derails his arc. Like… what was that even for?
By the end, Celeste chooses Alec, but their reunion felt shallow. There was no build-up, all that emotional tension nothing she just chooses Alec.
The whole book was Celeste and Kade fucking and taking down the organization, digging the past and truth. They were together.
Overall: Loved the gothic vibe and concept, but the execution lost steam. It had the bones of a 5-star story but the choices, pacing, and emotional disconnect dragged it down to a 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
The book opens with Celeste as a child, hiding in a closet while her mother is murdered by a masked man. That trauma shapes her entire life, echoing through her career at Miramont Clinic and in her fractured relationships. The masked figure is later revealed to be Kade—the same man who will dominate her life as an adult—making their relationship not only toxic, but rooted in violence from the start.
The triangle at the heart of the story—Celeste, Kade, and Alec—is as much about power and memory as it is about desire. Celeste’s intimacy with Kade is twisted from the beginning. He exerts control through surveillance and manipulation, turning sex into both tether and weapon. Their relationship consumes most of the book, and for nearly 80% of the story, she remains bound to him physically and emotionally. With Alec, the man from her past, intimacy is softer and rooted in “what ifs,” but it is also marked by his secrets and his inability to truly save her.
In the end, Celeste chooses to stay with Alec. Personally, I found their reunion shallow because it only happens in the final pages, after the story has been so thoroughly dominated by her relationship with Kade. Once Kade helps her burn everything down in a violent act of closure, the book pivots almost abruptly to Celeste and Alec being together.
The triangle at the heart of the story—Celeste, Kade, and Alec—is as much about power and memory as it is about desire. Celeste’s intimacy with Kade is twisted from the beginning. He exerts control through surveillance and manipulation, turning sex into both tether and weapon. Their relationship consumes most of the book, and for nearly 80% of the story, she remains bound to him physically and emotionally. With Alec, the man from her past, intimacy is softer and rooted in “what ifs,” but it is also marked by his secrets and his inability to truly save her.
In the end, Celeste chooses to stay with Alec. Personally, I found their reunion shallow because it only happens in the final pages, after the story has been so thoroughly dominated by her relationship with Kade. Once Kade helps her burn everything down in a violent act of closure, the book pivots almost abruptly to Celeste and Alec being together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2025
Break her. Control her. Claim her.
Tainted Souls Book 1
A dark stalker romance unlike any other I have ever read. I love it when I'm surprised by a story. I was immersed and taken captive by author Amara Black in a mysterious story that kept me guessing with its interesting characters. As the story unraveled there were many questions I had unsure of the characters' motivations and connections that kept me turning pages and on the edge of my seat seeking answers.
Check TW
Dual POV
Celeste and Kade.
Immerse yourself in this book's gothic vibes that make for the perfect psychological thrill.
Tainted Souls Book 1
A dark stalker romance unlike any other I have ever read. I love it when I'm surprised by a story. I was immersed and taken captive by author Amara Black in a mysterious story that kept me guessing with its interesting characters. As the story unraveled there were many questions I had unsure of the characters' motivations and connections that kept me turning pages and on the edge of my seat seeking answers.
Check TW
Dual POV
Celeste and Kade.
Immerse yourself in this book's gothic vibes that make for the perfect psychological thrill.
August 30, 2025
This book was disturbingly dark, twisted, and emotionally draining. I couldn't put it down. It had me so captivated and tense, I couldn't read it fast enough. I can't remember a book that manipulated my emotions and anxiety like this book has done and I'm completely reeling from the ending. My head knows that Alec is the logical and stable partner that Celeste's healing and freedom needs, BUT my heart can't let Kade go. I'm so heartbroken.
September 10, 2025
Twists and turns around every corner. He watches her, he yearns for her. But she is broken. Or is she programmed? Or is she being reprogrammed? What can she trust? Can she even trust her own memories? Who can she trust? A riveting read that kept me guessing. This was my first step into dark romance and I would recommend as long as you are aware of the trigger warnings.
August 15, 2025
Celeste dedicated her life to her work as a neurobiologist to work on memory recovery, she hires Kade as a new technician but nothing will be the same again as compulsion and ibssesion drive them both but then there's another in Alec just what? Well written twisting steamy dark romance
September 14, 2025
Kindle unlimited
For a honest review in my own words on a book I read.Dr Celeste varon uncovers what has happened to her and other with help as they take it all down . This was a very good story I like the characters and how this book takes you through what happened.
For a honest review in my own words on a book I read.Dr Celeste varon uncovers what has happened to her and other with help as they take it all down . This was a very good story I like the characters and how this book takes you through what happened.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews