What do you think?
Rate this book
Bells: A Dark Retelling
Obsession. Nah, I wouldn’t call it that.
Obsession would imply I gave a damn about the little rodent I was swiping between my paws right now. And the only thing I gave a damn about was whatever could give me the quickest high.
This was more of a curiosity… a cat kicking around a dead mouse right before he dropped it off on someone’s doorstep.
Which was exactly what I was instructed to do.
You find a rat, you call an exterminator. It was simple math. It was also a real Mr. and Mrs. Kuznetsov situation we had going on, seeing as my little kotyonok thought she had claws.
Little did she know, the only difference between a death toll and a dinner bell was whoever was holding the fork. And this feline couldn’t wait to dig in.
Ding-ding, baby. Ding-motherf*cking-ding.
BELLS is a dark spin on the fable "Belling the Cat" and book three in The Renegades Series. Each title is a standalone in an interconnected world while each story is a retelling of a fairy tale, nursery rhyme, fable, etc. The focus is dark romance so please heed the trigger warnings at the beginning of every book.
Obsession would imply I gave a damn about the little rodent I was swiping between my paws right now. And the only thing I gave a damn about was whatever could give me the quickest high.
This was more of a curiosity… a cat kicking around a dead mouse right before he dropped it off on someone’s doorstep.
Which was exactly what I was instructed to do.
You find a rat, you call an exterminator. It was simple math. It was also a real Mr. and Mrs. Kuznetsov situation we had going on, seeing as my little kotyonok thought she had claws.
Little did she know, the only difference between a death toll and a dinner bell was whoever was holding the fork. And this feline couldn’t wait to dig in.
Ding-ding, baby. Ding-motherf*cking-ding.
BELLS is a dark spin on the fable "Belling the Cat" and book three in The Renegades Series. Each title is a standalone in an interconnected world while each story is a retelling of a fairy tale, nursery rhyme, fable, etc. The focus is dark romance so please heed the trigger warnings at the beginning of every book.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2026
About the author
Sybil Knight
25 books560 followersSybil is a career-driven Philadelphian native. A crime show enthusiast by day, and a BDSM club hopper by night. When she isn't working or writing, she is talking about working and writing. She is a single mom to her beta fish (Fish) and way too many dead houseplants.
Her stories range from gray to black, with darker themes throughout. She prefers heroines with a kick-ass mentality and the heroes who know how to rein them in. The mental and medical aspects of her books are well-researched, though they are given a humanistic approach and diagnoses aren't the focal points. She believes her characters don't need to wear labels in order to get her messages across.
Her books are mostly standalones, though her characters may interact and intersect worlds. Additionally, she works closely with and writes alongside author Dahlia Reign and some characters will appear in cameos in each of their publications.
Her stories range from gray to black, with darker themes throughout. She prefers heroines with a kick-ass mentality and the heroes who know how to rein them in. The mental and medical aspects of her books are well-researched, though they are given a humanistic approach and diagnoses aren't the focal points. She believes her characters don't need to wear labels in order to get her messages across.
Her books are mostly standalones, though her characters may interact and intersect worlds. Additionally, she works closely with and writes alongside author Dahlia Reign and some characters will appear in cameos in each of their publications.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
June 9, 2026
O! My! Could Bellatrix be worse than Casper? Or are they just two peas from the same pod?
Have I been hankering for Casper’s story…yes, yes I have 🤭 What I didn’t expect was for Bells to be as unhinged as he is maybe more so, though she feels pain whereas Casper doesn’t on all counts.
So, yep! You guessed it when these two collide envisage the fallout that will happen!
ℙ𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖'𝕤 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕒𝕣𝕜 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤. 𝕀𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕙𝕪 𝕟𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕦𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤.
I am mildly obsessed with the Renegades to say the least, each book has been sooo good. This one is no exception, Sybil knows how to cause you angst, have you on the edge of your seat and in the next breath asking her ‘are you ok, hun?’ There are spicy times maybe dub con though it’s debatable, violence for sure, deleting most definitely, also a plot simmering in the background but there is some enlightenment into all their interconnected lives. Her writing just holds you for ransom and doesn’t given in until your are at the end of the story, and even them she leaves you wanting more 🫶🏻
Have I been hankering for Casper’s story…yes, yes I have 🤭 What I didn’t expect was for Bells to be as unhinged as he is maybe more so, though she feels pain whereas Casper doesn’t on all counts.
So, yep! You guessed it when these two collide envisage the fallout that will happen!
ℙ𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖'𝕤 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕒𝕣𝕜 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤. 𝕀𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕙𝕪 𝕟𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕦𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤.
I am mildly obsessed with the Renegades to say the least, each book has been sooo good. This one is no exception, Sybil knows how to cause you angst, have you on the edge of your seat and in the next breath asking her ‘are you ok, hun?’ There are spicy times maybe dub con though it’s debatable, violence for sure, deleting most definitely, also a plot simmering in the background but there is some enlightenment into all their interconnected lives. Her writing just holds you for ransom and doesn’t given in until your are at the end of the story, and even them she leaves you wanting more 🫶🏻
June 17, 2026
I had the opportunity to read this as an arc. So I buckled up and got ready to jump on this ride. And wow, it was one hell of a wild ride. This was dark with the most wickedly delicious twists and turns. I’ve never read this author before, but it didn’t take long to make me a fan. One book and I’m addicted . This was so spicy, so chaotic, I devoured this one.
June 15, 2026
Personally, I love the renegades series & had been dyinggg for Casper’s story.
One thing I want to point out is how much I enjoy the depth to this series storyline and how EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is connected and things always comes full circle.
Casper was grosser than I expected, buckle up if you have a weak stomach cause several of his descriptions of things had me making an “ew” face 😂 the accidental circumcision was certainly one of those moments that makes you question your own reading choices 😬😂
I’ll be honest, most MMCs so far in the series were more redeemable to me, which is really saying a lot considering just how broken they’ve all been.. I ended the book and I’m still sitting here trying to sort out my feelings on him..
Now, to be fair, our FMC is no angel and was honestly just as toxic.. so that helps? Maybe?
Overall this was the most realistic enemies to lovers I’ve ever read. By far. The hate & anger were palpable.
M/F
Third in the renegades series and genuinely best enjoyed in order.
Had some splatterpunk moments in my opinion
Genuinely DARK, almost pitch black if it wasn’t so funny at moments
Good god check that trigger warning list, your mental health matters.
One thing I want to point out is how much I enjoy the depth to this series storyline and how EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is connected and things always comes full circle.
Casper was grosser than I expected, buckle up if you have a weak stomach cause several of his descriptions of things had me making an “ew” face 😂 the accidental circumcision was certainly one of those moments that makes you question your own reading choices 😬😂
I’ll be honest, most MMCs so far in the series were more redeemable to me, which is really saying a lot considering just how broken they’ve all been.. I ended the book and I’m still sitting here trying to sort out my feelings on him..
Now, to be fair, our FMC is no angel and was honestly just as toxic.. so that helps? Maybe?
Overall this was the most realistic enemies to lovers I’ve ever read. By far. The hate & anger were palpable.
M/F
Third in the renegades series and genuinely best enjoyed in order.
Had some splatterpunk moments in my opinion
Genuinely DARK, almost pitch black if it wasn’t so funny at moments
Good god check that trigger warning list, your mental health matters.
June 16, 2026
Casper may be Briarwood’s ghost, a contract killer who leaves no trace, but when a hit is placed on himself, his curiosity leads him straight to Bellatrix. Raised in the shadows and trained to kill, Bells becomes obsessed with figuring out why Casper refuses to stay down no matter how many times she tries to take him out. Their relationship is chaotic, violent, and strangely addictive with equal parts enemies, obsession, and chemistry. I absolutely loved this ARC. It pulled us deeper into Briarwood’s history and the Prescott connections while leaving plenty of mysteries behind. Casper and Bells gave major rival-assassin energy, and Bells matched Casper’s chaos perfectly, making them a completely dysfunctional but oddly perfect pair.
June 24, 2026
I knew Casper was my favorite psycho but I freaking loved him even more!!!
This book was everything! Bells was just as unhinged and I loved them for each other! The tension and the rivalry.. These two were a hot mess and I was here for them!
This book was everything! Bells was just as unhinged and I loved them for each other! The tension and the rivalry.. These two were a hot mess and I was here for them!
June 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book 3 in The Renegades Series
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 Dark Romance
🐈 Belling the Cat Retelling
Listen...the second I realized this was a Belling the Cat retelling, I was immediately intrigued because how do you even turn that into a dark romance? Apparently like this 😮💨 and the fact that its Casper's book, which I have been waiting forever for made it even better.
Like every book that Sybil writes, especially in the renegade series...this book was dark, addictive, and had me hooked from the very beginning. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between the characters was EVERYTHING. Neither one was willing to back down, neither one fully trusted the other, and every interaction felt like a challenge waiting to happen.
Casper is absolutely unhinged in the way I like my dark romance men. Obsessive, dangerous, morally gray, and fully convinced he's in control of the situation. Meanwhile, Bells had way more bite than he gave her credit for, which made their dynamic so much fun to read...Who knew Bells was going to be even more unhinged than Casper???
The tension in this book was ridiculous. Not just the romantic tension, but the constant feeling that something could go wrong at any moment. I kept telling myself I'd stop after one more chapter and then suddenly I was halfway through the book.
What I loved most was that the story never felt predictable. Every time I thought I knew where things were going, something happened that completely changed the direction. The pacing was fast, the chemistry was chemistry-ing, and I was invested from start to finish. The renegades series is one of those ones where everything is so connected and you just are immersed in the characters so deeply.
This was dark, chaotic, and exactly the kind of morally questionable romance I love getting lost in. I highly recommend this series for those who are looking for a match to their little black hearts 🖤
Tropes:
🖤 Dark Romance
🐈 Belling the Cat Retelling
🖤 Morally Gray MMC
🐈 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Cat & Mouse Dynamic
🐈 Touch Her & Die
🖤 Suspense
🐈 Possessive MMC
🖤 High Tension
🐈 Strong FMC
🖤 Secrets & Lies 😮💨🔥
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book 3 in The Renegades Series
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 Dark Romance
🐈 Belling the Cat Retelling
Listen...the second I realized this was a Belling the Cat retelling, I was immediately intrigued because how do you even turn that into a dark romance? Apparently like this 😮💨 and the fact that its Casper's book, which I have been waiting forever for made it even better.
Like every book that Sybil writes, especially in the renegade series...this book was dark, addictive, and had me hooked from the very beginning. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between the characters was EVERYTHING. Neither one was willing to back down, neither one fully trusted the other, and every interaction felt like a challenge waiting to happen.
Casper is absolutely unhinged in the way I like my dark romance men. Obsessive, dangerous, morally gray, and fully convinced he's in control of the situation. Meanwhile, Bells had way more bite than he gave her credit for, which made their dynamic so much fun to read...Who knew Bells was going to be even more unhinged than Casper???
The tension in this book was ridiculous. Not just the romantic tension, but the constant feeling that something could go wrong at any moment. I kept telling myself I'd stop after one more chapter and then suddenly I was halfway through the book.
What I loved most was that the story never felt predictable. Every time I thought I knew where things were going, something happened that completely changed the direction. The pacing was fast, the chemistry was chemistry-ing, and I was invested from start to finish. The renegades series is one of those ones where everything is so connected and you just are immersed in the characters so deeply.
This was dark, chaotic, and exactly the kind of morally questionable romance I love getting lost in. I highly recommend this series for those who are looking for a match to their little black hearts 🖤
Tropes:
🖤 Dark Romance
🐈 Belling the Cat Retelling
🖤 Morally Gray MMC
🐈 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Cat & Mouse Dynamic
🐈 Touch Her & Die
🖤 Suspense
🐈 Possessive MMC
🖤 High Tension
🐈 Strong FMC
🖤 Secrets & Lies 😮💨🔥
June 17, 2026
What a perfect ending to the series. I absolutely loved Caspers story. I know he's like morbid, unhinged, and a tad psycho but he made me laugh. I think Bells was just as crazy and I loved her too! There wasn't really a sane character at all 😂 it was just a wild, insane ride. Casper has been one of my favorites since the beginning and his story did not disappoint!
I love how everything connects throughout these 3 books and it all comes together! Which is why I highly recommend starting with Skin. Everything intertwines and how it's written is just amazing.
Per usual this authors writing always grips me. I end up devouring whatever I'm reading of hers. These morally black characters end up tugging and digging their way into my heart. Sometimes I'm left going WTF the others I'm like awww I get you.
As always check the triggers. I personally love "darker the better" and have an extremely dark sense of humor. So I found a lot of the characters internal thoughts and back and forth quite funny. But this will definitely not be for everyone. 🖤
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️Stalker x stalker
✔️He's immune to pain
✔️Forced proximity
✔️Pierced MMC
✔️Dark romance
I love how everything connects throughout these 3 books and it all comes together! Which is why I highly recommend starting with Skin. Everything intertwines and how it's written is just amazing.
Per usual this authors writing always grips me. I end up devouring whatever I'm reading of hers. These morally black characters end up tugging and digging their way into my heart. Sometimes I'm left going WTF the others I'm like awww I get you.
As always check the triggers. I personally love "darker the better" and have an extremely dark sense of humor. So I found a lot of the characters internal thoughts and back and forth quite funny. But this will definitely not be for everyone. 🖤
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️Stalker x stalker
✔️He's immune to pain
✔️Forced proximity
✔️Pierced MMC
✔️Dark romance
June 22, 2026
Bells is the final book in The Renegades Series. And it did not disappoint. 5 stars and 3 chili peppers!
I've followed Sybil Knight for about 2 years now and been on her arc team for a little over one year. She is one of my absolute favorite indie authors. I have not read one of her books that I did not love. And this series was perfect.
I fell in love instantly with Cohen (MMC) in Skin (book 1), and I loved the little glimpses we got of Casper in the series before this book. He is absolute chaos and I'm here for it. His humor is dark & deranged. And his quick wit at coming up with nicknames was one of my favorite things about him!
In Bells we get to see the dynamic between Casper and Bellatrix. They hate each other. They keep trying to kill each other. But somehow they can't stay away from each other or keep their hands off each other. The banter is fantastic. The spice is hot and messy lol. Through the book we get brief looks into their past and how they were both interconnected to Briarwood and the Prescott's. Their childhood trauma made them who they are today. If you love the dark romance, fast paced action, spice, and absolute deranged behavior in your MMC this series is for you! As always check the TW's.
I've followed Sybil Knight for about 2 years now and been on her arc team for a little over one year. She is one of my absolute favorite indie authors. I have not read one of her books that I did not love. And this series was perfect.
I fell in love instantly with Cohen (MMC) in Skin (book 1), and I loved the little glimpses we got of Casper in the series before this book. He is absolute chaos and I'm here for it. His humor is dark & deranged. And his quick wit at coming up with nicknames was one of my favorite things about him!
In Bells we get to see the dynamic between Casper and Bellatrix. They hate each other. They keep trying to kill each other. But somehow they can't stay away from each other or keep their hands off each other. The banter is fantastic. The spice is hot and messy lol. Through the book we get brief looks into their past and how they were both interconnected to Briarwood and the Prescott's. Their childhood trauma made them who they are today. If you love the dark romance, fast paced action, spice, and absolute deranged behavior in your MMC this series is for you! As always check the TW's.
June 29, 2026
What can I say but holy hell of a ride! I was so excited to get Casper’s story. But then comes Bellatrix. “Wow” The cat and mouse chase with dark vibes was crazy and unhinged! How many lives does Casper really have?? The back and forth banter was obscene and funny. I laughed out loud! This is the third book in the renegade series. It puts so many pieces in place with the backstory of the Prescotts. I’m so glad I received the arc for this! I’m not sure I would’ve found this series! Loved them all! Coming from someone who has no triggers! Please check the trigger warning’s mental health is so important! I will be reading all of the interconnected briarwood books! Thanks Sybil for my new addiction!
June 20, 2026
Sybil knocked it out of the park again. This series has been wild, insane, and amazing! You don't necessarily have to read the other two books but I think you get a better experience when you do.
Let's get into these characters. Bellatrix, Bells, I think she is just as unhinged as the other male characters in this series. She for sure gives everyone a run for their money. She has been trained to kill.
Casper also is an assassin. He is known as a ghost in Briarwood. He says some hilarious things in this book but when he gets to business watch out!
The dynamic of these two characters is chefs kiss! This was a wild enemies to loves ride and nothing short of amazing!
Let's get into these characters. Bellatrix, Bells, I think she is just as unhinged as the other male characters in this series. She for sure gives everyone a run for their money. She has been trained to kill.
Casper also is an assassin. He is known as a ghost in Briarwood. He says some hilarious things in this book but when he gets to business watch out!
The dynamic of these two characters is chefs kiss! This was a wild enemies to loves ride and nothing short of amazing!
June 15, 2026
Bells by Sybil Knight was a good read! If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers, Casper and Bells will show you just how unhinged things can get when two chaotic personalities collide. I definitely think reading the first two books in the Renegade series made this story hit harder and helped me fully understand the characters and their journey.
If you enjoy stalking themes, morally questionable characters, and an asylum setting, this one may be right up your alley. Just make sure to start with the first book in the series to get the full picture. And as always, check your trigger warnings before diving in.
Happy reading! 📚
If you enjoy stalking themes, morally questionable characters, and an asylum setting, this one may be right up your alley. Just make sure to start with the first book in the series to get the full picture. And as always, check your trigger warnings before diving in.
Happy reading! 📚
July 4, 2026
3rd book in the Renegades series and I am floored and want more already! Even though it’s Casper’s story and he meets his match, Bellatrix, in this fiery cat and mouse game. Their love/hate “relationship” were the best parts of the book! 🔥 The paddles/defibrillator scene had me 😲 and I am here for it. 👏 Love the sprinkles of medical equipment/medication use or abuse. 💉
The book also answers a lot of questions I had from previous characters and their backstory. 🤯
The next two books:
Nutcracker is going to be a dark standalone Novella spinoff from The Renegades Series and we get to meet another doctor Olivia Winters.
Curiouser is a dark “Alice in Wonderland” retelling and a spin-off of the The Renegades Series.
Thank you Sybil for the privilege of receiving the ARC for my honest review!!!
The book also answers a lot of questions I had from previous characters and their backstory. 🤯
The next two books:
Nutcracker is going to be a dark standalone Novella spinoff from The Renegades Series and we get to meet another doctor Olivia Winters.
Curiouser is a dark “Alice in Wonderland” retelling and a spin-off of the The Renegades Series.
Thank you Sybil for the privilege of receiving the ARC for my honest review!!!
July 22, 2026
This was my favorite book in the series!
This book was absolute chaos and I was here for every second of it.
Casper is unhinged and obsessive and he has met his match in Bells. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book, definitely one of my tops reads of the year so far. Anything Sybil writes, I will read!
Please check the triggers before reading!
This book was absolute chaos and I was here for every second of it.
Casper is unhinged and obsessive and he has met his match in Bells. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book, definitely one of my tops reads of the year so far. Anything Sybil writes, I will read!
Please check the triggers before reading!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Wives just didn’t want their husbands offed like they’re used to. To some, that might be a good thing. To us, it was fiscal suicide”
Characteristic of Sybil’s usual style, Bells is sassy, fast-paced, twisted, dark, with banter that banters. You get glimpses of the characters’ bleak world (“Do you know what they do when people can’t afford a headstone? Nothing. You got nothing. Just vague directions to a sliver of grass”) and their elusive, toxic wholesomeness (“Her lips tasted like pennies. And whatever power bar she was chewing on the way over. And salt from the sweat dripping down her forehead onto mine. And lust. And hatred. And more lust. And I tasted like all those things now too”). Which makes it poignantly heartwarming too. And here’s exactly why I loved and devoured this book in a day -
THE RENEGADES SERIES & BRIARWOOD WORLD
This series is an absolute banger. You’d find Bells more interesting if you’ve read the other two books (especially, imo, the second). The world’s brutal and the characters start out already broken by it. Their cavalier acceptance of and attitude to pain and violence is both unsurprising and delectable. I also have a penchant for asylum settings so I loved getting to know more about Briarwood and its insane residents.
AND DANICA’S CAMEO! - another badass Sybil heroine from ‘Half-cocked’. If you haven’t read it, you really must.
ADRIAN LAMBERT - my fave socio from this series (book 2, Lamb)
God, I am a sucker for this guy! That fourth star is for THE SURGEON starring in Bells too. And all the bits spotlight-ing his calm, quiet, controlled, devoted violence. His soft spot for pets and babies and yes, his narcissistic obsession with (his) Briarwood posse of men/patients he’s fixed and loves to fix. His spot-on analyses of Casper and Bells & their afflictions - so medical, mechanical, and coldly endearing to him in his own way (Bells finds him “lost to the psychobabble spewing out of his mouth like a textbook with legs”.). How he follows his lady lol - Casper says wherever Marisela goes, Adrian follows, that’s just the way it is- and I’m pretty sure I had heart-eyes.
Which brings me to CASPER, who’s just as poignantly endearing.
He’s adorably delusional, infinitely restless, obscenely addicted to sweets. Like it’s literally his full-time side hustle. Bored, unhinged, can’t feel pain which fuels his madness more. His relationships and interactions with Briarwood residents are so fun. The way he talks about and keeps goading Frankie is LOL - calls him uglier than a blister, says “how’s our favourite circus freak?”, “I’d be as limp as the woman he claimed he liked fucking” Jesus Christ LOL!”
And then the way he talks about Adrian (“Sometimes the bossman grew a random hair on his balls and nothing would stop him till he was finally able to pluck it out. This girl was that hair…” and “His flavour of punishment isn’t the fun kind…don’t touch anything unless you know exactly where it went.”).
And then, there’s BELLATRIX, Bells
Sybil’s FMCs are always just as unhinged as the men - if not more. I love that they’re shaped by the same pain and violence that forged the men in her world. Their trauma manifests in the same cold, calculating, and violent way, which is refreshingly uncommon. They don’t bullshit much, and Bells’ the same. Sure, there’s a bit more structure to her violence and madness than Marisela, but that makes sense because she’s been trained to kill. She is just as impatient and toxic, though and gives as good as she gets. It makes her dynamic with Casper more volatile and downright dangerous. I really enjoyed how angry and frustrated she gets every time he somehow manages to survive her relentless attempts on his life.
Full disclosure - This is an ARC review, but if you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of the series anyway. I wish we got more of Casper and Bells' insane tango but I loved the book. It's why I've rambled on about all the lovely Briarwood lunatics & character crossovers. There's a hilarious Ring's reference somewhere, which like I've said, is how Sybil writes - but in Bells, I love how she marries that humour with poignant, profound observations about mental health, trauma, and the general unfairness and complexity of life. She does this in her other works too, but it just shines a little brighter in Bells.
Characteristic of Sybil’s usual style, Bells is sassy, fast-paced, twisted, dark, with banter that banters. You get glimpses of the characters’ bleak world (“Do you know what they do when people can’t afford a headstone? Nothing. You got nothing. Just vague directions to a sliver of grass”) and their elusive, toxic wholesomeness (“Her lips tasted like pennies. And whatever power bar she was chewing on the way over. And salt from the sweat dripping down her forehead onto mine. And lust. And hatred. And more lust. And I tasted like all those things now too”). Which makes it poignantly heartwarming too. And here’s exactly why I loved and devoured this book in a day -
THE RENEGADES SERIES & BRIARWOOD WORLD
This series is an absolute banger. You’d find Bells more interesting if you’ve read the other two books (especially, imo, the second). The world’s brutal and the characters start out already broken by it. Their cavalier acceptance of and attitude to pain and violence is both unsurprising and delectable. I also have a penchant for asylum settings so I loved getting to know more about Briarwood and its insane residents.
AND DANICA’S CAMEO! - another badass Sybil heroine from ‘Half-cocked’. If you haven’t read it, you really must.
ADRIAN LAMBERT - my fave socio from this series (book 2, Lamb)
God, I am a sucker for this guy! That fourth star is for THE SURGEON starring in Bells too. And all the bits spotlight-ing his calm, quiet, controlled, devoted violence. His soft spot for pets and babies and yes, his narcissistic obsession with (his) Briarwood posse of men/patients he’s fixed and loves to fix. His spot-on analyses of Casper and Bells & their afflictions - so medical, mechanical, and coldly endearing to him in his own way (Bells finds him “lost to the psychobabble spewing out of his mouth like a textbook with legs”.). How he follows his lady lol - Casper says wherever Marisela goes, Adrian follows, that’s just the way it is- and I’m pretty sure I had heart-eyes.
Which brings me to CASPER, who’s just as poignantly endearing.
He’s adorably delusional, infinitely restless, obscenely addicted to sweets. Like it’s literally his full-time side hustle. Bored, unhinged, can’t feel pain which fuels his madness more. His relationships and interactions with Briarwood residents are so fun. The way he talks about and keeps goading Frankie is LOL - calls him uglier than a blister, says “how’s our favourite circus freak?”, “I’d be as limp as the woman he claimed he liked fucking” Jesus Christ LOL!”
And then the way he talks about Adrian (“Sometimes the bossman grew a random hair on his balls and nothing would stop him till he was finally able to pluck it out. This girl was that hair…” and “His flavour of punishment isn’t the fun kind…don’t touch anything unless you know exactly where it went.”).
And then, there’s BELLATRIX, Bells
Sybil’s FMCs are always just as unhinged as the men - if not more. I love that they’re shaped by the same pain and violence that forged the men in her world. Their trauma manifests in the same cold, calculating, and violent way, which is refreshingly uncommon. They don’t bullshit much, and Bells’ the same. Sure, there’s a bit more structure to her violence and madness than Marisela, but that makes sense because she’s been trained to kill. She is just as impatient and toxic, though and gives as good as she gets. It makes her dynamic with Casper more volatile and downright dangerous. I really enjoyed how angry and frustrated she gets every time he somehow manages to survive her relentless attempts on his life.
Full disclosure - This is an ARC review, but if you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of the series anyway. I wish we got more of Casper and Bells' insane tango but I loved the book. It's why I've rambled on about all the lovely Briarwood lunatics & character crossovers. There's a hilarious Ring's reference somewhere, which like I've said, is how Sybil writes - but in Bells, I love how she marries that humour with poignant, profound observations about mental health, trauma, and the general unfairness and complexity of life. She does this in her other works too, but it just shines a little brighter in Bells.
June 17, 2026
This book was absolute chaos in the most addictive way possible, and I mean that as the highest compliment. 😮💨🖤 From the opening pages, I was completely locked in and unable to look away from the trainwreck unfolding before me. Every chapter felt dangerous, unpredictable, and one wrong move away from complete disaster.
Casper has built a reputation throughout Briarwood as a ghost—an assassin so skilled that he leaves nothing behind. But when someone puts a target on his own back, his curiosity gets the better of him, leading him straight to Bellatrix. What follows is less of a romance and more of a beautifully deranged collision between two people who should never have crossed paths... yet somehow fit together perfectly. 🔪❤️
Bellatrix was easily one of my favorite parts of this story. Raised in a world of violence and trained to eliminate problems rather than solve them, she's every bit as ruthless as Casper. What starts as a mission quickly turns into an obsession when she realizes he refuses to stay dead no matter how many times she tries to remove him from the equation. Watching her become increasingly fixated on him was both hilarious and alarming. 😂🖤
The dynamic between Casper and Bells is pure madness. They're rivals, enemies, stalkers, and reluctant partners all rolled into one explosive relationship. Every interaction crackles with tension, whether they're threatening each other, hunting each other, or secretly becoming far too invested in one another's existence. Their chemistry is toxic, messy, and completely impossible to resist. 🔥⚠️
What made this story stand out was that neither character serves as the voice of reason. There isn't a stable one balancing out the chaos. Instead, Casper and Bells continuously fuel each other's worst impulses, creating a relationship that somehow becomes even more entertaining the more dysfunctional it gets. They're equally unpredictable, equally dangerous, and equally obsessed. 😈✨
The forced proximity element was executed perfectly. No matter how hard they tried to stay away from each other, circumstances kept throwing them back together until avoidance simply wasn't an option anymore. Every encounter felt like a high-stakes game where attraction and violence existed side by side, and honestly, I couldn't get enough. 🖤🔪
Beyond the romance, I loved how much this book expanded the Briarwood world. We get deeper insight into the town's history, more connections to the Prescott storyline, and enough unanswered questions to leave me desperate for future books. The world continues to grow without losing any of the mystery that makes it so compelling. 👀📚
The atmosphere deserves its own mention because it was incredible. Dark, tense, and dripping with danger, there was a constant feeling that everything could spiral out of control at any moment. That sense of uncertainty kept me glued to the pages and made it nearly impossible to stop reading. 🌙🩸
Casper and Bells are the definition of a disaster couple, but somehow they're also exactly what the other needs. Their relationship shouldn't work on paper, yet their shared chaos makes them oddly perfect together. If you love rival assassins, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, morally gray characters, obsession, and romance that walks the line between dangerous and irresistible, this book absolutely delivers. 🖤🔥🔪
I finished this ARC desperate for answers, desperate for more Briarwood, and completely obsessed with Casper and Bellatrix. What a wild ride. 😮💨✨
Casper has built a reputation throughout Briarwood as a ghost—an assassin so skilled that he leaves nothing behind. But when someone puts a target on his own back, his curiosity gets the better of him, leading him straight to Bellatrix. What follows is less of a romance and more of a beautifully deranged collision between two people who should never have crossed paths... yet somehow fit together perfectly. 🔪❤️
Bellatrix was easily one of my favorite parts of this story. Raised in a world of violence and trained to eliminate problems rather than solve them, she's every bit as ruthless as Casper. What starts as a mission quickly turns into an obsession when she realizes he refuses to stay dead no matter how many times she tries to remove him from the equation. Watching her become increasingly fixated on him was both hilarious and alarming. 😂🖤
The dynamic between Casper and Bells is pure madness. They're rivals, enemies, stalkers, and reluctant partners all rolled into one explosive relationship. Every interaction crackles with tension, whether they're threatening each other, hunting each other, or secretly becoming far too invested in one another's existence. Their chemistry is toxic, messy, and completely impossible to resist. 🔥⚠️
What made this story stand out was that neither character serves as the voice of reason. There isn't a stable one balancing out the chaos. Instead, Casper and Bells continuously fuel each other's worst impulses, creating a relationship that somehow becomes even more entertaining the more dysfunctional it gets. They're equally unpredictable, equally dangerous, and equally obsessed. 😈✨
The forced proximity element was executed perfectly. No matter how hard they tried to stay away from each other, circumstances kept throwing them back together until avoidance simply wasn't an option anymore. Every encounter felt like a high-stakes game where attraction and violence existed side by side, and honestly, I couldn't get enough. 🖤🔪
Beyond the romance, I loved how much this book expanded the Briarwood world. We get deeper insight into the town's history, more connections to the Prescott storyline, and enough unanswered questions to leave me desperate for future books. The world continues to grow without losing any of the mystery that makes it so compelling. 👀📚
The atmosphere deserves its own mention because it was incredible. Dark, tense, and dripping with danger, there was a constant feeling that everything could spiral out of control at any moment. That sense of uncertainty kept me glued to the pages and made it nearly impossible to stop reading. 🌙🩸
Casper and Bells are the definition of a disaster couple, but somehow they're also exactly what the other needs. Their relationship shouldn't work on paper, yet their shared chaos makes them oddly perfect together. If you love rival assassins, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, morally gray characters, obsession, and romance that walks the line between dangerous and irresistible, this book absolutely delivers. 🖤🔥🔪
I finished this ARC desperate for answers, desperate for more Briarwood, and completely obsessed with Casper and Bellatrix. What a wild ride. 😮💨✨
June 15, 2026
Even though I am unfamiliar with the fable this is based on, it was an excellent read!! Casper and Bellatrix are perfect and honestly IDK which of the two I liked best. Fast paced and mixing in new action just enough to constantly keep you guessing until the very end. And even then you’re still guessing a little bit! I need more info on Vee. I am kinda anti Vee, TBH. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“Soft, gentle, edging. No need to fly over that cliff until the moment was just right.”
“#PussyForLife” (Amen to that!)
“Guy had turned the girl’s insides into mush when he’d shaved a lamp inside her without even bothering to unplug it.”
“My brother from another pill-crusher could have me twisted up into a pretzel in a few quick flicks of his jerking hand-and that wasn’t nearly as fun as I made it sound.”
“There was just something about a girl aiming a gun to your chest that had blood flowing to all the right spots.”
“Unless that’s what you want, myshka? You wanna call me Daddy?”
“Good thing you grew up and became a slightly more unstable adult, Trix.” (It’s me as a book character.)
“If you could beat your own meat, you could beat someone else’s. The technique didn’t change, just the angle.”
“I was half awake and not entirely prepared for whatever secret-society, middle-of-the-night initiation I appeared to be walking myself into— without much of a fight, it seemed.”
“Each time he pulled back, I took another breath and held it. Let the air out too fast and your brain started to panic. And panic had you switching into survival mode instead of relying on everything you’d learned. Had you thinking you were dying, and thinking you were dying was the first step to letting someone kill you. Desperate people did stupid shit and there was nothing that had you more desperate than the fear of dying.”
“She wanted me to chase her, and a gentleman always gave a lady what she wanted.”
“Having a secret girlfriend was starting to get really expensive.”
“I swiped up her chin, pressing it between my thumb and index finger. Forcing her to focus on me and not the cash. ‘No, you’re worse. You’re my girlfriend.’ I dropped her chin and took a step back. ‘Girlfriends are much more expensive than whores.’ I grinned at her.”
“But worst of all? My fucking head. I could feel this chick crawling around inside my head. Poking at spots she wasn’t supposed to be. Spots no one was supposed to be.”
“Correction: I did kill you. Had to, babe. I grinned and brushed the hair away from her cheek. I told you I would, and a good boyfriend always goes what he says he’s gunna do.”
“Penetration is penetration, sweetheart. You shot me. Stabbed me. But I can’t fuck you in the ass? He paused but he didn’t let go of my mouth. He didn’t really want an answer.”
“Soft, gentle, edging. No need to fly over that cliff until the moment was just right.”
“#PussyForLife” (Amen to that!)
“Guy had turned the girl’s insides into mush when he’d shaved a lamp inside her without even bothering to unplug it.”
“My brother from another pill-crusher could have me twisted up into a pretzel in a few quick flicks of his jerking hand-and that wasn’t nearly as fun as I made it sound.”
“There was just something about a girl aiming a gun to your chest that had blood flowing to all the right spots.”
“Unless that’s what you want, myshka? You wanna call me Daddy?”
“Good thing you grew up and became a slightly more unstable adult, Trix.” (It’s me as a book character.)
“If you could beat your own meat, you could beat someone else’s. The technique didn’t change, just the angle.”
“I was half awake and not entirely prepared for whatever secret-society, middle-of-the-night initiation I appeared to be walking myself into— without much of a fight, it seemed.”
“Each time he pulled back, I took another breath and held it. Let the air out too fast and your brain started to panic. And panic had you switching into survival mode instead of relying on everything you’d learned. Had you thinking you were dying, and thinking you were dying was the first step to letting someone kill you. Desperate people did stupid shit and there was nothing that had you more desperate than the fear of dying.”
“She wanted me to chase her, and a gentleman always gave a lady what she wanted.”
“Having a secret girlfriend was starting to get really expensive.”
“I swiped up her chin, pressing it between my thumb and index finger. Forcing her to focus on me and not the cash. ‘No, you’re worse. You’re my girlfriend.’ I dropped her chin and took a step back. ‘Girlfriends are much more expensive than whores.’ I grinned at her.”
“But worst of all? My fucking head. I could feel this chick crawling around inside my head. Poking at spots she wasn’t supposed to be. Spots no one was supposed to be.”
“Correction: I did kill you. Had to, babe. I grinned and brushed the hair away from her cheek. I told you I would, and a good boyfriend always goes what he says he’s gunna do.”
“Penetration is penetration, sweetheart. You shot me. Stabbed me. But I can’t fuck you in the ass? He paused but he didn’t let go of my mouth. He didn’t really want an answer.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2026
Cat got your tongue, baby girl?"
Mother Sybil... respectfully... what the actual hell did I just read?! 😭🖤
I've been counting down the days for Casper's book ever since he first appeared, and somehow he was even more unhinged than I imagined. This man is obsessive, possessive, foul-mouthed, completely feral, and walking around in a Ghostface mask like he wasn't about to become one of my favorite fictional men. 🫠👻
And then there's Bells...
She is THAT girl.
She's ruthless, chaotic, morally bankrupt, and gives exactly zero fucks. She doesn't wait for revenge—she delivers it herself. If you cross her, you better start running... and even then, she's probably already behind you. 🔪🐈⬛
The chemistry between these two is absolutely INSANE.
🌶️ Spice: 10/10 🖤 Tension: 1000/10 📖 Plot: 1000/10
Every interaction had me kicking my feet one minute and clutching my Kindle in complete disbelief the next. The banter? Incredible. The tension? Suffocating. The obsession? Deliciously toxic.
This isn't enemies to lovers...
This is "I'll kill you if I catch you" to lovers. 😂🔪
Their twisted cat-and-mouse game had me completely addicted. Every chapter ended with me saying, "Okay... just one more," and suddenly it was the middle of the night. The way this book ties together everything from the previous Renegade books was perfection, and every reveal had my jaw on the floor.
There were moments where I laughed out loud, moments where I genuinely forgot to breathe, and moments where I just stared at the page thinking, "There's absolutely no way she just did that."
Sybil didn't just write a romance.
She wrote obsession. She wrote chaos. She wrote violence. She wrote emotional damage.
...and I happily signed up for every second of it.
Bells and Casper are officially my favorite couple in the Renegade series. Their love isn't soft or sweet—it's messy, dangerous, obsessive, and beautifully unhinged.
I'm so sad to say goodbye to Brierwood because these characters have had me in a chokehold from the very beginning. Thank you, Sybil, for letting us tag along on this dark, twisted, unforgettable ride. Thank you for feeding us every single book and never holding back.
If you're looking for sunshine and rainbows... this isn't it.
If you're looking for morally black characters, obsessive love, knife-edge tension, unforgettable banter, incredible spice, and a story that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go...
Welcome to briarwood 🖤
Now excuse me while I mourn the fact that I'll never get to experience Bells for the first time again. 😭🐈⬛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mother Sybil... respectfully... what the actual hell did I just read?! 😭🖤
I've been counting down the days for Casper's book ever since he first appeared, and somehow he was even more unhinged than I imagined. This man is obsessive, possessive, foul-mouthed, completely feral, and walking around in a Ghostface mask like he wasn't about to become one of my favorite fictional men. 🫠👻
And then there's Bells...
She is THAT girl.
She's ruthless, chaotic, morally bankrupt, and gives exactly zero fucks. She doesn't wait for revenge—she delivers it herself. If you cross her, you better start running... and even then, she's probably already behind you. 🔪🐈⬛
The chemistry between these two is absolutely INSANE.
🌶️ Spice: 10/10 🖤 Tension: 1000/10 📖 Plot: 1000/10
Every interaction had me kicking my feet one minute and clutching my Kindle in complete disbelief the next. The banter? Incredible. The tension? Suffocating. The obsession? Deliciously toxic.
This isn't enemies to lovers...
This is "I'll kill you if I catch you" to lovers. 😂🔪
Their twisted cat-and-mouse game had me completely addicted. Every chapter ended with me saying, "Okay... just one more," and suddenly it was the middle of the night. The way this book ties together everything from the previous Renegade books was perfection, and every reveal had my jaw on the floor.
There were moments where I laughed out loud, moments where I genuinely forgot to breathe, and moments where I just stared at the page thinking, "There's absolutely no way she just did that."
Sybil didn't just write a romance.
She wrote obsession. She wrote chaos. She wrote violence. She wrote emotional damage.
...and I happily signed up for every second of it.
Bells and Casper are officially my favorite couple in the Renegade series. Their love isn't soft or sweet—it's messy, dangerous, obsessive, and beautifully unhinged.
I'm so sad to say goodbye to Brierwood because these characters have had me in a chokehold from the very beginning. Thank you, Sybil, for letting us tag along on this dark, twisted, unforgettable ride. Thank you for feeding us every single book and never holding back.
If you're looking for sunshine and rainbows... this isn't it.
If you're looking for morally black characters, obsessive love, knife-edge tension, unforgettable banter, incredible spice, and a story that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go...
Welcome to briarwood 🖤
Now excuse me while I mourn the fact that I'll never get to experience Bells for the first time again. 😭🐈⬛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Characters:
Bells:
Well, most character Sybil write arez a bit fucked up in the head, each differently. Girly pop here is well and truly fucked. she is a damn brat. She loves to kill, almost a drug, loves pain. and she is so messy that I would have offed her myself.
Casper:
Oh baby. He cannot feel pain, he is like a cat with too many lives, he likes to mess with everyone, with their head, with their lives. He has no limits, he is not sorry for anything he does.
At all.
Romance:
The romance here is not swoony. I wouldn't really call it romance, more like messing around, obsession and fucking around. It's specific when both parties treat actively trying to kill the other as foreplay.
As to whether there is love in the end? Sorta kinda maybe? With Casper, you don't take whatever he says at face value; it's like a deal with a genie: there's always something hidden somewhere. Their chemistry, however, was fun.
There is a lot of CNC, pain, and hate fuck. Those two people are fucked up. And yeah, it's spicy but not as much as some would expect.
My thoughts:
I will repeat, but this is one of those books where you have to read the bloody Trigger Warnings. I know for some it's just a suggestion, not here. Not for this author.
Now that this is out of the way, this is the 3rd book in the Renegades series. It is interconnected standalones, and each is a retelling. This one is a "Belling the cat" one.
Casper, as I learned to know him from other books, was a wee shite. He is now a big one. Bells is someone we briefly met in "Lamb". Both characters have, like most in that series, a fucked up past nobody would wish.
Now, there is a special kind of dark humour in Sybil's books, and I am a sucker for it. I laughed at the most inappropriate times, certainly, but "We listen, and we don't judge".
Just be ready for a different pace and a different kind of trauma compared to Skin or Lamb. (And Adrian Lambert is NOT old, he is not 40 yet! I'm older darn it!).
I enjoyed the book, Casper's special brand of "I throw a match and watch the result", Bell's obsession with taking his nine lives. I had a good time.
Bells:
Well, most character Sybil write arez a bit fucked up in the head, each differently. Girly pop here is well and truly fucked. she is a damn brat. She loves to kill, almost a drug, loves pain. and she is so messy that I would have offed her myself.
Casper:
Oh baby. He cannot feel pain, he is like a cat with too many lives, he likes to mess with everyone, with their head, with their lives. He has no limits, he is not sorry for anything he does.
At all.
Romance:
The romance here is not swoony. I wouldn't really call it romance, more like messing around, obsession and fucking around. It's specific when both parties treat actively trying to kill the other as foreplay.
As to whether there is love in the end? Sorta kinda maybe? With Casper, you don't take whatever he says at face value; it's like a deal with a genie: there's always something hidden somewhere. Their chemistry, however, was fun.
There is a lot of CNC, pain, and hate fuck. Those two people are fucked up. And yeah, it's spicy but not as much as some would expect.
My thoughts:
I will repeat, but this is one of those books where you have to read the bloody Trigger Warnings. I know for some it's just a suggestion, not here. Not for this author.
Now that this is out of the way, this is the 3rd book in the Renegades series. It is interconnected standalones, and each is a retelling. This one is a "Belling the cat" one.
Casper, as I learned to know him from other books, was a wee shite. He is now a big one. Bells is someone we briefly met in "Lamb". Both characters have, like most in that series, a fucked up past nobody would wish.
Now, there is a special kind of dark humour in Sybil's books, and I am a sucker for it. I laughed at the most inappropriate times, certainly, but "We listen, and we don't judge".
Just be ready for a different pace and a different kind of trauma compared to Skin or Lamb. (And Adrian Lambert is NOT old, he is not 40 yet! I'm older darn it!).
I enjoyed the book, Casper's special brand of "I throw a match and watch the result", Bell's obsession with taking his nine lives. I had a good time.
June 17, 2026
This entire series has been such a wonderful rabbit hole to fall into.
Bells is the third and final installment in the Renegades series. Each book follows a different couple and revolves around a peculiar group of hitmen and their dark and twisted connections to an old insane asylum, Briarwood.
Bells is a dark homage to the fable "Belling the Cat" and dives into the past and present of one of the quickest characters ever to grace the halls, Casper. Russian, by birth, he's a tall, angel faced blonde but is anything but holy. I absolutely loved his personality. He's like a ticking bomb that you're never certain if, when and which way he'll explode. His energy is off the charts and his mind is constantly racing in the most unexpected directions. At times, I almost lost myself in his antics...taking him at face value as humorous until he'd switch gears and do something depraved. Honestly, I think that just made me love him even more.
Bellatrix, the FMC, was definitely a black cat persona. She found herself crossing paths with a monster because she herself was a monster. In some ways, they were very much alike and in other ways, they had to literally hack away pieces just so that they could fit together in a fucked up puzzle board.
Every girl deserves a HEA though, right? Even if they are unapologetically stabby.
Although you don't necessarily have to read the other 2 books, I would highly recommend it. There's a lot more to enjoy than just the romantic couple. Briarwood, it's history, and the twisted family that damned them all are interesting elements that deserve a spotlight and make the character arcs extremely interesting.
Each book is extremely dark and unremorseful for what it subjects its readers to so beware all trigger warnings. For some of us, such as myself, the depravity is but a siren call. And I'll impatiently await the next calling, as we've been promised a spin-off.
MF romance
HEA
Dark romance
Obsession
Stalker
Dub-con
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Reluctant allies
Book 3 in trilogy
Standalone in a series
NOT a slow burn
Stabby, black cat FMC
Deranged lunatic, morally black MMC
Darkness level 🌒
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Bells is the third and final installment in the Renegades series. Each book follows a different couple and revolves around a peculiar group of hitmen and their dark and twisted connections to an old insane asylum, Briarwood.
Bells is a dark homage to the fable "Belling the Cat" and dives into the past and present of one of the quickest characters ever to grace the halls, Casper. Russian, by birth, he's a tall, angel faced blonde but is anything but holy. I absolutely loved his personality. He's like a ticking bomb that you're never certain if, when and which way he'll explode. His energy is off the charts and his mind is constantly racing in the most unexpected directions. At times, I almost lost myself in his antics...taking him at face value as humorous until he'd switch gears and do something depraved. Honestly, I think that just made me love him even more.
Bellatrix, the FMC, was definitely a black cat persona. She found herself crossing paths with a monster because she herself was a monster. In some ways, they were very much alike and in other ways, they had to literally hack away pieces just so that they could fit together in a fucked up puzzle board.
Every girl deserves a HEA though, right? Even if they are unapologetically stabby.
Although you don't necessarily have to read the other 2 books, I would highly recommend it. There's a lot more to enjoy than just the romantic couple. Briarwood, it's history, and the twisted family that damned them all are interesting elements that deserve a spotlight and make the character arcs extremely interesting.
Each book is extremely dark and unremorseful for what it subjects its readers to so beware all trigger warnings. For some of us, such as myself, the depravity is but a siren call. And I'll impatiently await the next calling, as we've been promised a spin-off.
MF romance
HEA
Dark romance
Obsession
Stalker
Dub-con
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Reluctant allies
Book 3 in trilogy
Standalone in a series
NOT a slow burn
Stabby, black cat FMC
Deranged lunatic, morally black MMC
Darkness level 🌒
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Casper may be the ghost haunting Briarwood, a contract unaliver who can sneak in and out of any space without a trace, but when his boss puts a hit on himself, he gets curious about the women hired to do the job. That’s where he first catches sight of her, the women determined to end him, which was the precursor to all the chaos that ensued. Add to that the fact that Casper doesn’t feel pain, and things get even messier. While Casper isn’t the puppetmaster at Briarwood, he’s been known to pull his share of strings, and when he finds a loose one, he will pull it until he unravels all of its secrets.
Bellatrix grew up in Prescott Manor, a shadow crawling through the walls, but after leaving in her teens, she was taken in by Veera, and trained to help her unaliving organization. When a contract comes in for Veera’s son, Bells gets curious, and it’s in researching his associates that she comes across Casper. But no matter how many times their paths cross, or how many times she tries to unalive him, he just keeps bouncing back. He calls her his girlfriend, while she thinks of him as gum under her shoe, but if they’re not cutting each other they’re tearing their clothes off instead.
I received an early copy of this book from the author and I absolutely loved it! Just like the rest of the Renegades, it took us deep into the bowels of Briarwood, digging more into its past and connection with the Prescotts. But even with secrets revealed, we’re left with so many more questions. I loved the Mr and Mrs Smith vibe of the story, wtih both Casper and Bells determined to get rid of the other, but somehow unable to stay away from each other, and the countdown on Casper’s nine lives kept things lighthearted along the way. While the FMCs in the rest of the series had their own dark sides, Bells takes it to another level, and matches Casper’s energy at every turn. Their relationship may have been dysfunctional by normal societal standards, but somehow they worked perfectly together, two peas in an unhinged pod.
Bellatrix grew up in Prescott Manor, a shadow crawling through the walls, but after leaving in her teens, she was taken in by Veera, and trained to help her unaliving organization. When a contract comes in for Veera’s son, Bells gets curious, and it’s in researching his associates that she comes across Casper. But no matter how many times their paths cross, or how many times she tries to unalive him, he just keeps bouncing back. He calls her his girlfriend, while she thinks of him as gum under her shoe, but if they’re not cutting each other they’re tearing their clothes off instead.
I received an early copy of this book from the author and I absolutely loved it! Just like the rest of the Renegades, it took us deep into the bowels of Briarwood, digging more into its past and connection with the Prescotts. But even with secrets revealed, we’re left with so many more questions. I loved the Mr and Mrs Smith vibe of the story, wtih both Casper and Bells determined to get rid of the other, but somehow unable to stay away from each other, and the countdown on Casper’s nine lives kept things lighthearted along the way. While the FMCs in the rest of the series had their own dark sides, Bells takes it to another level, and matches Casper’s energy at every turn. Their relationship may have been dysfunctional by normal societal standards, but somehow they worked perfectly together, two peas in an unhinged pod.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In Bells, the third installment of The Renegades series, Sybil Knight once again delivers a visceral experience that is equal parts thrilling and deeply unsettling. True to the series' nature, this book dives headfirst into the depravity and feral instincts of its characters, who navigate a world where survival often necessitates a complete disregard for morality. Sybil’s ability to weave a narrative that is both compelling and provocative kept me eager to turn those pages.
The character of Casper stands out brilliantly, particularly in his obsessive fascination with Bellatrix. Their dynamic is electric, showcasing a blend of passion and danger that is irresistible. Sybil’s writing style is masterful, creating an atmosphere that is not just intriguing but also undeniably steamy. The tension between characters often escalates to shocking levels, and the occasional violent foreplay adds an unexpected twist that heightens the stakes.
As the plot unfolds, we are drawn into a web of secrets that unravel painfully, revealing the complexities of love and trust among those who are supposed to have each other’s backs. The emotional depth is palpable, with moments of pleasure and betrayal that resinated with me to my core. The shocking revelation at the end sets the stage for the next book, leaving my jaw on the floor and in awe of Sybil’s storytelling prowess and eager for what comes next.
The excerpt included captures the essence of the book perfectly—an exploration of obsession and the primal instincts that drive characters to act in ways that are both brutal and captivating. The imagery of a cat playing with its prey serves as a metaphor for the larger themes of control and survival that permeate the narrative.
Overall, Bells is a masterful continuation of The Renegades series, filled with dark allure and raw emotions. Sybil has crafted a story that not only entertains but also challenges readers to confront the darker sides of humanity. I cannot wait for the next installment in this feral series!!!!
The character of Casper stands out brilliantly, particularly in his obsessive fascination with Bellatrix. Their dynamic is electric, showcasing a blend of passion and danger that is irresistible. Sybil’s writing style is masterful, creating an atmosphere that is not just intriguing but also undeniably steamy. The tension between characters often escalates to shocking levels, and the occasional violent foreplay adds an unexpected twist that heightens the stakes.
As the plot unfolds, we are drawn into a web of secrets that unravel painfully, revealing the complexities of love and trust among those who are supposed to have each other’s backs. The emotional depth is palpable, with moments of pleasure and betrayal that resinated with me to my core. The shocking revelation at the end sets the stage for the next book, leaving my jaw on the floor and in awe of Sybil’s storytelling prowess and eager for what comes next.
The excerpt included captures the essence of the book perfectly—an exploration of obsession and the primal instincts that drive characters to act in ways that are both brutal and captivating. The imagery of a cat playing with its prey serves as a metaphor for the larger themes of control and survival that permeate the narrative.
Overall, Bells is a masterful continuation of The Renegades series, filled with dark allure and raw emotions. Sybil has crafted a story that not only entertains but also challenges readers to confront the darker sides of humanity. I cannot wait for the next installment in this feral series!!!!
June 15, 2026
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Sybil Knight has done it yet again – this time delivering Casper’s story to us on a platter in all its dark and unhinged glory! Dark romance friends who like to lean into borderline pitch black, have I got a recommendation for you! The Renegades series is one of my favorites for a unique, dark retelling, and none of these interconnected standalones disappoints. With Casper? He may have just met his match, and his obsession knows no bounds…
🐈⬛Dark “Belling the Cat” Retelling
🐁Cat x Mouse …but what if she’s both?
☠️They’re Both Unhinged
🖤Enemies to Lovers
🐈⬛Death Thrëātş & Attempted ☠️as Foreplay
🐁He’s Got 9 Lives & She Won’t Stop Until He’s ☠️
☠️They Stä|k Each Other
🖤Forced Proximity
🐈⬛NønCøn, DübCøn & CNC
🐁Chronic Illness, Mental Health & Disability Rep
I have been ITCHING for Casper’s story – a long-standing patient at Briarwood who went from experiment to “success story” thanks to the Surgeon, aka Dr. Lambert. Casper still roams the halls of Briarwood, but he also has extracurricular activities he dabbles in due to his curious nature (that’s putting it mildly). He is vulgar, crass, seemingly lacks a conscience and empathy, and when Bellatrix gets on his radar, he can’t stifle the need to engage in their game of cat and mouse – because who doesn’t love a little attempt on your life as foreplay? Normal peeps say that’s not the vibe, but for these two, it is. And when Bells and Casper are together? Their pull is one Bells tries to despise, but can’t, and Casper is smug AF about that little tidbit in their dynamic…which is also toxic since they’re both so unhinged, but like recognizes like, and they decide to level-up together. Oh, and the connections between every single character in this series – when it all comes full circle – it’s quite the mindf*ck you didn’t see coming, and again, you’re left to realize that Dr. Lambert is seemingly playing a chess game where he’s always 12 moves ahead…
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Sybil Knight has done it yet again – this time delivering Casper’s story to us on a platter in all its dark and unhinged glory! Dark romance friends who like to lean into borderline pitch black, have I got a recommendation for you! The Renegades series is one of my favorites for a unique, dark retelling, and none of these interconnected standalones disappoints. With Casper? He may have just met his match, and his obsession knows no bounds…
🐈⬛Dark “Belling the Cat” Retelling
🐁Cat x Mouse …but what if she’s both?
☠️They’re Both Unhinged
🖤Enemies to Lovers
🐈⬛Death Thrëātş & Attempted ☠️as Foreplay
🐁He’s Got 9 Lives & She Won’t Stop Until He’s ☠️
☠️They Stä|k Each Other
🖤Forced Proximity
🐈⬛NønCøn, DübCøn & CNC
🐁Chronic Illness, Mental Health & Disability Rep
I have been ITCHING for Casper’s story – a long-standing patient at Briarwood who went from experiment to “success story” thanks to the Surgeon, aka Dr. Lambert. Casper still roams the halls of Briarwood, but he also has extracurricular activities he dabbles in due to his curious nature (that’s putting it mildly). He is vulgar, crass, seemingly lacks a conscience and empathy, and when Bellatrix gets on his radar, he can’t stifle the need to engage in their game of cat and mouse – because who doesn’t love a little attempt on your life as foreplay? Normal peeps say that’s not the vibe, but for these two, it is. And when Bells and Casper are together? Their pull is one Bells tries to despise, but can’t, and Casper is smug AF about that little tidbit in their dynamic…which is also toxic since they’re both so unhinged, but like recognizes like, and they decide to level-up together. Oh, and the connections between every single character in this series – when it all comes full circle – it’s quite the mindf*ck you didn’t see coming, and again, you’re left to realize that Dr. Lambert is seemingly playing a chess game where he’s always 12 moves ahead…
June 23, 2026
Bells, book three in the Renegades series, was dark, intense, and completely unhinged in the most addictive way. This book pulled me in from page one, with delicious tension, twisted love mapping, and characters that left me obsessed and an absolute mess. Following the previous two books, Skin and Lamb, I had really high expectations for this book, and Sybil did not disappoint in the least. Bells managed to exceed my expectations and even kick them up a notch. Getting Bell and Casper’s story, I loved that Bell was not the usual FMC, but more dark, sharp, and her own version of twisted, while Casper was my perfect MMC, an unhinged, obsessive stalker who was willing to do anything to get what he wanted.
The writing has a dark fairy-tale feel but keeps the gritty feel of the previous books, along with the right amount of disturbing, passionate moments for a great dark romance. I love that Sybil doesn’t shy away from the pitch-black type of dark romance, and she has knocked it out of the park with this series. I do recommend taking the trigger warning page seriously, but still be open to trying the book, as it was such a delicious treat! Overall, Bells (and the rest of the Renegade Series) was a gripping, dark, twisted, and super dramatic book that kept me turning pages to get more. I was sad to see it end, but I can’t wait for whatever she publishes next. I am 100% a Sybil Knight fan girl after this series.
I also loved that we got to glimpse at where our previous couples from Skin (Emily and Frankie) and Lamb (Marisels and Adrian) were tied in here. The stories could each be read independently, but with just enough tie-ins that reading them in order is definitely preferred. If you are looking for a good dark romance, with characters that will leave you questioning your own morals, and a storyline that will hook you from line one, then this is a series you MUST add to your TBR now! I can’t wait to see what Sybil brings out next!
The writing has a dark fairy-tale feel but keeps the gritty feel of the previous books, along with the right amount of disturbing, passionate moments for a great dark romance. I love that Sybil doesn’t shy away from the pitch-black type of dark romance, and she has knocked it out of the park with this series. I do recommend taking the trigger warning page seriously, but still be open to trying the book, as it was such a delicious treat! Overall, Bells (and the rest of the Renegade Series) was a gripping, dark, twisted, and super dramatic book that kept me turning pages to get more. I was sad to see it end, but I can’t wait for whatever she publishes next. I am 100% a Sybil Knight fan girl after this series.
I also loved that we got to glimpse at where our previous couples from Skin (Emily and Frankie) and Lamb (Marisels and Adrian) were tied in here. The stories could each be read independently, but with just enough tie-ins that reading them in order is definitely preferred. If you are looking for a good dark romance, with characters that will leave you questioning your own morals, and a storyline that will hook you from line one, then this is a series you MUST add to your TBR now! I can’t wait to see what Sybil brings out next!
July 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Casper, Veera, & Bellatrix
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕forced proximity
📕masked assailant
📕medical gore
📕insect ingestion
📕organ trafficking
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“Blood didn’t make you family. But spilling it together sure did.”
“Bodies don’t just get up and walk out of a room, Bells. People do. Live people.”
“That was the part I enjoyed most about fucking. It was the closest you could get to killing someone without killing them.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This is the third book in the Renegades series from Knight and I am still completely seated. These unhinged little stories that are based on nursery rhymes are my addiction because each one of them is truly unique. Flooding in red flags that you can’t look away from. An all female assassin group that binds together with blood? Count me in!
*spoilers*
Casper hasn’t known anything from beyond the walls of BriarwoodAsylum since he was born and raised there. But upon learning that the Bossman has set out a hit on himself through a group of dangerous females, he allows himself to escape for a bit of fun.
Meanwhile, Verra is brought up a task by someone she knows truly well enough that she could easily handle it herself. The task to take someone down. Someone they all know too well. Dr. Adrian. What the girls don’t know is that Adrian has decided to set himself up on purpose.
But after one night, Bell decides to get a little closer to the target. Get a feel of him without letting him know too much. Which is impossible because he has already calculated their moves… well, almost. He doesn’t account that these girls just may have one-upped him a time or two. I won’t go too much into this story because it has numerous twists and turns you won’t see coming, but it’s absolutely binge-worthy.
🖤𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵🖤
I’ve been waiting patiently for Knight to release a Casper story, after indulging on Skin and Lamb, and this book did not disappoint. At one point, I started questioning if Bell was more unhinged than he was because damn! That woman. It was also nice that a lot of plots and characters from the previous books tied up together in this one for a little more cohesion. But I will say, if you haven’t picked up the Renegades series yet, what the hell is stopping you?
**no AI was used to generate any part of this review**
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Casper, Veera, & Bellatrix
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕forced proximity
📕masked assailant
📕medical gore
📕insect ingestion
📕organ trafficking
🖤𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼🖤
“Blood didn’t make you family. But spilling it together sure did.”
“Bodies don’t just get up and walk out of a room, Bells. People do. Live people.”
“That was the part I enjoyed most about fucking. It was the closest you could get to killing someone without killing them.”
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
This is the third book in the Renegades series from Knight and I am still completely seated. These unhinged little stories that are based on nursery rhymes are my addiction because each one of them is truly unique. Flooding in red flags that you can’t look away from. An all female assassin group that binds together with blood? Count me in!
*spoilers*
Casper hasn’t known anything from beyond the walls of BriarwoodAsylum since he was born and raised there. But upon learning that the Bossman has set out a hit on himself through a group of dangerous females, he allows himself to escape for a bit of fun.
Meanwhile, Verra is brought up a task by someone she knows truly well enough that she could easily handle it herself. The task to take someone down. Someone they all know too well. Dr. Adrian. What the girls don’t know is that Adrian has decided to set himself up on purpose.
But after one night, Bell decides to get a little closer to the target. Get a feel of him without letting him know too much. Which is impossible because he has already calculated their moves… well, almost. He doesn’t account that these girls just may have one-upped him a time or two. I won’t go too much into this story because it has numerous twists and turns you won’t see coming, but it’s absolutely binge-worthy.
🖤𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵🖤
I’ve been waiting patiently for Knight to release a Casper story, after indulging on Skin and Lamb, and this book did not disappoint. At one point, I started questioning if Bell was more unhinged than he was because damn! That woman. It was also nice that a lot of plots and characters from the previous books tied up together in this one for a little more cohesion. But I will say, if you haven’t picked up the Renegades series yet, what the hell is stopping you?
**no AI was used to generate any part of this review**
July 7, 2026
IT'S A TWISTED CAT & MOUSE GAME THAT WILL TAKE YOU ON A WILD JOURNEY!!
If you are a fan of the previous books in this series then you absolutely need to read this one now!! There are dark themes so check TW beforehand and read responsibly here. Also you definitely have to read the prior 2 books so you fully understand the dynamics of each characters here and what will be revealed in this story.
We follow Casper & Bellatrix and their twisted possible love story of sorts lol. These two are hilariously perfect for each other because they have the same dark depraved likes that straddle the line between sanity and insanity. We dive deeper into Casper's past and get glimpses as to his history inside Briarwood asylum. He definitely has a lot of webs between lies and truths you have to flesh out to find what's real so expect a bit of unraveling with him. Bellatrix is a complicated character as well with a morbid fascination with most things that society deem repulsive or unsavory. She is very much equally matched up for the insanely unhinged insanity that Casper brings. The twists and turns in this story leads you to the next spinoff book that will have you questioning everything you read prior. This story is maddening at times and has multi POVs that bring a lot of insight about many characters as the story unfolds.
Expect dark themes, twisted unhinged moments, cat & mouse game, found family vibes, crazy hilariously inappropriate banter/humor, depravity, dark erotic moments, unexpected twists, revelations, and a twisted love story in the making. If you are a fan of dark and twisted romance then its a must read that takes you along on a warped journey with these two. Highly recommend this for dark romance readers who like unhinged characters and storylines!!
Overall: 5/☆☆☆☆☆
Spice: unhinged 🌶🌶🌶🌶
If you are a fan of the previous books in this series then you absolutely need to read this one now!! There are dark themes so check TW beforehand and read responsibly here. Also you definitely have to read the prior 2 books so you fully understand the dynamics of each characters here and what will be revealed in this story.
We follow Casper & Bellatrix and their twisted possible love story of sorts lol. These two are hilariously perfect for each other because they have the same dark depraved likes that straddle the line between sanity and insanity. We dive deeper into Casper's past and get glimpses as to his history inside Briarwood asylum. He definitely has a lot of webs between lies and truths you have to flesh out to find what's real so expect a bit of unraveling with him. Bellatrix is a complicated character as well with a morbid fascination with most things that society deem repulsive or unsavory. She is very much equally matched up for the insanely unhinged insanity that Casper brings. The twists and turns in this story leads you to the next spinoff book that will have you questioning everything you read prior. This story is maddening at times and has multi POVs that bring a lot of insight about many characters as the story unfolds.
Expect dark themes, twisted unhinged moments, cat & mouse game, found family vibes, crazy hilariously inappropriate banter/humor, depravity, dark erotic moments, unexpected twists, revelations, and a twisted love story in the making. If you are a fan of dark and twisted romance then its a must read that takes you along on a warped journey with these two. Highly recommend this for dark romance readers who like unhinged characters and storylines!!
Overall: 5/☆☆☆☆☆
Spice: unhinged 🌶🌶🌶🌶
June 23, 2026
Some books entertain you. Some books make you think. Bells did both.
On the surface this book looks like a dark romance between rival assassins, but underneath was a psychological puzzle wrapped inside a retelling of Belling the Cat.
Casper and Bellatrix are the kind of characters who should never work together, yet somehow they make perfect sense. Their relationship is chaotic, obsessive, violent, darkly humorous, and strangely intimate. Neither character exists simply to react to the other. They challenge each other, match each other's intensity, and create a dynamic that constantly evolves throughout the story.
What truly elevated this book for me was the way Sybil Knight utilized the original fable. The symbolism isn't presented in a neat, obvious package. Instead, it's woven throughout the narrative in ways that encourage interpretation. Depending on where your focus lands, you may come away with a completely different understanding of who the cat is, who is being hunted, and what it truly means to be "belled."
I also loved the structure of the story.
The flashbacks never felt disruptive. Instead, they added depth to the characters and slowly revealed the connections that bind them together. Every relationship felt purposeful, creating a web of history, loyalty, trauma, and survival that made the world feel incredibly rich.
Perhaps my favorite part of the experience was that a reread actually improved the book for me. Connections I initially overlooked became clearer, and the psychological layers became even more rewarding.
The ending leaves just enough mystery lingering in the background to make me desperate for the next installment while still feeling satisfying for Casper and Bellatrix's journey.
A brilliant dark romance that trusts its readers to think.
On the surface this book looks like a dark romance between rival assassins, but underneath was a psychological puzzle wrapped inside a retelling of Belling the Cat.
Casper and Bellatrix are the kind of characters who should never work together, yet somehow they make perfect sense. Their relationship is chaotic, obsessive, violent, darkly humorous, and strangely intimate. Neither character exists simply to react to the other. They challenge each other, match each other's intensity, and create a dynamic that constantly evolves throughout the story.
What truly elevated this book for me was the way Sybil Knight utilized the original fable. The symbolism isn't presented in a neat, obvious package. Instead, it's woven throughout the narrative in ways that encourage interpretation. Depending on where your focus lands, you may come away with a completely different understanding of who the cat is, who is being hunted, and what it truly means to be "belled."
I also loved the structure of the story.
The flashbacks never felt disruptive. Instead, they added depth to the characters and slowly revealed the connections that bind them together. Every relationship felt purposeful, creating a web of history, loyalty, trauma, and survival that made the world feel incredibly rich.
Perhaps my favorite part of the experience was that a reread actually improved the book for me. Connections I initially overlooked became clearer, and the psychological layers became even more rewarding.
The ending leaves just enough mystery lingering in the background to make me desperate for the next installment while still feeling satisfying for Casper and Bellatrix's journey.
A brilliant dark romance that trusts its readers to think.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Bells by Sybil Knight
What its About: Obsession. Nah, I wouldn’t call it that.
Obsession would imply I gave a damn about the little rodent I was swiping between my paws right now. And the only thing I gave a damn about was whatever could give me the quickest high.
This was more of a curiosity… a cat kicking around a dead mouse right before he dropped it off on someone’s doorstep.
Which was exactly what I was instructed to do.
You find a rat, you call an exterminator. It was simple math. It was also a real Mr. and Mrs. Kuznetsov situation we had going on, seeing as my kotyonok thought she had claws.
Little did she know, the only difference between a death toll and a dinner bell was whoever was holding the fork. And this feline couldn’t wait to dig in.
Ding-ding, baby. Ding-motherf*cking-ding.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars. I have always enjoyed Sybil's books because of how absolutely unhinged the characters are. She makes the reader become immersed in the books to the point you feel as though you are a part of the story and in the sanitorium with them. The other thing I have always loved is the little medical pearls that are placed throughout! They are always a great time especially to a medical nerd like me. Casper and Bellatrix are the craziest duo yet! When I say death threats and death attempts are their Foreplay I meant it; they even keep count! Lots of plot twists and connections tying the all the books together.
*****Trigger Warnings***** Check your triggers. These books are amazing and I love them but they are not for everyone. Characters are Morally black and lots of Taboo topics.
Thank you Sybil Knight for this ARC opportunity! All of these thoughts and opinions are my own!
#renegadeseries #triggerwarnings #briarwoodsanitorium #deathasforeplay
What its About: Obsession. Nah, I wouldn’t call it that.
Obsession would imply I gave a damn about the little rodent I was swiping between my paws right now. And the only thing I gave a damn about was whatever could give me the quickest high.
This was more of a curiosity… a cat kicking around a dead mouse right before he dropped it off on someone’s doorstep.
Which was exactly what I was instructed to do.
You find a rat, you call an exterminator. It was simple math. It was also a real Mr. and Mrs. Kuznetsov situation we had going on, seeing as my kotyonok thought she had claws.
Little did she know, the only difference between a death toll and a dinner bell was whoever was holding the fork. And this feline couldn’t wait to dig in.
Ding-ding, baby. Ding-motherf*cking-ding.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars. I have always enjoyed Sybil's books because of how absolutely unhinged the characters are. She makes the reader become immersed in the books to the point you feel as though you are a part of the story and in the sanitorium with them. The other thing I have always loved is the little medical pearls that are placed throughout! They are always a great time especially to a medical nerd like me. Casper and Bellatrix are the craziest duo yet! When I say death threats and death attempts are their Foreplay I meant it; they even keep count! Lots of plot twists and connections tying the all the books together.
*****Trigger Warnings***** Check your triggers. These books are amazing and I love them but they are not for everyone. Characters are Morally black and lots of Taboo topics.
Thank you Sybil Knight for this ARC opportunity! All of these thoughts and opinions are my own!
#renegadeseries #triggerwarnings #briarwoodsanitorium #deathasforeplay
June 16, 2026
Unhinged, Hilarious, & Completely Obsessed!
Besties!!! I was SOOOOOO ready to get back to Briarwood, and let me tell you... Casper's story in "Bells" delivered everything I wanted and then some!
First things first: read the trigger warning page. Seriously. Sybil Knight somehow managed to make me laugh before the story even started. 🤭 And then that prologue? I was already hooked.
Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the previous books, but I've been impatiently waiting for Casper's turn. 🤭 He's sarcastic, filthy-mouthed, freaking entertaining, and so psychotically unhinged that he somehow makes deranged behavior feel normal. 💯 The things that come out of this man's mouth had me laughing one second and clutching my Kindle the next!
And Bellatrix? Oh, this baddie gives as good as she gets. Their cat & mouse game is so intense, sexy, hilarious, viol€nt, and completely addictive. For two people who are CLEARLY obsessed with each other, they spend an impressive amount of time trying to k!ll one another. 😂
I also loved meeting Veera and learning more about her female assassin organization. The interconnected world-building continues to be one of my favorite parts of this series. Every twist feels bigger than the last, and the writing plays out like a movie in my head.
If you haven't started The Renegades series yet, I genuinely need to know what you're waiting for! Add it to your TBR!
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3.5/5
🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
Besties!!! I was SOOOOOO ready to get back to Briarwood, and let me tell you... Casper's story in "Bells" delivered everything I wanted and then some!
First things first: read the trigger warning page. Seriously. Sybil Knight somehow managed to make me laugh before the story even started. 🤭 And then that prologue? I was already hooked.
Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the previous books, but I've been impatiently waiting for Casper's turn. 🤭 He's sarcastic, filthy-mouthed, freaking entertaining, and so psychotically unhinged that he somehow makes deranged behavior feel normal. 💯 The things that come out of this man's mouth had me laughing one second and clutching my Kindle the next!
And Bellatrix? Oh, this baddie gives as good as she gets. Their cat & mouse game is so intense, sexy, hilarious, viol€nt, and completely addictive. For two people who are CLEARLY obsessed with each other, they spend an impressive amount of time trying to k!ll one another. 😂
I also loved meeting Veera and learning more about her female assassin organization. The interconnected world-building continues to be one of my favorite parts of this series. Every twist feels bigger than the last, and the writing plays out like a movie in my head.
If you haven't started The Renegades series yet, I genuinely need to know what you're waiting for! Add it to your TBR!
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3.5/5
🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
June 21, 2026
First and foremost—check the trigger warnings. That is a must.
This is the third and final installment in The Renegades series, and I highly encourage you to read all three books to get the best experience.
I've been waiting for Casper's story, and I can confidently say I got what I wanted and more. For me, Casper has always been the most intriguing character: unhinged, toxic, extremely annoying, yet equally alluring. A bit like eating too much candy—you know it might be bad for you, and yet you can't stop reaching for more. That's how badly I wanted to know his story.
It was difficult to imagine what could possibly be in store for him, but never in a million years did I expect Casper to meet his match. And yet, there is Bellatrix. To be honest, they are remarkably alike, and threats seem to be their version of foreplay.
I don't want to dig too deeply into the plot because I believe the story is complex enough and deserves to be experienced firsthand. It's not really just about Casper, nor is it only about Bellatrix.
I must admit that when I first read Skin, I enjoyed it but was also a little perplexed by the story. Then I read Lamb, and now, after Bells, I can confidently say that patience is advised. Give the story time to unfold and allow the secrets to reveal themselves. For some readers, it may seem too twisted or feel like certain things don't add up, but everything is there for a reason, and in my opinion, it is absolutely worth it.
The book is divided into four parts, and the short chapters make it a smooth and engaging read. And honestly? I can't wait for the spin-offs.
This is the third and final installment in The Renegades series, and I highly encourage you to read all three books to get the best experience.
I've been waiting for Casper's story, and I can confidently say I got what I wanted and more. For me, Casper has always been the most intriguing character: unhinged, toxic, extremely annoying, yet equally alluring. A bit like eating too much candy—you know it might be bad for you, and yet you can't stop reaching for more. That's how badly I wanted to know his story.
It was difficult to imagine what could possibly be in store for him, but never in a million years did I expect Casper to meet his match. And yet, there is Bellatrix. To be honest, they are remarkably alike, and threats seem to be their version of foreplay.
I don't want to dig too deeply into the plot because I believe the story is complex enough and deserves to be experienced firsthand. It's not really just about Casper, nor is it only about Bellatrix.
I must admit that when I first read Skin, I enjoyed it but was also a little perplexed by the story. Then I read Lamb, and now, after Bells, I can confidently say that patience is advised. Give the story time to unfold and allow the secrets to reveal themselves. For some readers, it may seem too twisted or feel like certain things don't add up, but everything is there for a reason, and in my opinion, it is absolutely worth it.
The book is divided into four parts, and the short chapters make it a smooth and engaging read. And honestly? I can't wait for the spin-offs.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I can't believe we've reached the end of this crazy, chaotic, and deliciously dark series. Bells turned out to be an entertaining read, packed with danger, obsession, intense tension, and morally gray characters who constantly had me questioning who was actually the worst. The drama never let up, and the unpredictability kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Bells and Casper were equally unhinged, making them the perfect match in the most chaotic way possible. They constantly pushed each other's limits, thriving on the turmoil and intensity that surrounded them. Their dynamic was messy, volatile, and impossible to look away from. Beneath all their darkness, were two deeply damaged people whose painful pasts shaped who they had become. Their shared trauma fueled the connection between them, making their relationship as compelling as it was unpredictable.
Bells and Casper's enemies to lovers rivalry gave off major Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes. As rival contract criminals who supposedly hate each other, their relationship was packed with tension, sharp banter, and explosive chemistry. No matter how hard they tried to stay apart, they were constantly drawn back together, matching each other's intensity at every turn.
Their connection was dark, chaotic, and completely unhinged, filled with passion, danger, and plenty of explosive moments. But beneath all the madness was something surprisingly emotional. What started as a beautiful disaster between two deeply flawed characters evolved into a captivating and unexpectedly deeper story.
Bells and Casper were equally unhinged, making them the perfect match in the most chaotic way possible. They constantly pushed each other's limits, thriving on the turmoil and intensity that surrounded them. Their dynamic was messy, volatile, and impossible to look away from. Beneath all their darkness, were two deeply damaged people whose painful pasts shaped who they had become. Their shared trauma fueled the connection between them, making their relationship as compelling as it was unpredictable.
Bells and Casper's enemies to lovers rivalry gave off major Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes. As rival contract criminals who supposedly hate each other, their relationship was packed with tension, sharp banter, and explosive chemistry. No matter how hard they tried to stay apart, they were constantly drawn back together, matching each other's intensity at every turn.
Their connection was dark, chaotic, and completely unhinged, filled with passion, danger, and plenty of explosive moments. But beneath all the madness was something surprisingly emotional. What started as a beautiful disaster between two deeply flawed characters evolved into a captivating and unexpectedly deeper story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews