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Beautiful Dangerous Things
Beauty and the Beast meets Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland in this dark fantasy about a woman whose soul travels to a fantasy world when she dreams and meets a man seemingly made of shadows. But the further she ventures, the more apparent it is that it's not just her soul on the line.
Leora Eden never dreams.
Well, she never did before her mother passed.
But your first experience with death changes something within you, and for Leora, this change isn't only beautiful, it's damning.
She dreams.
And when she does, a whole new world opens up for her.
One that takes more than it gives.
One that lies, and deceives.
But also one that gives her a choice:
Stay, for the price of her soul.
Or leave and remain in a world that has never accepted her and refuses to change.
She thought she knew what she wanted, but when the worst part of her dreams spill into reality to haunt her, family secrets get brought into light and she can't help but wonder if she made the right decision or damned everyone and everything.
Leora Eden never dreams.
Well, she never did before her mother passed.
But your first experience with death changes something within you, and for Leora, this change isn't only beautiful, it's damning.
She dreams.
And when she does, a whole new world opens up for her.
One that takes more than it gives.
One that lies, and deceives.
But also one that gives her a choice:
Stay, for the price of her soul.
Or leave and remain in a world that has never accepted her and refuses to change.
She thought she knew what she wanted, but when the worst part of her dreams spill into reality to haunt her, family secrets get brought into light and she can't help but wonder if she made the right decision or damned everyone and everything.
- GenresDark Fantasy
Hardcover
First published December 31, 2025
9 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 18, 2025
This was the most Beautiful Dangerous Thing. The name covers everything about this book.
It is beautiful, it is written with such lyrical beauty and extremely vivid detail to paint the most awe inspiring story.
It is dangerous, this book has the most profound meaningful grief rep. It describes grief in the most realistic way, the way your thoughts are disconnected and how everything feels numb and like you're outside your own body.
And together it creates the most amazing thing, the most traumatically beautiful story.
The dreamscape side of this story is so whimsical with a twisted darkness.
Leora never dreams until her mother passed. And her character growth as she was experiences death for the first time is written perfectly. She really touched something in my soul that I think will reside for many years to come.
The characters in this book will make your soul wander to a place of deadly dreams and you will leave sobbing. An absolute mess, yup this book destroyed me from the inside out. And it was done in the best way imaginable.
This is the type of book is something that will have you begging for more because it finished too soon. This is one of the best books I've read ever in my lifetime . It will make you feel real emotions and you will journey into a heartbreakingly perfect place.
It is beautiful, it is written with such lyrical beauty and extremely vivid detail to paint the most awe inspiring story.
It is dangerous, this book has the most profound meaningful grief rep. It describes grief in the most realistic way, the way your thoughts are disconnected and how everything feels numb and like you're outside your own body.
And together it creates the most amazing thing, the most traumatically beautiful story.
The dreamscape side of this story is so whimsical with a twisted darkness.
Leora never dreams until her mother passed. And her character growth as she was experiences death for the first time is written perfectly. She really touched something in my soul that I think will reside for many years to come.
The characters in this book will make your soul wander to a place of deadly dreams and you will leave sobbing. An absolute mess, yup this book destroyed me from the inside out. And it was done in the best way imaginable.
This is the type of book is something that will have you begging for more because it finished too soon. This is one of the best books I've read ever in my lifetime . It will make you feel real emotions and you will journey into a heartbreakingly perfect place.
November 23, 2025
Beautifully written, intriguing otherworldly elements, and devastating loneliness wrapped in hope.
This story, in my opinion, is an allegory of grief and how it exists for one person in many different forms. The FMC has been overlooked and diminished her whole life by everyone but her mother. When the FMC suffers a traumatic event, she needs to figure out how to move forward alone, and that's when she falls into a dream world and meets the MMC. I'm not saying more as the journey from this point needs to be experienced by the reader.
The world building and initial switching between lands was confusing to me at first. About 30% in I was able to make sense of what the FMC was working through. She becomes torn between her own choices, fulfilling her desire to be her own person, and what everyone around her believed she was supposed to be based on their own expectations.
I received an eARC of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story, in my opinion, is an allegory of grief and how it exists for one person in many different forms. The FMC has been overlooked and diminished her whole life by everyone but her mother. When the FMC suffers a traumatic event, she needs to figure out how to move forward alone, and that's when she falls into a dream world and meets the MMC. I'm not saying more as the journey from this point needs to be experienced by the reader.
The world building and initial switching between lands was confusing to me at first. About 30% in I was able to make sense of what the FMC was working through. She becomes torn between her own choices, fulfilling her desire to be her own person, and what everyone around her believed she was supposed to be based on their own expectations.
I received an eARC of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 22, 2025
4 stars rounded up.
Beautiful Dangerous Things is a symphony of words. This story reminds me of the feeling you get when you are sitting on a front porch swing listening to the rain with a good book in hand.
If you are looking for something that is slow paced, makes you yearn for a place you're not sure exists and that leaves you feeling satisfied. Pick up this book.
Leora is a bright light in a world that is not ready for her. I'm not sure how to sum up this book without giving away some of the heavy details.
This is a journey. One that shouldn't be rushed. One that I recommend you take in your favorite reading spot with a cozy blanket.
Beautiful Dangerous Things is a symphony of words. This story reminds me of the feeling you get when you are sitting on a front porch swing listening to the rain with a good book in hand.
If you are looking for something that is slow paced, makes you yearn for a place you're not sure exists and that leaves you feeling satisfied. Pick up this book.
Leora is a bright light in a world that is not ready for her. I'm not sure how to sum up this book without giving away some of the heavy details.
This is a journey. One that shouldn't be rushed. One that I recommend you take in your favorite reading spot with a cozy blanket.
November 25, 2025
This is a very interesting dark fantasy book with gothic vibes.
Well written with lots of twists and turns you don't see coming. Unique and complex characters who will take you on a journey of grief that will touch your soul and leave you a sobbing mess in the best way possible
Grab tissues and a blanket and head to your favorite reading spot and enjoy this journey
Thank you E.C. Hill for the wonderful ARC opportunity
Well written with lots of twists and turns you don't see coming. Unique and complex characters who will take you on a journey of grief that will touch your soul and leave you a sobbing mess in the best way possible
Grab tissues and a blanket and head to your favorite reading spot and enjoy this journey
Thank you E.C. Hill for the wonderful ARC opportunity
December 9, 2025
This book is so beautiful it was so unlike anything I've read before in such a mesmerizing poetic way! It's so painful and at the same time so beautiful..
I don't think I will ever get over or fully recover from the grief of this book.
E. C Hill is now an instant buy author for me.
I don't think I will ever get over or fully recover from the grief of this book.
E. C Hill is now an instant buy author for me.
December 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
💧💧💧💧💧 Ugly cry
No 🌶
I had to wait a couple of days after finishing this book before writing my review. I closed it and then found myself staring at the ceiling for a good ten minutes, struggling to switch off my brain — and I did the same again the following morning. This is truly one of those stories that stays with you long after the final page.
This book is absolutely beautiful on so many different levels. The writing is lyrical and immersive, capturing the reader from page one and refusing to let go until the very end.
The depiction of grief is painfully realistic, allowing many of us to see ourselves in the FMC. The disconnection from oneself and from the outside world, functioning almost on autopilot, where loneliness and numbness become your only companions — all of it felt achingly familiar.
There’s also that overwhelming urge to remove yourself from everything, a desire to escape your environment in order to further distance yourself from the memories and the pain. This need ultimately leads our FMC to the most whimsical dreamscape imaginable, where the most beautiful things are also the most dangerous.
It’s within this dreamland that we meet our MMC — our shadow villain — and what a man he is. Complex, layered, and on a journey entirely his own, one that becomes completely derailed by the FMC. A villain to the world, but not to her. What a beautifully dangerous thing.
As the story unfolds, more is revealed and the FMC finds herself splintered, living between worlds. She begins to experience eerie and increasingly dangerous occurrences that force her to question everything she’s ever taken for granted. The twists and turns kept me on edge throughout, never allowing me to fully settle.
This book will make you sob. In my case, it ripped my heart out in the best way imaginable. I truly believe that anyone who has lost someone close to them will feel deeply represented in this story. I lost my younger brother five years ago, and I still carry that grief with me to this day. The loneliness, the feeling of being an outcast, and the pain of losing the person who knew you best — the one who made you feel seen and loved — resonated so deeply that it felt as though I was walking the same healing journey as the FMC. That connection made this story all the more powerful for me.
At its core, this is a story about finding hope within loneliness, rediscovering oneself, and remembering that even the darkest clouds carry a silver lining. I truly believe these themes will resonate with anyone who chooses to read this book.
Overall, even though this isn’t a genre I would normally gravitate toward, I am so incredibly grateful that I picked up this ARC. I wholeheartedly recommend it. It didn’t leave me wanting — if anything, it left me wanting to experience it all over again. Just be sure to have some high-quality tissues on hand, because there will be tears to shed and plenty of heartache. And honestly? I would read it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you to the author for this ARC — I’m truly grateful I was able to experience this story ♥️
💧💧💧💧💧 Ugly cry
No 🌶
I had to wait a couple of days after finishing this book before writing my review. I closed it and then found myself staring at the ceiling for a good ten minutes, struggling to switch off my brain — and I did the same again the following morning. This is truly one of those stories that stays with you long after the final page.
This book is absolutely beautiful on so many different levels. The writing is lyrical and immersive, capturing the reader from page one and refusing to let go until the very end.
The depiction of grief is painfully realistic, allowing many of us to see ourselves in the FMC. The disconnection from oneself and from the outside world, functioning almost on autopilot, where loneliness and numbness become your only companions — all of it felt achingly familiar.
There’s also that overwhelming urge to remove yourself from everything, a desire to escape your environment in order to further distance yourself from the memories and the pain. This need ultimately leads our FMC to the most whimsical dreamscape imaginable, where the most beautiful things are also the most dangerous.
It’s within this dreamland that we meet our MMC — our shadow villain — and what a man he is. Complex, layered, and on a journey entirely his own, one that becomes completely derailed by the FMC. A villain to the world, but not to her. What a beautifully dangerous thing.
As the story unfolds, more is revealed and the FMC finds herself splintered, living between worlds. She begins to experience eerie and increasingly dangerous occurrences that force her to question everything she’s ever taken for granted. The twists and turns kept me on edge throughout, never allowing me to fully settle.
This book will make you sob. In my case, it ripped my heart out in the best way imaginable. I truly believe that anyone who has lost someone close to them will feel deeply represented in this story. I lost my younger brother five years ago, and I still carry that grief with me to this day. The loneliness, the feeling of being an outcast, and the pain of losing the person who knew you best — the one who made you feel seen and loved — resonated so deeply that it felt as though I was walking the same healing journey as the FMC. That connection made this story all the more powerful for me.
At its core, this is a story about finding hope within loneliness, rediscovering oneself, and remembering that even the darkest clouds carry a silver lining. I truly believe these themes will resonate with anyone who chooses to read this book.
Overall, even though this isn’t a genre I would normally gravitate toward, I am so incredibly grateful that I picked up this ARC. I wholeheartedly recommend it. It didn’t leave me wanting — if anything, it left me wanting to experience it all over again. Just be sure to have some high-quality tissues on hand, because there will be tears to shed and plenty of heartache. And honestly? I would read it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you to the author for this ARC — I’m truly grateful I was able to experience this story ♥️
December 3, 2025
Beautifully tragic - full review pending … once I stop sobbing.
📖 Beautiful Dangerous Things
📝 E.C. Hill
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tears: 💧💧💧💧💧
Having lost my own mother in early adulthood I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to handle this book, grief is such a heavy weight, it only makes sense that we would seek an escape or to just give up altogether.
From a daughter’s perspective, I can appreciate the bargain made, but from a mother’s perspective, I cannot imagine putting my child through that, risking it. Especially knowing that there are others there to care for my child, to love it and raise it as their very own, to give it the life it deserves.
Though I started off fearful for the feelings things book was bound to bring up I’m so happy I read it, because yes it brought up heartbreaking memories but it also reminded me that there is more to live for after grief, Leroa had so much more then she believed, so much life still she could have lived and family to experience it with. I felt SEEN, in my grief.
You stumble through grief with Leora as she travels on a journey of uncovering secrets about herself and her mother, finding love within someone unexpected and through all of this she discovers a dreamscape so beautifully vivid you almost want to fall into it yourself, darkness be damned. Our MMC is a mystery until the very end, both a villain and a lover to our FMC, their story closes in such a bittersweet and unexpected way. I was left staring at my ceiling by the end wondering what to do with myself next, clutching at my heart as though I could feel the pain of each any every character.
I’m actually tearing up again as I write this review because this book will truly put you in your feelings, though I’ve experienced loss it’s so important not to let yourself get stuck in its tragedy, because that is what is dangerous. Instead you need to look forward, that is where the beauty awaits you, we could all stand to take a step back and look at the whole picture, the endless possibilities.
So grateful for the ARC opportunity and for anyone searching for a book that will make you feel seen within your grief this one is for you.
📖 Beautiful Dangerous Things
📝 E.C. Hill
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tears: 💧💧💧💧💧
Having lost my own mother in early adulthood I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to handle this book, grief is such a heavy weight, it only makes sense that we would seek an escape or to just give up altogether.
From a daughter’s perspective, I can appreciate the bargain made, but from a mother’s perspective, I cannot imagine putting my child through that, risking it. Especially knowing that there are others there to care for my child, to love it and raise it as their very own, to give it the life it deserves.
Though I started off fearful for the feelings things book was bound to bring up I’m so happy I read it, because yes it brought up heartbreaking memories but it also reminded me that there is more to live for after grief, Leroa had so much more then she believed, so much life still she could have lived and family to experience it with. I felt SEEN, in my grief.
You stumble through grief with Leora as she travels on a journey of uncovering secrets about herself and her mother, finding love within someone unexpected and through all of this she discovers a dreamscape so beautifully vivid you almost want to fall into it yourself, darkness be damned. Our MMC is a mystery until the very end, both a villain and a lover to our FMC, their story closes in such a bittersweet and unexpected way. I was left staring at my ceiling by the end wondering what to do with myself next, clutching at my heart as though I could feel the pain of each any every character.
I’m actually tearing up again as I write this review because this book will truly put you in your feelings, though I’ve experienced loss it’s so important not to let yourself get stuck in its tragedy, because that is what is dangerous. Instead you need to look forward, that is where the beauty awaits you, we could all stand to take a step back and look at the whole picture, the endless possibilities.
So grateful for the ARC opportunity and for anyone searching for a book that will make you feel seen within your grief this one is for you.
December 9, 2025
It’s release day for this beautiful, yet hauntingly devastating book.
IFYKYK. 💔 😭
Beautiful Dangerous Things had me captivated from the start. The dreamlike world, shadows, secrets and a story that tugs on your heart and all you believe in.
I was on my toes. Wanting to cry, scream, and desperately trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
This story morphs from grief.. into finding yourself and your purpose. And what does that mean once this life as we know it is over?
Phew I’m in all my feels now 😭
This story follows our FMC Leora as she navigates losing her mother and her normalcy of life as she knew it. Outcasted by society by her appearance since birth.. Leora is suddenly alone and struggling to find the answers to her mother’s sudden death and hoard of secrets that follow. Did Leora even know her at all?
Then a darkness comes and promises to give her time.. but at what cost? And why does she seem to have ties to somewhere/someone she’s never met?..
Haunting shadows and dreams chase Leora to a world more beautiful than she could’ve ever hoped. Glowing flowers, creatures of darkness, beautiful visions and a shadowed man who pulls her in. If only she could stay. But the price is far more than she could’ve ever imagined..
Thank you thank you to the author for letting me have this early. And thank you for utterly destroying me in the best way possible. The way you write and pulled me in to this story was magical. This one will stick with me for a long time. 🥹
And can we talk about all the GORGEOUS art for this book?? Come on. 🖤
make sure you give it a read and check it out!! I will apologize later for the trauma that comes after you finish. 😂😭
IFYKYK. 💔 😭
Beautiful Dangerous Things had me captivated from the start. The dreamlike world, shadows, secrets and a story that tugs on your heart and all you believe in.
I was on my toes. Wanting to cry, scream, and desperately trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
This story morphs from grief.. into finding yourself and your purpose. And what does that mean once this life as we know it is over?
Phew I’m in all my feels now 😭
This story follows our FMC Leora as she navigates losing her mother and her normalcy of life as she knew it. Outcasted by society by her appearance since birth.. Leora is suddenly alone and struggling to find the answers to her mother’s sudden death and hoard of secrets that follow. Did Leora even know her at all?
Then a darkness comes and promises to give her time.. but at what cost? And why does she seem to have ties to somewhere/someone she’s never met?..
Haunting shadows and dreams chase Leora to a world more beautiful than she could’ve ever hoped. Glowing flowers, creatures of darkness, beautiful visions and a shadowed man who pulls her in. If only she could stay. But the price is far more than she could’ve ever imagined..
Thank you thank you to the author for letting me have this early. And thank you for utterly destroying me in the best way possible. The way you write and pulled me in to this story was magical. This one will stick with me for a long time. 🥹
And can we talk about all the GORGEOUS art for this book?? Come on. 🖤
make sure you give it a read and check it out!! I will apologize later for the trauma that comes after you finish. 😂😭
December 23, 2025
Beautiful Dangerous Things is described as Beauty and the Beast meets Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland. This dark fantasy features Leora Eden.
Most people kept their distance from Leora due to her ghostly appearance. For as far back as she can remember, it had only been her and her mother, Morana, and she was fine with that. Her mother was the bestest of mothers and had always been there for her... until she wasn't. Following Morana's tragic death at the young age of 49, Leora found herself truly alone for the first time in her 26 years.
Leora began dreaming differently. Her dreams transported her to another world where she meets a man who is seemingly made of shadows. Her visits there come at a price which Leora is all to happy to pay, but not everything is at it seems.
This book was unlike anything else I have ever read. It took me quite some time to connect with the story and the characters. I'm glad that I persisted as in the end, this book was an unexpected delight which spoke to my soul and had me in tears. Hill (no relation) created an incredible fantasy world, rich with vivid imagery. Bearing witness to Leora's grief, as well as her character growth, felt profound. I am left deep in thought and unable to find the right words to truly express my experience. I would encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and have your own journey.
Most people kept their distance from Leora due to her ghostly appearance. For as far back as she can remember, it had only been her and her mother, Morana, and she was fine with that. Her mother was the bestest of mothers and had always been there for her... until she wasn't. Following Morana's tragic death at the young age of 49, Leora found herself truly alone for the first time in her 26 years.
Leora began dreaming differently. Her dreams transported her to another world where she meets a man who is seemingly made of shadows. Her visits there come at a price which Leora is all to happy to pay, but not everything is at it seems.
This book was unlike anything else I have ever read. It took me quite some time to connect with the story and the characters. I'm glad that I persisted as in the end, this book was an unexpected delight which spoke to my soul and had me in tears. Hill (no relation) created an incredible fantasy world, rich with vivid imagery. Bearing witness to Leora's grief, as well as her character growth, felt profound. I am left deep in thought and unable to find the right words to truly express my experience. I would encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and have your own journey.
November 29, 2025
4.5/5!
Dangerous Beautiful Things is a beautifully written dark fantasy that dives deep into themes of loss, grief, love, hope, and sacrifice. The emotional undercurrents are woven with genuine care.
The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts. Hill creates a shadow realm that feels fully realized, eerie, and immersive. Every time Leora crossed into the dream-world, I felt pulled right in with her.
I especially loved the mirrored transformation between Leora and Kieran (light to shadow, shadow to light). Their journeys reflect and complement each other in such a compelling way, and the imagery around their connection is masterfully done.
If I struggled with anything, it was the depth of the romance. That’s likely just my own pragmatic nature showing, but there were moments where I wanted a bit more grounding between Leora and Kieran. Still, their dynamic is unique, atmospheric, and emotionally charged.
Overall, this is a haunting and imaginative story. Fans of dreamy, dark, otherworldly fantasy will love it. Highly recommend!
P.S. The character art included in this story is absolutely divine!
Dangerous Beautiful Things is a beautifully written dark fantasy that dives deep into themes of loss, grief, love, hope, and sacrifice. The emotional undercurrents are woven with genuine care.
The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts. Hill creates a shadow realm that feels fully realized, eerie, and immersive. Every time Leora crossed into the dream-world, I felt pulled right in with her.
I especially loved the mirrored transformation between Leora and Kieran (light to shadow, shadow to light). Their journeys reflect and complement each other in such a compelling way, and the imagery around their connection is masterfully done.
If I struggled with anything, it was the depth of the romance. That’s likely just my own pragmatic nature showing, but there were moments where I wanted a bit more grounding between Leora and Kieran. Still, their dynamic is unique, atmospheric, and emotionally charged.
Overall, this is a haunting and imaginative story. Fans of dreamy, dark, otherworldly fantasy will love it. Highly recommend!
P.S. The character art included in this story is absolutely divine!
December 5, 2025
“Leora. My light, sometimes the most beautiful things are the most dangerous.”
❤️ARC review ❤️
This book is the perfect example of why people say that reading is a magical experience.
I am still in awe and not sure how will I ever be able to recover from this experience.
First of all stop for a minute to admire the beautiful cover! It is gorgeous! There are also beautiful artworks included in the book and they are just as gorgeous as the cover.
And the story… gosh it was beautifully heartbreaking.
E.C.Hill is an absolute magician with worlds. The story she has created is about loss and love and it’s written so beautifully and perfectly. I can’t find words in my vocabulary to describe the experience this book gave me.
Thank you very much for the ARC copy! I am buying this book as soon as it hits the shelves 🫶🏻
❤️ARC review ❤️
This book is the perfect example of why people say that reading is a magical experience.
I am still in awe and not sure how will I ever be able to recover from this experience.
First of all stop for a minute to admire the beautiful cover! It is gorgeous! There are also beautiful artworks included in the book and they are just as gorgeous as the cover.
And the story… gosh it was beautifully heartbreaking.
E.C.Hill is an absolute magician with worlds. The story she has created is about loss and love and it’s written so beautifully and perfectly. I can’t find words in my vocabulary to describe the experience this book gave me.
Thank you very much for the ARC copy! I am buying this book as soon as it hits the shelves 🫶🏻
December 19, 2025
Beautiful by name and beautiful by nature, the storyline and writing was beautiful, haunting, devastating and healing.
Leora is so loveable, despite how badly she has been treated her whole life by everyone other than her mum, and it's easy to see why she jumps at her chance to escape reality despite the consequences.
Kieran may be dark and dangerous but Leora sees the good in him that he has lost after years of living in the shadows and they are the epitome of opposites attract.
This is a standalone that explores loss, love and grief with twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat and I loved every minute of it.
Leora is so loveable, despite how badly she has been treated her whole life by everyone other than her mum, and it's easy to see why she jumps at her chance to escape reality despite the consequences.
Kieran may be dark and dangerous but Leora sees the good in him that he has lost after years of living in the shadows and they are the epitome of opposites attract.
This is a standalone that explores loss, love and grief with twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat and I loved every minute of it.
November 17, 2025
This book will genuinely take you on the biggest adventure with twists and turns that you will never see coming. The world you will be pulled into is stunning and vivid, and the characters are complex and so unique. All coming together to create a compelling read that will have you eagerly turning the page to see what’s next. Fair warning it’ll be hard to put down once you pick it up.
P.S. the art for this book is absolutely positively perfect and gave me major “FOMO” so obviously I had to read this ASAP sooooooo check that out while you’re at it too!
P.S. the art for this book is absolutely positively perfect and gave me major “FOMO” so obviously I had to read this ASAP sooooooo check that out while you’re at it too!
December 1, 2025
When I signed up for this ARC I knew I was signing up for something different from what I usually read, and although It seemed interesting I was still afraid I wouldn't enjoy it...
But boy was I wrong... 😭👌
Both story and writing is
Beautiful,
Poetic,
And Tragic.
And when I finally finished it... When I put my Kobo down, after that ending I oddly felt at peace...
I dont know who to recommend this, but read it!
But boy was I wrong... 😭👌
Both story and writing is
Beautiful,
Poetic,
And Tragic.
And when I finally finished it... When I put my Kobo down, after that ending I oddly felt at peace...
I dont know who to recommend this, but read it!
December 8, 2025
E.C. Hill wrote such a beautiful fairytale retelling incorporating some of my favorite tales. The way she weaved everything together was truly magical and I simply cannot wait to see what she brings next.
I thought I loved her writing with Dead by Dusk, but this one? Absolutely stunning! The world building was descriptive, beautiful and intriguing.
I loved following the FMC and I’m just sad I can’t read it for the first time again!
I thought I loved her writing with Dead by Dusk, but this one? Absolutely stunning! The world building was descriptive, beautiful and intriguing.
I loved following the FMC and I’m just sad I can’t read it for the first time again!
December 18, 2025
This is the first time in my life that a story ended with me in tears-bittersweet, devastating, healing, yet hopeful tears. I felt every single layer of this story deep in my heart from start to finish.
Leora Eden never dreams. In the wake of her mother’s unexpected death, she feels that all is not what it seems, and she finds herself swept away into a mystical dreamscape when she sleeps. It is here where she meets a shadowy figure, Kiernan, who speaks in truths and riddles. When Leora starts experiencing eerie occurrences during her waking hours, she finds herself convinced that her mother was keeping secrets, not only about her own death but her past as well. With the help of her mother’s adoptive father, Leora begins to find comfort in the midst of all consuming grief, all the while battling her growing feelings for Kiernan. But her love for Kiernan and her time in the dreamscape will come with a price, but will it be one that Leora is willing to pay? And one that causes both herself and the two people she loves most, to fall.
I wish so deeply in my heart of hearts that I had this story to read when my grandmother passed away 8 years ago.The grief that I still carry in my heart, albeit a little less weighted and heavy now than it was then, felt wholly and completely seen. The elements of having faith and the struggle of keeping faith in the midst of grief, in the midst of life’s difficult choices, also spoke to me as a faithful and religious person. Leora and I also share many similarities, and I felt extremely connected to her as a character. Again, I felt utterly SEEN.
I highly recommend this book, but note it is it not for the faint of heart. For me, every single moment of experiencing this story, even with its moments of grief, darkness, devastation, and light, was wholly and totally worth it.
I am so deeply grateful to the author for the ARC copy of this beautifully haunting story. This review is left happily and voluntarily with my own feelings and thoughts.
Romantic Content: No Spice, Attraction Mildly Descriptive
TW: Grief, Death of Parent (Semi Descriptive of Leora Finding Mother Deceased), PTSD, Bullying, Demon/Nightmarish Creatures, Religious Trauma, Spiritual Entities (Angels), Religious Themes, Very Mild/Rare Explicit Swearing, Some Violence, Madness
Leora Eden never dreams. In the wake of her mother’s unexpected death, she feels that all is not what it seems, and she finds herself swept away into a mystical dreamscape when she sleeps. It is here where she meets a shadowy figure, Kiernan, who speaks in truths and riddles. When Leora starts experiencing eerie occurrences during her waking hours, she finds herself convinced that her mother was keeping secrets, not only about her own death but her past as well. With the help of her mother’s adoptive father, Leora begins to find comfort in the midst of all consuming grief, all the while battling her growing feelings for Kiernan. But her love for Kiernan and her time in the dreamscape will come with a price, but will it be one that Leora is willing to pay? And one that causes both herself and the two people she loves most, to fall.
I wish so deeply in my heart of hearts that I had this story to read when my grandmother passed away 8 years ago.The grief that I still carry in my heart, albeit a little less weighted and heavy now than it was then, felt wholly and completely seen. The elements of having faith and the struggle of keeping faith in the midst of grief, in the midst of life’s difficult choices, also spoke to me as a faithful and religious person. Leora and I also share many similarities, and I felt extremely connected to her as a character. Again, I felt utterly SEEN.
I highly recommend this book, but note it is it not for the faint of heart. For me, every single moment of experiencing this story, even with its moments of grief, darkness, devastation, and light, was wholly and totally worth it.
I am so deeply grateful to the author for the ARC copy of this beautifully haunting story. This review is left happily and voluntarily with my own feelings and thoughts.
Romantic Content: No Spice, Attraction Mildly Descriptive
TW: Grief, Death of Parent (Semi Descriptive of Leora Finding Mother Deceased), PTSD, Bullying, Demon/Nightmarish Creatures, Religious Trauma, Spiritual Entities (Angels), Religious Themes, Very Mild/Rare Explicit Swearing, Some Violence, Madness
November 30, 2025
This book is devastating beautiful!
The character progression, the twists and turns, the gothic romance and the insight it gives on different type of grieving.
My favourite part of this book was the detail! I love a book that really gives you the details of what people look like, what the world is like, it really helps me dive deeper into the book and picture it in my mind.
10/10 I loved it!
Thankyou for the ARC opportunity! Xx
The character progression, the twists and turns, the gothic romance and the insight it gives on different type of grieving.
My favourite part of this book was the detail! I love a book that really gives you the details of what people look like, what the world is like, it really helps me dive deeper into the book and picture it in my mind.
10/10 I loved it!
Thankyou for the ARC opportunity! Xx
November 13, 2025
Beautiful Dangerous Things 📖
ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What beautifully dangerous thing it is for your soul to travel into a dream world..Or maybe its more than that.
Grieve someone you thought you knew
Have family secrets you didnt know you were apart of
And a Shadow Daddy you can only meet when you dream🕯
What a dark twisted new world E.C. Hill brought to life... or maybe death.
This book is full of a readers favorite red flags.. Along with
Grieving
Gothic Vibes
Dark Fantasy
Family Secrets
Prophecy
Multi POV
Paranormal entities
Shadow MMC
Lost Souls
And so much more ...
Also, can we take a moment for the cover art 👏
ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What beautifully dangerous thing it is for your soul to travel into a dream world..Or maybe its more than that.
Grieve someone you thought you knew
Have family secrets you didnt know you were apart of
And a Shadow Daddy you can only meet when you dream🕯
What a dark twisted new world E.C. Hill brought to life... or maybe death.
This book is full of a readers favorite red flags.. Along with
Grieving
Gothic Vibes
Dark Fantasy
Family Secrets
Prophecy
Multi POV
Paranormal entities
Shadow MMC
Lost Souls
And so much more ...
Also, can we take a moment for the cover art 👏
Read
December 12, 2025A tale of a young girl battling grief and trying to put her life back together while something calls to her from the shadows of her dreams.
If one world, her every day life. Empty after the death of her mother and full of a town that wants nothing to do with her. In the other world a mysterious shadow man who may be the love of her life, or the predator to end it.
Leora has make a decision of which world is truly her home while piecing together what actually happened to her mother, who she begins to realize she didn't actually know all that well.
The author outright tells you this one has no HEA and yet when it hits you it still HITS.
If one world, her every day life. Empty after the death of her mother and full of a town that wants nothing to do with her. In the other world a mysterious shadow man who may be the love of her life, or the predator to end it.
Leora has make a decision of which world is truly her home while piecing together what actually happened to her mother, who she begins to realize she didn't actually know all that well.
The author outright tells you this one has no HEA and yet when it hits you it still HITS.
December 12, 2025
The darkness can be breathtaking
I cried through the entirety of this book!
Hauntingly beautiful, painfully healing & grief that makes the dark feel like home.
I cried through the entirety of this book!
Hauntingly beautiful, painfully healing & grief that makes the dark feel like home.
December 6, 2025
Okay so that cover art is insanely beautiful. It immediately made me check out the book. And the interior art?! Gorgeous 😍. The writing is lush and lyrical, and each page paints a picture.
Beautiful Dangerous Things is thought-provoking and tragically beautiful. A deep exploration of grief. Both dark and whimsical, heartbreaking and hopeful. Definitely Labyrinth vibes.
I finished days ago and it still haunts me. I knew going in that I was signing up for something different than my norm, but I was still thinking it was more romantasy. It’s more dark fantasy with hints of romantic yearning. Which is totally fine, just not quite was I was expecting. Check the content warnings ❤️
Thank you for the eARC!
Beautiful Dangerous Things is thought-provoking and tragically beautiful. A deep exploration of grief. Both dark and whimsical, heartbreaking and hopeful. Definitely Labyrinth vibes.
I finished days ago and it still haunts me. I knew going in that I was signing up for something different than my norm, but I was still thinking it was more romantasy. It’s more dark fantasy with hints of romantic yearning. Which is totally fine, just not quite was I was expecting. Check the content warnings ❤️
Thank you for the eARC!
December 8, 2025
Leora Eden has never felt so alone. She has always been an outcast because of her distinctive appearance, which feeds the town's fears and superstitions. Her mother has always been her only source of support, but when she is discovered dead in the garden, Leora is left to navigate the world on her own. Leora has never dreamed before, but she finds herself plunging into a dreamscape of shadows and light, where she meets the dark and enigmatic Kiernan, who leads her through a wonderful realm to which she is unable to stay but feels as if she belongs.
This novel's style took some time for me to get used to. As I was feeling overwhelmed and confused, it took time for me to feel anchored in the narrative, understand the world building, and become committed in the story. I was on the verge of skimming to get a general sense of the plot, but I'm glad I pushed through to genuinely take in every detail, as it pays off. It is slow-paced, but I believe that is what makes the book so effective. It's unusual and dives deeply into the emotional themes of grief, loss, hope, and sacrifice. Truly harrowing, Beautiful Dangerous Things captures a whirlwind of dreams that choreographs an unravelling tale of beautiful dangerous things.
There are numerous well-known tales, such as Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland, that are masterfully integrated into the narrative. The clash between shadow and light is magnificently intertwined, revealing how they interact and are so closely connected throughout the world. Shadows has light. Light has shadows. They jut mix perfectly and are characterised so well in the narrative.
__________________
Favourite Quotes:
“Life comes and goes, Darling.”
A reminder that not all who wander are lost – some are simply waiting for someone to show them there’s beauty in uncertainty, and love within pain and grief.
“The darkness, it has never looked so pure, so…lovely before it found you."
“Names hold power. If you know it before you’re ready, you never know what could happen.”
__________________
I had a slight problem with the time period, but it was not a major aspect of the story, so it wasn’t really an issue. But I feel that the connection between Leora and Kiernan was a little instantaneous, compared to the overall tone. Yet, I was entranced by their scenes there was so much underlying their interactions with riddles and secrets.
E.C. Hill explores grief in a mesmerising poignant way that just builds the world around the story. It’s definitely different, and the messages scattered throughout left me thinking about my outlook on life. I honestly can’t thank E.C. Hill enough for the e-arc, and I am completely obsessed with this cover.
This novel's style took some time for me to get used to. As I was feeling overwhelmed and confused, it took time for me to feel anchored in the narrative, understand the world building, and become committed in the story. I was on the verge of skimming to get a general sense of the plot, but I'm glad I pushed through to genuinely take in every detail, as it pays off. It is slow-paced, but I believe that is what makes the book so effective. It's unusual and dives deeply into the emotional themes of grief, loss, hope, and sacrifice. Truly harrowing, Beautiful Dangerous Things captures a whirlwind of dreams that choreographs an unravelling tale of beautiful dangerous things.
There are numerous well-known tales, such as Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland, that are masterfully integrated into the narrative. The clash between shadow and light is magnificently intertwined, revealing how they interact and are so closely connected throughout the world. Shadows has light. Light has shadows. They jut mix perfectly and are characterised so well in the narrative.
__________________
Favourite Quotes:
“Life comes and goes, Darling.”
A reminder that not all who wander are lost – some are simply waiting for someone to show them there’s beauty in uncertainty, and love within pain and grief.
“The darkness, it has never looked so pure, so…lovely before it found you."
“Names hold power. If you know it before you’re ready, you never know what could happen.”
__________________
I had a slight problem with the time period, but it was not a major aspect of the story, so it wasn’t really an issue. But I feel that the connection between Leora and Kiernan was a little instantaneous, compared to the overall tone. Yet, I was entranced by their scenes there was so much underlying their interactions with riddles and secrets.
E.C. Hill explores grief in a mesmerising poignant way that just builds the world around the story. It’s definitely different, and the messages scattered throughout left me thinking about my outlook on life. I honestly can’t thank E.C. Hill enough for the e-arc, and I am completely obsessed with this cover.
February 4, 2026
I can honestly say I've never read anything quite like this, and I was so pleasantly surprised by it! I spent the first part of the book feeling like I was in some sort of Tim Burton fever dream, and I mean that in the best way possible... And the themes of Judaism felt so delightfully eerie to me... I think that's because the writer has such an elegant and yet dark way of writing—the phrasecraft was not just poetic, but artistic.
As Elora's mother's secrets come to light and the pieces of the puzzle start coming together, it's one of those aha moments that readers just love!
Can I also say that this book really gave me Hades and Persephone vibes? I'm not the type of person that goes out of my way to read Hades and Persephone tropes, but the subtle similarities were so tasteful and done just right!
As Elora's mother's secrets come to light and the pieces of the puzzle start coming together, it's one of those aha moments that readers just love!
Can I also say that this book really gave me Hades and Persephone vibes? I'm not the type of person that goes out of my way to read Hades and Persephone tropes, but the subtle similarities were so tasteful and done just right!
December 7, 2025
it was like you were there, going through every chapter with her, seeing her choices with every thing that she faced. there were a couple tears and parts that I couldn't believe, but i love it !
December 31, 2025
This book was beautifully written. A different, darker and far more devastating beauty and the beast retelling than I have ever read. I loved the moody world built through the author's poetically lyrical writing and the deeply unsettling explorations of grief, loneliness and the experience of existing in a world that feels like it was never made for you.
I saw this book as a profound love letter to grief and loss and the way it changes the human experience. It ached with beauty in darkness, and bled off the pages with purpose. This was a book that makes you think, it leaves you pondering your own experiences with pain and heartache and the ways in which it built you.
I love this authors writing style and ability to create new and unique storylines that sit in your thoughts long have you've closed the book.
I saw this book as a profound love letter to grief and loss and the way it changes the human experience. It ached with beauty in darkness, and bled off the pages with purpose. This was a book that makes you think, it leaves you pondering your own experiences with pain and heartache and the ways in which it built you.
I love this authors writing style and ability to create new and unique storylines that sit in your thoughts long have you've closed the book.
December 1, 2025
"Life is full of storms, Leora, darling. It's defined by them. You'll always be in one or approaching one."
I have received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
This book is something very special. It is a very raw and honest story about deep grief, grief that pulls you under and is so all-consuming you dont know how to live life anymore.
If this is hard for you to read, please choose this book with caution.
In general this is the most beautiful and heartbreaking story about grief I've ever read.
E.C. Hill shows no mercy in describing how hard grief can be for a person. She writes it perfectly and also shows us all the ups and downs a person can go through. There is no getting better and then its over, no grief is like a wave, sometimes small, sometimes big.
The story of Leora is set in the 1930s,which gives it overall a very timeless feeling to it. I feel everyone can read this and immediatley imagine themselves in it.
The modern world has no deep worldbuilding to it, we are just in this time of 1930 in a small town, with Leora right after her mother passed away. The great worldbuilding is all in this dreamworld Leora escapes to. Gosh these parts are written so beautifully, I have no other word for it. There are magical gardens, forests and lost souls. And this mysterious shadow man..
I can't say more in detail without spoiling everything. You have to just read and feel this book. In the beginning I did not understand a lot of parts, especially in the dream-world, as I was approaching it with too much logic. A lot is explained in the last third part and then it all makes sense, but before that you have to let yourself fall, fall into this world and go through all these hardships with Leora.
If you want to read a book with a lot of mysteries, a girl who lost too much in a cruel world, stunning visuals in a beautiful dream-world and a man made of shadows you don't know you can trust? Then read Beautiful Dangerous Things.
But be warned you may end up crying and sobbing by the time you finished it. I cried a lot at the ending, and it was the good crying. E.C Hill leaves you with a bitter-sweet message about what comes after life and I can't put into words how much I loved this book. I truly recommend it!
5/5 Stars
I have received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
This book is something very special. It is a very raw and honest story about deep grief, grief that pulls you under and is so all-consuming you dont know how to live life anymore.
If this is hard for you to read, please choose this book with caution.
In general this is the most beautiful and heartbreaking story about grief I've ever read.
E.C. Hill shows no mercy in describing how hard grief can be for a person. She writes it perfectly and also shows us all the ups and downs a person can go through. There is no getting better and then its over, no grief is like a wave, sometimes small, sometimes big.
The story of Leora is set in the 1930s,which gives it overall a very timeless feeling to it. I feel everyone can read this and immediatley imagine themselves in it.
The modern world has no deep worldbuilding to it, we are just in this time of 1930 in a small town, with Leora right after her mother passed away. The great worldbuilding is all in this dreamworld Leora escapes to. Gosh these parts are written so beautifully, I have no other word for it. There are magical gardens, forests and lost souls. And this mysterious shadow man..
I can't say more in detail without spoiling everything. You have to just read and feel this book. In the beginning I did not understand a lot of parts, especially in the dream-world, as I was approaching it with too much logic. A lot is explained in the last third part and then it all makes sense, but before that you have to let yourself fall, fall into this world and go through all these hardships with Leora.
If you want to read a book with a lot of mysteries, a girl who lost too much in a cruel world, stunning visuals in a beautiful dream-world and a man made of shadows you don't know you can trust? Then read Beautiful Dangerous Things.
But be warned you may end up crying and sobbing by the time you finished it. I cried a lot at the ending, and it was the good crying. E.C Hill leaves you with a bitter-sweet message about what comes after life and I can't put into words how much I loved this book. I truly recommend it!
5/5 Stars
November 30, 2025
🥀🖤✨ “Our souls know one another”
This book grabbed me from the start. It’s not one you can skim, and honestly, I didn’t want to. The writing is so vivid that I kept stopping just to see the scenes unfold in my head (being a highly visualize reader). Some moments shift so quickly it feels like those fast-cut scenes in a movie, and it kept me completely locked in.
I’m usually pretty good at predicting where a story is going, but this book kept me guessing the whole time. And for me, that says a lot. Every turn felt intentional and layered in a way that made me want to slow down and actually absorb it.
Leora got to me in this quiet, heartbreaking way. Her loneliness, the way she sees herself as different, the way the world is cruel to her, the heavy sadness she carries, it’s written so raw and honest that you feel it with her.
And Kieran. 👏🏼KIERAN👏🏼 instant swoon that grew with the character. The way he loves is deep and aching, the kind of love that pulls you right in. His bond with Leora feels soul-level, something only the two of them can understand or feel.
The way E.C. Hill crafted the characters with their love, their grief, and their connections was incredible. I truly felt everything with them.
One quote really grabbed me and has stuck with me, “What’s grief if not misplaced love.”
Overall, this book is emotional, vivid, unpredictable, and absolutely worth the slower, more intentional read. It’s one that stays with you.
This book grabbed me from the start. It’s not one you can skim, and honestly, I didn’t want to. The writing is so vivid that I kept stopping just to see the scenes unfold in my head (being a highly visualize reader). Some moments shift so quickly it feels like those fast-cut scenes in a movie, and it kept me completely locked in.
I’m usually pretty good at predicting where a story is going, but this book kept me guessing the whole time. And for me, that says a lot. Every turn felt intentional and layered in a way that made me want to slow down and actually absorb it.
Leora got to me in this quiet, heartbreaking way. Her loneliness, the way she sees herself as different, the way the world is cruel to her, the heavy sadness she carries, it’s written so raw and honest that you feel it with her.
And Kieran. 👏🏼KIERAN👏🏼 instant swoon that grew with the character. The way he loves is deep and aching, the kind of love that pulls you right in. His bond with Leora feels soul-level, something only the two of them can understand or feel.
The way E.C. Hill crafted the characters with their love, their grief, and their connections was incredible. I truly felt everything with them.
One quote really grabbed me and has stuck with me, “What’s grief if not misplaced love.”
Overall, this book is emotional, vivid, unpredictable, and absolutely worth the slower, more intentional read. It’s one that stays with you.
November 23, 2025
Beautiful Dangerous Things!
AMAZING! INCREDIBLE! WOW!
E.C. Hill does an amazing job pulling you in on chapter 1 and making you feel. You feel Leora's emotions as if they were your own. The author does an amazing job at describing the depth of how it feels to lose the most important person in your world.
The dreamworld in this book shows just how incredible the imagination can be and makes you wish you could share this world with her, regardless of the reasoning. The vision and creativity in this world is unbelievably detailed and paints a picture you can see while reading.
The FMC has an innocence that she carries from a lifetime of scars within that make you want to reach into the book and just hold her, let know she is so much more.
The MMC, Is he bad? Is he good? Its hard to tell, he's meant to be the bad guy, but Im not sure he knows how to be with Leora. Only the reader can decide.
Overall this book was a tearjerker that keeps you wanting more, and sad when it comes to an end.
I can't wait to see what E.C. Hill comes up with next!
AMAZING! INCREDIBLE! WOW!
E.C. Hill does an amazing job pulling you in on chapter 1 and making you feel. You feel Leora's emotions as if they were your own. The author does an amazing job at describing the depth of how it feels to lose the most important person in your world.
The dreamworld in this book shows just how incredible the imagination can be and makes you wish you could share this world with her, regardless of the reasoning. The vision and creativity in this world is unbelievably detailed and paints a picture you can see while reading.
The FMC has an innocence that she carries from a lifetime of scars within that make you want to reach into the book and just hold her, let know she is so much more.
The MMC, Is he bad? Is he good? Its hard to tell, he's meant to be the bad guy, but Im not sure he knows how to be with Leora. Only the reader can decide.
Overall this book was a tearjerker that keeps you wanting more, and sad when it comes to an end.
I can't wait to see what E.C. Hill comes up with next!
January 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Firstly, I want to say thank you to @nellyhill.writes for gifting me this beautiful e-arc, and for being super patient with me when I was having difficulties downloading it 🙈. I also want to apologise in my lateness in putting out my review. 🖤
Beautiful Dangerous Things is a dark, poetic fantasy standalone, with a Beauty and the Beast meets Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland vibes! All my favourite, twisted tales mixed together in this whimsical, emotional, story of grief, tragedy, escape through dreams, love, and darkness.
You will need tissues for this one! 😭
Tropes 🥀🖤
Dark Fantasy
Gothic/Mystical Vibes
Multi POV
Shadow MMC
Family Secrets
Prophecy
Paranormal Entities
No Hea 😭😭
Firstly, I want to say thank you to @nellyhill.writes for gifting me this beautiful e-arc, and for being super patient with me when I was having difficulties downloading it 🙈. I also want to apologise in my lateness in putting out my review. 🖤
Beautiful Dangerous Things is a dark, poetic fantasy standalone, with a Beauty and the Beast meets Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland vibes! All my favourite, twisted tales mixed together in this whimsical, emotional, story of grief, tragedy, escape through dreams, love, and darkness.
You will need tissues for this one! 😭
Tropes 🥀🖤
Dark Fantasy
Gothic/Mystical Vibes
Multi POV
Shadow MMC
Family Secrets
Prophecy
Paranormal Entities
No Hea 😭😭
December 15, 2025
I was drawn into this book because of its strong focus on Leora’s grief and how her dreams become a way to escape what she has lost. I liked that the other world wasn’t just beautiful, but also demanded choices that actually mattered. Her relationship with the man in the shadows felt more like a push and pull than a typical romance, which made it interesting to read. For me, the story was very much about what you’re willing to sacrifice to avoid pain.
Thank you so much EC Hill for letting me be a part of your team❤️🌺
Thank you so much EC Hill for letting me be a part of your team❤️🌺
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