Mira Vale isn’t looking for trouble. She’s got a job she doesn’t hate, a boyfriend who looks good on paper (but feels like talking to a sock), and enough anxiety to keep her nights interesting.
Enter Xan Hayes. A weapon forged by the Obsidian Order. He doesn’t smile. He stalks. He kills. He marks his prey in silence — and Mira just landed in his crosshairs. His orders were watch her, report back, do not get involved. Too bad he has never been good at following the rules.
Xan is a walking nightmare wrapped in ink and obsession. Sadistic, brutal, and beautiful in all the ways that ruin you. He’s the kind of man who doesn’t just want you — he claims you. And once he does, he won’t let go.
Now Mira’s caught between a boyfriend who doesn’t see her, and a killer who sees everything. Between the lies of the Order, and the man who would burn it all down for her.
He’s not the hero. He’s the monster who makes her beg for more.
Whispers of Ruin is a dark romance packed with blood, gore, obsession, forbidden rituals — and a man who makes fever dreams taste like desire.
M.C. Fitz is a Canadian dark romance author who writes about obsession, betrayal, and forbidden love like it’s a competitive sport. Her stories are intense, emotionally messy, and just twisted enough to make you question your morals—and maybe your life choices.
Born and raised in Drummondville, Quebec, she writes in both English and French, crafting complex characters, psychological tension, and the kind of slow-burn chaos that ruins your sleep schedule. If it’s dark, dramatic, and emotionally devastating, she’s into it.
Outside of writing, she’s an unapologetic geek with a love for vintage vibes and all things early 2000s—think MSN, emo playlists, and low-rise jeans (minus the regret). She spends her free time hoarding battle pets in MMOs, geeking out over old-school gadgets, and pretending her cocktail experiments are “research.”
This is a dark, intense read that doesn’t hold back. If you enjoy twisted, gritty plots, this one will blow you away. The writing is rich with detail, and the male lead is absolutely unforgettable. One of the better cat-mouse books in my collection for sure. Absolutely worth the read! Just be sure to read the triggers…they are 100 percent dead on and not just for frills in the front of the story.
Writing reviews for books is still new to me but I really felt I needed to after seeing the negative ones on here. I reached out and spoke to the author after finding a few grammatical errors. She seems like a wonderful and kind hearted person. She is so sweet and receptive to her readers. After reaching out I found out English is NOT her native language so yes there are grammatical errors here and there but in no way did it hinder my enjoyment of her story. I think people are being too picky and judge mental.
I speak Spanish as a second language and I can’t even imagine the effort it would take to put a whole book together. Not to mention ON HER OWN. I think she did a wonderful job and it may not be 100% perfect but you can tell this story, and the characters mean a lot to her. She really put her heart into it. Some people choose not to go through editors and that’s totally fine. Obviously this is her first book and she like anyone else will evolve over time, and I firmly believe each book she publishes will improve greatly.
Now for the story part I love the dynamic between Xan and Mira, and the whole fun of the secret society that Xan is a part of. I love how possessive he is, and how he shows her through small gestures that he cares.
Mira was very relatable in the way she was this woman just trying to make her failing relationship work, and even when he was awful she kept trying. Xan finally shows her, her worth. Shows that a man who wants her will show up and prove it everyday. Is it insane and a little deranged at times? Yes, but hey our girl seemed into it so why not.
The magazine was probably the most interesting… item… I’ve ever seen in a dark romance so far and I’ve read a decent amount. IYKYK. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that specific scene.
It may be morbid but Xan helps Mira heal and involve in a way that really kept me interested throughout the book. And I think anyone open minded and just looking for an easy read will love this book despite the small flaws.
Every page has a beautiful boarder and all the paragraphs are spaced out making it unique and easy on the eyes. I was sold on it just from the aesthetics alone. It’s gorgeous!
I ordered my copy directly from her and got mine signed and it was here so quickly. Ignore the negative reviews and give her book a chance! Interact with her, I promise you won’t be disappointed. This is someone’s FIRST book, so be kind and help her grow as an author. Everyone starts somewhere and this is an amazing start for her journey.
Keep going I’m so proud of you and I’m waiting for book 2!
PS I need more Kayde! You can’t tease me like that!
I simply couldn’t put the book down. It has everything we dream of: a masked man, humor, steamy sex scenes, and you just can’t wait to find out what happens next. The book absolutely lives up to its trigger warning list!
Xan, orphaned and left in the care of “The Order.” At just 9 years old, he witnessed his first murder, and since then, he’s become the best operative they have. Now 31, he’s found something that resembles love for the first time in his life. He lives a life where his face is always hidden behind a mask. His latest mission is Mira. He must find out whether she remembers anything from her childhood — the answer will decide if she lives or dies.
Mira, a nearly naive young woman who believes in everyone but herself. She lives a quiet life, working at an art gallery. She shares an apartment with her boyfriend Julien, who never really sparks or awakens the woman inside her. But something is lurking beneath the surface of her dull, routine life. She starts to feel watched, and although it should scare her, she’s never felt more alive — all thanks to Xan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
If you’re into dark romance, this one needs to be on your radar. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect going in, but wow! It pulled me in fast and didn’t let go.
The writing is super smooth without trying too hard, and the story has this slow, almost haunting build that kept me flipping pages way too late. What really stuck with me though was the FMC; she’s actually relatable. Like, painfully real at times. That feeling of being stuck in a relationship that’s just… flat? Like you’re craving something wild or unpredictable to shake you out of it? Yeah. It hits.
And there’s one scene…if you’ve read it, you know 😏 The library. The magazine. I’m still not over it. I legit had to pause and just process what happened. It’s that kind of moment.
If you like your romance dark, smart, and just the right amount of unhinged, Whispers of Ruin will absolutely deliver. I already know I’ll be rereading certain parts. (You’ll know which ones.)
I was absolutely GRIPPED with this book! I loved the storyline of Xan and Mira, the obsessed MMC, Stalker, Masked Man, absolute unit of a man falling for his little fox … Mira, a woman in a relationship with a POS guy who she tolerates that is until he tries to sell her for a promotion.
Her timid demeanour and quiet world quickly overturned as Xan is focused in on her as she’s a job for the secret organisation he works for, finding out if she’s got some information they need to know, this quickly blows the lid on some information and things shift for Xan.
There’s a good amount of spice and not just thrown in for the sake of it, though the rolled up magazine … if you know … you know …
I would absolutely recommend this book if you love the stalker / masked man vibe but prepare for the ending, your heart will hurt!
First off, thank you to the author for allowing me to read this before it was released! ☺️🖤
That ending??!! Give me book 2 right now, it can’t end like that 😩😩 I loved this so much! It was a fun and easy read (easy for me! Please read trigger warnings, they’re spot on!) that grasped my attention from start to finish! The plot is great and the smut is perfect, not too much and not too little. I think it was done beautifully! Everyone needs Xan in their life, so please, please read this, you won’t regret it!!
Dark romance is not my go-to genre, but this book was heavily recommended to me and now I understand why. I absolutely loved it!! The story was dark, thrilling, and got me hooked from the start. It has just the right spicy-to-story ratio that forces you to keep reading just another page and another... The male and female protagonists are really well written, and following their evolution is really a treat. Happy reading!
I got to read this book ahead of time. This book had me captivated from the very first page. This is one of the best cat mouse book I have read in a long time. The detail is absolutely incredible. The MMC Xan is amazing. The spice is level 3.5-4. Trigger warnings are spot on and do not disappoint. This book is dark. Make sure to look at the trigger warnings. If you like dark stories, you will absolutely LOVE this one. This was a smooth read that is unputdownable. A MUST read!!!!
This was a fantastic book. It had me hooked from the very first page. My heart doesn't know how to feel right now. This is the first book I have read from this author and boy they didn't disappoint. I was able to put myself in this book with how smooth it was written. It has plot and spice, and boy, the spice is on point with this one. I really enjoyed reading this book . Will be a book that I will read again down the line.
This book hit all of the right spots for me. I’m really hoping it wasn’t the end and that we will see more or Xan and Mira! I do have a lot of questions that seem unanswered is the only reason it has 4 stars but I’m really hoping “the end” wasn’t the end. 😭
LOVED this book. Definitely read triggers before going in. If you love a morally grey MMC, Xan is your man. Hooked in the first chapter by the end I was yelling at my kindle.
This was well worth the arc read! The characters and the spice!! I never wanted it to end!! Will say this is one of my best reads this year! Fantastic ❤️ now where do I get my own Xan?
✨ I might be slightly biased... but I just have to say how proud I am of this story. I poured my heart (and maybe a little blood?) into every chapter, and seeing it come together still gives me chills.
This book means so much to me — the characters, their chaos, their heartbreak, their fire... Mira, Xan, you two have ruined me in the best possible way. 😈🔥
If you're into dark secrets, twisted loyalties, slow-burn tension and just the right amount of emotional damage, I think you might enjoy the ride.
I hope you love it as much as I loved writing it. Thanks for reading, and welcome to the shadows. 🖤
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 Review: If you’re like me and love dark romance with a dangerous edge, this one will hook you from the very first page. It combines the thrill of a cat-and-mouse chase with an MMC who is equal parts st@bby 🔪, obsessive, and devoted in the most unhinged way. Mira and Xan’s chemistry leaps off the page—every exchange between them crackles with tension, sharp banter, and the kind of heat that keeps you saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 2 a.m. 😆 Their dynamic is intense and addictive: he’s ruthless, masked in mystery, and hiding secrets, while she’s strong, clever, and caught in his orbit whether she wants to be or not. The deeper I got, the more the layers of secrecy and obsession pulled me in, making it impossible to put down. 👏🏻
What I loved most was how the story balanced the danger with the emotional tension. Xan isn’t just an assassin with a mask—he’s a man whose obsession with Mira drives every choice he makes, for better or worse. 😈 That obsession builds slowly but powerfully, until by the end, I felt just as consumed as she did. And then—bam—the cliffhanger hit, leaving me absolutely desperate for the next book. 🤯 It’s wild, it’s dark, it’s twisty, and it knows exactly how to keep you hooked.
For anyone who enjoys a possessive MMC, secret societies, and romance that pushes boundaries while still tugging at your heart, this one is definitely worth picking up. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings at the start so you know what to expect—this author does include a detailed list, which I really appreciated. ⚠️
Tropes included: 🎭 Two-page trigger warning list 🔪 Masked MMC 🎭 Secret society 🔪 Mild BD$M 🎭 Cat & mouse game 🔪 Assassin MMC x Art gallerist FMC
So this had the foundation to be really good, but it missed the mark on a few things for me. In dark romance, the morally grey (or morally black MMC) has to be done well or it comes across... off.
This man made the FMC suck him off twice before they ever became truly intimate in a way that would please her. Because I'm sorry... being fucked by a magazine does not count. Yes, I said a magazine. That's not sexy and not how anatomy works.
He said a few things to her that rubbed me the wrong way. I won't quote them, but even a morally black MMC wouldn't say those things to HIS woman.
She went from innocent to his clone in like 200 pages. It was just all very fast.
There was a Britney Spears reference... in a dark romance book. Felt like cold water.
And there was a typo 85% of the way in.
I liked the book in the beginning, but it just kind of went downhill as it went on. I had high hopes for it, too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Well, that was money well spent — a few bucks and some change for what might be one of the most absurd books I’ve ever read. The main characters are so painfully underdeveloped they make cardboard seem nuanced. There’s no consistency in tone or plot; it jumps around like it’s trying to avoid making sense.
And then there’s that scene — yes, the one where the so-called hero penetrates her with a magazine. A magazine. And she not only accepts it but apparently needs to have an orgasm. Because, of course, that’s how both anatomy and storytelling work. Truly groundbreaking stuff… if you’re aiming for unintentional comedy.
Hard pass. If i could give zero stars, I would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This had it all, stalking, betrayal, murder, spice and plot and I loved every second. I was drawn in from the start, it was so easy to read, flowed smoothly and was non-stop. I seriously think I have a thing for stalkers, I couldn’t get enough of Xan. He was so in tune with Mira’s needs and cares so deeply. I really felt the emotional turmoil that Mira was going through and learning you cannot tun from what is meant to be. That ending was painful - You ripped my heart out, I need the next book now… it cannot end like this!
Is your life a little boring? Like you don’t have a smoky hot stalker following you around? Then you’ll want to read this AMAZING book and wish you were Mira. This book is so easy to read, so enticing, you won’t want to put it down to go back to your own life. The end is gonna mess you up. You might cry or shout or throw something at someone, but that only means that book 2 is gonna be amazing too!
As a general rule, it's quite rare that I naturally gravitate towards this kind of novel. But I like to discover and be surprised. And this book... I had trouble going to bed at night (just one more chapter) and the ending, what can I say about the ending other than... I Want More! If you're a fan of this genre, read it! And if, like me, you're not, you'll become addicted to this book and the characters.
This, right here is why I question my sanity sometimes. This book had me hooked the second a Gallery was mentioned (fellow Gallery Rat!!) The push and pull between Mira and Xan is palpable and solid, which makes the submission so much sweeter. I read this book on a whim, but absolutely loved it, to the point it is one of my favourite so far for 2025. Would highly recommend anyone read this book!!! (especially if you love overprotective men and sassy FMC's)