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A Hemorrhage of Us
Rayne Dorne has always known she was different. She was never given the chance to consider herself anything else.
From the illness she hides beneath as many layers of clothes as she can, to the way people in Bury watch her like she’s a bad omen, the world has never let her forget it. She wanted to leave that town and its memory of her behind forever.
But her parents’ sudden deaths, and a strange call from her estranged brother, drag her back into the house she swore she’d never set foot in again.
A house that feels alive.
A house that remembers her.
The forest surrounding Bury, Pennsylvania, is haunted, and the whole town knows it. Just like everyone knows, you don’t wander after dark, and you never answer to the sound of your name once the sun goes down.
Hawthorne is one of the many entities that haunt those woods, woven from hunger and the dead of winter, and they seem to know her in ways no one ever has. With their eyes set on Rayne, she’s stepped into a dangerous game, whether she realizes it or not.
Spirits always collect on their debts.
What begins as a haunting becomes an unholy tether, and desire becomes a door.
And the thing that binds them both may be the very thing that destroys them.
A Hemorrhage of Us is a standalone folk-horror romance about grief, anger, and a love so monstrous it bleeds into the world. Perfect for fans of Deathless, Bones and All, and The Bear and the Nightingale
From the illness she hides beneath as many layers of clothes as she can, to the way people in Bury watch her like she’s a bad omen, the world has never let her forget it. She wanted to leave that town and its memory of her behind forever.
But her parents’ sudden deaths, and a strange call from her estranged brother, drag her back into the house she swore she’d never set foot in again.
A house that feels alive.
A house that remembers her.
The forest surrounding Bury, Pennsylvania, is haunted, and the whole town knows it. Just like everyone knows, you don’t wander after dark, and you never answer to the sound of your name once the sun goes down.
Hawthorne is one of the many entities that haunt those woods, woven from hunger and the dead of winter, and they seem to know her in ways no one ever has. With their eyes set on Rayne, she’s stepped into a dangerous game, whether she realizes it or not.
Spirits always collect on their debts.
What begins as a haunting becomes an unholy tether, and desire becomes a door.
And the thing that binds them both may be the very thing that destroys them.
A Hemorrhage of Us is a standalone folk-horror romance about grief, anger, and a love so monstrous it bleeds into the world. Perfect for fans of Deathless, Bones and All, and The Bear and the Nightingale
ebook
Published December 24, 2025
14 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Roslyn Reed
1 book13 followersRoslyn Reed is an adult horror, romance, and speculative fiction author. Her work centers on character-driven stories, feminine rage, body horror, and the terror of falling in love. There is nothing she loves more than writing about terrible women and the monsters who adore them.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I dont think I have ever read anything quite like this.The raw emotion depicted throughout the entire story is stunning. I was unable to put it down.
Rayne is such a strong character and the growth and change she endures is inspiring. Her entire story is so relatable. From her chronic illness to her troubled childhood. I really felt like I could see myself, in her.
Hawthornes transformation from raw hunger to human is beautifully written. And the way Rayne lets go of her humanity because of her love for them is *chefs kiss*
This folk/gothic/cryptid dark romance is so unique. I was blown away every time I turned the page. I felt like I was really there feeling everything the characters felt. The pure adoration and longing had me in tears. There is quite a bit of gore, but nothing super explicit. Roslyns world building is simple but powerful. It didnt drag on, but always set the stage beautifully.
The story moves quickly but leaves nothing out. The spice level was 🌶/10 for me. it felt like it added to the story, and helped you as the reader FEEL the adoration and love.
The way Roslyn RIPPED my heart from my chest sacrificing characters to the story. I was sobbing. I will never forgive her for it.
As a debute novel I am SCREAMING. Roslyn has officially made it onto my if she writes it, I will read it list. 🍊❤️
absolutely cannot wait to receive my physical copy. This will be an epic re-read.
Rayne is such a strong character and the growth and change she endures is inspiring. Her entire story is so relatable. From her chronic illness to her troubled childhood. I really felt like I could see myself, in her.
Hawthornes transformation from raw hunger to human is beautifully written. And the way Rayne lets go of her humanity because of her love for them is *chefs kiss*
This folk/gothic/cryptid dark romance is so unique. I was blown away every time I turned the page. I felt like I was really there feeling everything the characters felt. The pure adoration and longing had me in tears. There is quite a bit of gore, but nothing super explicit. Roslyns world building is simple but powerful. It didnt drag on, but always set the stage beautifully.
The story moves quickly but leaves nothing out. The spice level was 🌶/10 for me. it felt like it added to the story, and helped you as the reader FEEL the adoration and love.
The way Roslyn RIPPED my heart from my chest sacrificing characters to the story. I was sobbing. I will never forgive her for it.
As a debute novel I am SCREAMING. Roslyn has officially made it onto my if she writes it, I will read it list. 🍊❤️
absolutely cannot wait to receive my physical copy. This will be an epic re-read.
December 27, 2025
A slow descent into chaos. A thoughtful drowning in prose so decadent it must be broken into tiny pieces.
I’ve followed Roslyn for around two years & this story is what instantly yanked me into her orbit when it was simply a few teaser reels. Oh how the edging made the reward so much more… demented.
This story demands us to face the ugliest parts of ourselves in realization that true love doesn’t always prevail in roses & sunshine. Sometimes true love has claws that rip through the sinew of anyone who dares stand in its way.
I leave you with some of my favorite quotes:
“Eat me. Find the pearl of me and shuck it out.”
“She was hungry and selfish and wanting, but so too was her wolf. They gave as much as they took, but she would take more. She would not allow herself to be sated. She loved them, and she would inflict that love upon them. Her adoration would be nothing less than a plague.”
“I will be the wolf that eats you with care.”
I’ve followed Roslyn for around two years & this story is what instantly yanked me into her orbit when it was simply a few teaser reels. Oh how the edging made the reward so much more… demented.
This story demands us to face the ugliest parts of ourselves in realization that true love doesn’t always prevail in roses & sunshine. Sometimes true love has claws that rip through the sinew of anyone who dares stand in its way.
I leave you with some of my favorite quotes:
“Eat me. Find the pearl of me and shuck it out.”
“She was hungry and selfish and wanting, but so too was her wolf. They gave as much as they took, but she would take more. She would not allow herself to be sated. She loved them, and she would inflict that love upon them. Her adoration would be nothing less than a plague.”
“I will be the wolf that eats you with care.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Hemorrhage of Us by Roslyn Reed is a book that bleeds one onto the page, line by line, with prose so lyrical it often feels closer to poetry than conventional narrative. It is a story that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Unfortunately, I am not skilled at writing book reviews, so here is a list of my immediate thoughts:
- What truly elevates the book, in my opinion, is its commitment to character. The arcs in A Hemorrhage of Us are painstakingly constructed and deeply human. Each character feels shaped by their history in a way that’s palpable on the page. Growth is never rushed or cosmetic; it is earned through contradiction, failure, and difficult choices. Reed allows her characters to be sharp-edged and vulnerable at the same time, resisting easy redemption while still offering genuine hope. Watching them change feels less like observing a plot mechanic and more like witnessing real emotional evolution. Rayne's journey, in particular, feels so well-earned by the end of the story. She's a character you root for the entire way, and it's so satisfying to see how everything plays out. Hawth (the loml) is such a fascinating character to me. The contrast they provide to Rayne as an entity that is comfortable in who they are was absolutely delicious, and I did also appreciate the humor they brought to the page every so often (the scene with the Christmas decorations had me cackling.)
- House and Persi were also *chef's kiss.* I could gush about both of them for hours.
- Aside from the spectacular character writing, I think my favorite part of AHOU is the way that folklore is woven throughout it. The book is filled to the brim with magic without reading too much like a fantasy, which was a very interesting spin on things for me. It kept me constantly fascinated and I found myself constantly dying to know more about the magic of the world, and fortunately, Reed had it so interwoven to the story that everything was always eventually explained in a way that was natural, lacking overly informational expositions.
- Representation that is respectful and never performative. Rayne, as a black indigenous woman is so well represented. (And, as a side note, the way Hawth responded when Rayne asks them to undo her braid left me in shambles. It was so wholesome and sweet, dude.) Hawth's non-binary identity could be related to them being, well, an entity, but is done in a way that's so nonchalant that it's refreshing. They're just existing as a thing that goes beyond gender and I love that, personally. I do not personally know very much about the disease that Rayne has, so it was interesting to get to learn more about it!
- The horror elements were well-balanced with the mystical and the romantic ones, in my opinion. I, personally, am not a big fan of body-horror, but the scenes that included it were so well done that I was never at any point turned off from the story.
All in all, this is one of the few stories I've read that I wish I could give 6 stars. If you're a fan of works like Deathless, anything by Ethel Cain, or the story of Eurydice and Orpheus, then this is a book you need to get into your hands IMMEDIATELY.
Unfortunately, I am not skilled at writing book reviews, so here is a list of my immediate thoughts:
- What truly elevates the book, in my opinion, is its commitment to character. The arcs in A Hemorrhage of Us are painstakingly constructed and deeply human. Each character feels shaped by their history in a way that’s palpable on the page. Growth is never rushed or cosmetic; it is earned through contradiction, failure, and difficult choices. Reed allows her characters to be sharp-edged and vulnerable at the same time, resisting easy redemption while still offering genuine hope. Watching them change feels less like observing a plot mechanic and more like witnessing real emotional evolution. Rayne's journey, in particular, feels so well-earned by the end of the story. She's a character you root for the entire way, and it's so satisfying to see how everything plays out. Hawth (the loml) is such a fascinating character to me. The contrast they provide to Rayne as an entity that is comfortable in who they are was absolutely delicious, and I did also appreciate the humor they brought to the page every so often (the scene with the Christmas decorations had me cackling.)
- House and Persi were also *chef's kiss.* I could gush about both of them for hours.
- Aside from the spectacular character writing, I think my favorite part of AHOU is the way that folklore is woven throughout it. The book is filled to the brim with magic without reading too much like a fantasy, which was a very interesting spin on things for me. It kept me constantly fascinated and I found myself constantly dying to know more about the magic of the world, and fortunately, Reed had it so interwoven to the story that everything was always eventually explained in a way that was natural, lacking overly informational expositions.
- Representation that is respectful and never performative. Rayne, as a black indigenous woman is so well represented. (And, as a side note, the way Hawth responded when Rayne asks them to undo her braid left me in shambles. It was so wholesome and sweet, dude.) Hawth's non-binary identity could be related to them being, well, an entity, but is done in a way that's so nonchalant that it's refreshing. They're just existing as a thing that goes beyond gender and I love that, personally. I do not personally know very much about the disease that Rayne has, so it was interesting to get to learn more about it!
- The horror elements were well-balanced with the mystical and the romantic ones, in my opinion. I, personally, am not a big fan of body-horror, but the scenes that included it were so well done that I was never at any point turned off from the story.
All in all, this is one of the few stories I've read that I wish I could give 6 stars. If you're a fan of works like Deathless, anything by Ethel Cain, or the story of Eurydice and Orpheus, then this is a book you need to get into your hands IMMEDIATELY.
December 15, 2025
Whoa, where to begin?
First, thank you to the author for sharing an ARC with me. It’s always exciting and honoring to review new works!
Now, onto the story. This was a truly unique story about a girl and a shadow who lived in the forest. Pulling themes from Red Riding Hood, Lenape cultural stories, and rural Americana, this was truly a refreshing read. Couple that with a NB love interest, a Black-Indigenous FMC with something reminiscent to hemophilia, and a sentient house (and tree), and you’re in for a wild ride.
The story is long — 770+ pages and could have easily had another 100 or so to wrap up the ending a bit neater. The version I read also had quite a few formatting and grammatical errors, which can easily be resolved with another editorial review. Most of the errors I found were towards the back of the book, which makes me think that this was wrapped up quickly. Personally, I would have liked a bit more time spent on the ending to wrap up things nicely.
The story is a bit dark — so if you’re not into horror, you may want to skip this. However, if you do decide to read it, you’re in for a culturally-rich story of love and morally black decisions.
2.75 stars for this solid debut. Another editorial pass and this can be an easy 3.5-4 star read. Thanks again, Roslyn, for the ARC read!!
First, thank you to the author for sharing an ARC with me. It’s always exciting and honoring to review new works!
Now, onto the story. This was a truly unique story about a girl and a shadow who lived in the forest. Pulling themes from Red Riding Hood, Lenape cultural stories, and rural Americana, this was truly a refreshing read. Couple that with a NB love interest, a Black-Indigenous FMC with something reminiscent to hemophilia, and a sentient house (and tree), and you’re in for a wild ride.
The story is long — 770+ pages and could have easily had another 100 or so to wrap up the ending a bit neater. The version I read also had quite a few formatting and grammatical errors, which can easily be resolved with another editorial review. Most of the errors I found were towards the back of the book, which makes me think that this was wrapped up quickly. Personally, I would have liked a bit more time spent on the ending to wrap up things nicely.
The story is a bit dark — so if you’re not into horror, you may want to skip this. However, if you do decide to read it, you’re in for a culturally-rich story of love and morally black decisions.
2.75 stars for this solid debut. Another editorial pass and this can be an easy 3.5-4 star read. Thanks again, Roslyn, for the ARC read!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The way that my heart sank into my butt several times while reading this should be studied. I love that everyone in this is flawed in a way that makes them so imperfectly perfect for the story they live in. There were times that I hated what they were doing because it was a bad idea but I couldn’t fault them for it. At no point was I thinking “no one would actually do that”. Like hell yeah I’d burn the world down if half of this plot happened to me. I don’t think I have gotten behind someone’s crash out this hard before.
The romance? Amazing. The supernatural and folklore points? Brilliant! The horror? Nauseating. I actually had to take a moment at several points just to chill. This book tugged at so many emotions during reading.
I was able to read the arc book for this and there are some things that could be polished. It’s a long book but it went by a lot quicker than I thought it would. If I had the bandwidth to sit and read this for a good chunk of time, it would probably only have taken two or three sittings. I do think that a lot of the little things will be picked up on in the last pass before it officially comes out so I’m not counting it too much against the book. For an indie debut novel, this was a very strong and lovable book!
I will absolutely be recommending this to anyone and everyone. A Hemerage Of Us will be living in my head rent free for a long while!
The romance? Amazing. The supernatural and folklore points? Brilliant! The horror? Nauseating. I actually had to take a moment at several points just to chill. This book tugged at so many emotions during reading.
I was able to read the arc book for this and there are some things that could be polished. It’s a long book but it went by a lot quicker than I thought it would. If I had the bandwidth to sit and read this for a good chunk of time, it would probably only have taken two or three sittings. I do think that a lot of the little things will be picked up on in the last pass before it officially comes out so I’m not counting it too much against the book. For an indie debut novel, this was a very strong and lovable book!
I will absolutely be recommending this to anyone and everyone. A Hemerage Of Us will be living in my head rent free for a long while!
December 26, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️
I’m speechless. This book…was a spiritual experience. Reading it was like carving open some thrashing, monstrous thing and being bathed in all the pain and love and grief and longing that poured out.
The main characters in this book? Brilliant. The author wrote them in such a way that their claws hook into you, making your root for “good” monsters in a way that feels disturbing yet oh-so-right.
The story? Heartbreaking. Heartbreaking, heart breaking, heart braking (and yes I mean all three). If any of the flavors of this story are familiar to you—a religious rural upbringing, the spirituality that so effortlessly blends with Black and indigenous everyday living, the mainstays of “old wives tales” and folklore as believed beads of wisdom—then this book will speak to you.
The overarching theme of love? I can’t even get into it or I’ll cry (again). You think you know love until you read this book. Until you see Rayne’s search for it in this book. Until you see the physical manifestation of “I will go to the ends of the earth for you” written out so beautifully in this book.
This book is incredible. The only reason it’s not a 5-star for me is because I think it could’ve used another round of copyediting. But don’t let that stop you from embarking on this deeply moving journey of a monstrous woman finding herself and the love she’s always deserved.
I’m speechless. This book…was a spiritual experience. Reading it was like carving open some thrashing, monstrous thing and being bathed in all the pain and love and grief and longing that poured out.
The main characters in this book? Brilliant. The author wrote them in such a way that their claws hook into you, making your root for “good” monsters in a way that feels disturbing yet oh-so-right.
The story? Heartbreaking. Heartbreaking, heart breaking, heart braking (and yes I mean all three). If any of the flavors of this story are familiar to you—a religious rural upbringing, the spirituality that so effortlessly blends with Black and indigenous everyday living, the mainstays of “old wives tales” and folklore as believed beads of wisdom—then this book will speak to you.
The overarching theme of love? I can’t even get into it or I’ll cry (again). You think you know love until you read this book. Until you see Rayne’s search for it in this book. Until you see the physical manifestation of “I will go to the ends of the earth for you” written out so beautifully in this book.
This book is incredible. The only reason it’s not a 5-star for me is because I think it could’ve used another round of copyediting. But don’t let that stop you from embarking on this deeply moving journey of a monstrous woman finding herself and the love she’s always deserved.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to be one of the ARC readers for this novel and I cannot even begin to tell you all how much I loved this book!!!
The narrative follows Rayne as she navigates the death of her parents, the inheritance of a home she does not want, and the seemingly futile hope she has of escaping her home town one more time after many years away. What Rayne doesn't know is that her hometown, and the spirits and monsters within it, have missed her and won't let her get away again.
This book will take you on the ride of your life. You will go through angst and yearning, incomparable love, grief, terror, and mystery. When you think you've surely experienced everything it has to offer, you'll discover it can get much, much darker, and much, much more dangerous, and you'll be thanking whatever deity you choose that there are still pages left (until there aren't).
If you're a fan of romance that makes your bones ache, magic that makes you remember to be afraid of the dark, love interests that will keep you awake at night, and female leads that exceed all of your expectations, then you'll love this book.
The narrative follows Rayne as she navigates the death of her parents, the inheritance of a home she does not want, and the seemingly futile hope she has of escaping her home town one more time after many years away. What Rayne doesn't know is that her hometown, and the spirits and monsters within it, have missed her and won't let her get away again.
This book will take you on the ride of your life. You will go through angst and yearning, incomparable love, grief, terror, and mystery. When you think you've surely experienced everything it has to offer, you'll discover it can get much, much darker, and much, much more dangerous, and you'll be thanking whatever deity you choose that there are still pages left (until there aren't).
If you're a fan of romance that makes your bones ache, magic that makes you remember to be afraid of the dark, love interests that will keep you awake at night, and female leads that exceed all of your expectations, then you'll love this book.
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December 31, 2025The author kindly gave me an advanced copy of the book for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I’m sad to say that I was not able to get into this book and ultimately stopped reading around a third into it. This book is THICK and I think was trying to be a slow burn but it only came off as slow. There were also a lot of typos, wrong words, and awkward grammatical errors. That obviously can be fixed, and was not why I stopped reading. The plot just never seemed to actually start, instead showing our main character Rayne go to the grocery store multiple times. And the tension between Rayne and Hawthorne seemed forced. They went from wanting to kill Rayne to falling for her in the middle of a chapter.
I just think there needed to be another round of editing before publishing.
I so appreciate the author giving me the opportunity to read this book. I’m so sad that it didn’t work for me.
I’m sad to say that I was not able to get into this book and ultimately stopped reading around a third into it. This book is THICK and I think was trying to be a slow burn but it only came off as slow. There were also a lot of typos, wrong words, and awkward grammatical errors. That obviously can be fixed, and was not why I stopped reading. The plot just never seemed to actually start, instead showing our main character Rayne go to the grocery store multiple times. And the tension between Rayne and Hawthorne seemed forced. They went from wanting to kill Rayne to falling for her in the middle of a chapter.
I just think there needed to be another round of editing before publishing.
I so appreciate the author giving me the opportunity to read this book. I’m so sad that it didn’t work for me.
January 10, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ what a unique tale. twisted and romantic. the native/indigenous folklore added sm depth to the story and characters. Rayne is soooo relatable some thoughts of hers I’ve literally had about myself.
very immersive. very unsettling and uncomfortable at times. very much a horror-romance, both in equal measure.
I’ve never read anything like this I loved it.
very immersive. very unsettling and uncomfortable at times. very much a horror-romance, both in equal measure.
I’ve never read anything like this I loved it.
January 5, 2026
This story is going to stick with me for a VERY long time. I absolutely adored every piece of it.
January 15, 2026
I love to see a chronically ill baddie falling in love with a dark entity and getting revenge against those who treated her like shit!! Loved this story!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews