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Dark Forces #1
Your Knife, My Heart
From USA Today Bestselling author KM Moronova comes a brand-new compelling and addictive dark romance in her Dark Forces world.
Dark. Deadly. Irresistible.
Cameron Mortem has a problem―he can't stop killing his partners. Officially labeled clinically insane, he's also one of the most lethal assets in the Dark Forces, a brutal underground military operation built on obedience, survival, and silence. But an experimental drug has fractured his control, making him a liability whenever someone else is on the field. As punishment, he's thrown back into the Under Trials―a merciless boot camp designed to break the weak and sharpen the ruthless.
His one directive? Don't kill the new girl.
Emery Maves narrowly escapes a death sentence after her own brutal crimes, only to find herself forced into the same violent world. Assigned to Cameron, she's expected to survive the Trials and her partner's unstable nature. But Emery quickly realizes there's more to Cameron than bloodlust and body counts. Beneath the madness lies a terrifying allure―and a strange, dangerous tenderness.
As the Trials push them to their limits, Emery must navigate the brutal demands of the Dark Forces while resisting the pull of a man who could just as easily kill her as protect her. And Cameron must fight the one urge he's never been able to overcome.
Their bond is intoxicating, chaotic, and born of violence. And if it doesn't destroy them both, it might just save them.
Praise for KM Moronova's previous Dark Forces novel, Leave Me Behind:
"Brutal, emotional, and unforgettable―KM Moronova pulls no punches.""A dark, aching romance that left me breathless and begging for more.""Every chapter was a punch to the gut―in the best way.""Raw, haunting, and utterly unique. I still can't stop thinking about it.""KM Moronova delivers flawed, vicious characters you can't help but fall for."
Dark. Deadly. Irresistible.
Cameron Mortem has a problem―he can't stop killing his partners. Officially labeled clinically insane, he's also one of the most lethal assets in the Dark Forces, a brutal underground military operation built on obedience, survival, and silence. But an experimental drug has fractured his control, making him a liability whenever someone else is on the field. As punishment, he's thrown back into the Under Trials―a merciless boot camp designed to break the weak and sharpen the ruthless.
His one directive? Don't kill the new girl.
Emery Maves narrowly escapes a death sentence after her own brutal crimes, only to find herself forced into the same violent world. Assigned to Cameron, she's expected to survive the Trials and her partner's unstable nature. But Emery quickly realizes there's more to Cameron than bloodlust and body counts. Beneath the madness lies a terrifying allure―and a strange, dangerous tenderness.
As the Trials push them to their limits, Emery must navigate the brutal demands of the Dark Forces while resisting the pull of a man who could just as easily kill her as protect her. And Cameron must fight the one urge he's never been able to overcome.
Their bond is intoxicating, chaotic, and born of violence. And if it doesn't destroy them both, it might just save them.
Praise for KM Moronova's previous Dark Forces novel, Leave Me Behind:
"Brutal, emotional, and unforgettable―KM Moronova pulls no punches.""A dark, aching romance that left me breathless and begging for more.""Every chapter was a punch to the gut―in the best way.""Raw, haunting, and utterly unique. I still can't stop thinking about it.""KM Moronova delivers flawed, vicious characters you can't help but fall for."
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 11, 2025
2911 people are currently reading
25232 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Moronova
14 books6,734 followersNew York Times, USA Today, and #1 International bestselling author K. M. Moronova has enjoyed telling dreary stories as far as she can remember. She adores reading and writing dark-themed, romantic books with plot twists and emotional turns. Often, she is found drying flowers in her study or drinking tea while relaxing in her garden. She loves spending time with her partner, exploring the forest, and envisioning more devastating stories to tell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,929 reviews
August 28, 2025
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 3.25/5
This is very different from the books I usually prefer to read, but I completely ate this up. This will be a yes for me and the tropes are *chef's kiss* because they are some of the best tropes out there.
Also, two back to back good reads? Life's so great right now. 😌
Emery and Cameron were everything. He calls her "love"....like please, how do you get a man so in love with you that he'll call you that. Also, Cameron is British, he has blond hair and green eyes. Ughhh, green eyes are going to be my downfall because why are they so pretty? I could stare at them all day. Emery was fearless and I love how she proved people wrong when they underestimated her. We love her!!
K.M. Moronova knows what she's doing. I've only read one book by her before - The Fabric of Our Souls - and I liked that one too, so I clearly have to go back and read some of her other books as well. I love how both of the books that I've read deal with different subject matters and they are completely different in terms of the setup and characters, but I enjoyed both of them.
The only thing would be that I'm pissed that I didn't know about the cliffhanger at the end, because how am I supposed to wait for the second book now? You're talking to the same person who rarely reads ongoing series because she knows she has the patience of a toddler three seconds away from throwing a tantrum.
Anyways, the second book is going to hate to see me coming because I fear I might go feral for it.
Thank you K.M. Moronova, Bloom Books and Netgalley for the arc. 💕
-------
pre-read: well.....I guess since I have the arc, why not? 🤷♀️
This is very different from the books I usually prefer to read, but I completely ate this up. This will be a yes for me and the tropes are *chef's kiss* because they are some of the best tropes out there.
Also, two back to back good reads? Life's so great right now. 😌
Emery and Cameron were everything. He calls her "love"....like please, how do you get a man so in love with you that he'll call you that. Also, Cameron is British, he has blond hair and green eyes. Ughhh, green eyes are going to be my downfall because why are they so pretty? I could stare at them all day. Emery was fearless and I love how she proved people wrong when they underestimated her. We love her!!
K.M. Moronova knows what she's doing. I've only read one book by her before - The Fabric of Our Souls - and I liked that one too, so I clearly have to go back and read some of her other books as well. I love how both of the books that I've read deal with different subject matters and they are completely different in terms of the setup and characters, but I enjoyed both of them.
The only thing would be that I'm pissed that I didn't know about the cliffhanger at the end, because how am I supposed to wait for the second book now? You're talking to the same person who rarely reads ongoing series because she knows she has the patience of a toddler three seconds away from throwing a tantrum.
Anyways, the second book is going to hate to see me coming because I fear I might go feral for it.
Thank you K.M. Moronova, Bloom Books and Netgalley for the arc. 💕
-------
pre-read: well.....I guess since I have the arc, why not? 🤷♀️
November 9, 2025
If you know me, you know I hardly ever read dark romance with themes this dark, so I was surprised to find this somewhat entertaining.
I don’t think this book was amazing. I honestly have more complaints than things I liked, but since I rate based on enjoyment, I had a pretty entertaining time reading this. The biggest positive is that it was so fast-paced; I binged it in less than a day, which helped me feel less slumpy.
The writing was honestly not that great. It was clunky for my liking and had this monotonous quality that's hard to articulate, but some sentences were so awkward they pulled me out of the story. The plot situations were another issue—some of the things these characters go through were so ridiculous I couldn't take them seriously. But it wasn't a huge deal because I went into this book purely for the vibes anyway.
What actually worked was the romance itself. It was addicting to read about and follow. The trauma bonding between the characters made me genuinely care about them despite everything else falling short.
The ending kind of pissed me off, though, so now I need to read the second book.
I'd recommend this if you like dark military romance or want something fast-paced and intense that you can devour quickly.
I don’t think this book was amazing. I honestly have more complaints than things I liked, but since I rate based on enjoyment, I had a pretty entertaining time reading this. The biggest positive is that it was so fast-paced; I binged it in less than a day, which helped me feel less slumpy.
The writing was honestly not that great. It was clunky for my liking and had this monotonous quality that's hard to articulate, but some sentences were so awkward they pulled me out of the story. The plot situations were another issue—some of the things these characters go through were so ridiculous I couldn't take them seriously. But it wasn't a huge deal because I went into this book purely for the vibes anyway.
What actually worked was the romance itself. It was addicting to read about and follow. The trauma bonding between the characters made me genuinely care about them despite everything else falling short.
The ending kind of pissed me off, though, so now I need to read the second book.
I'd recommend this if you like dark military romance or want something fast-paced and intense that you can devour quickly.
December 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ dark military romance with deadly trials ☠️ I didn’t love this one as much as I loved leave me behind but I did still enjoy this! Our FMC Emery thinks she can fix our tortured super solider MMC Cameron (who also has a habit of killing his partners), the hot and cold dynamic got a bit tedious towards the end but the plot was super exciting and full of suspense/high stakes so I’m very excited to see where the next book goes!
August 19, 2025
3.5 stars I think . ⊹ ･ﾟ𖥔 ₊ ˑ
⤷ Eeeee okay this was fun!
Your Knife, My Heart is a military dark romance filled with action and suspense from start to finish. Our main characters, Emery and Cameron are forced to survive a set of brutal trials together to get a place into an underground military operation. Cameron was such a morally grey and broken mmc. This plus the whole "i can save him" attitude from Emery was chef's kiss. Their relationship was built on the contradiction of him wanting to kill her but being forced to protect her. This resulted in a very hot and cold dynamic that was addictive to read.
Although I enjoyed myself mostly, I did find some of the situations a bit unrealistic, in addition to the writing not always being the strongest. These things pulled me out of the story a bit and I had a few eye roll moments. I don't expect groundbreaking writing from a dark romance like I am definitely there for the vibes so I will say that this delivered what I was looking for overall. A guilty pleasure read for sure and has left me wanting to pick up Leave Me Behind next!
Pre read
Not one of my gr friends has read this yet so I will take one FOR THE TEAM 🫡
⤷ Eeeee okay this was fun!
Your Knife, My Heart is a military dark romance filled with action and suspense from start to finish. Our main characters, Emery and Cameron are forced to survive a set of brutal trials together to get a place into an underground military operation. Cameron was such a morally grey and broken mmc. This plus the whole "i can save him" attitude from Emery was chef's kiss. Their relationship was built on the contradiction of him wanting to kill her but being forced to protect her. This resulted in a very hot and cold dynamic that was addictive to read.
Although I enjoyed myself mostly, I did find some of the situations a bit unrealistic, in addition to the writing not always being the strongest. These things pulled me out of the story a bit and I had a few eye roll moments. I don't expect groundbreaking writing from a dark romance like I am definitely there for the vibes so I will say that this delivered what I was looking for overall. A guilty pleasure read for sure and has left me wanting to pick up Leave Me Behind next!
Pre read
Not one of my gr friends has read this yet so I will take one FOR THE TEAM 🫡
December 14, 2025
five stars solely because this was a very entertaining book
was it well-written? hmm yes, that’s debatable; but the plot was not believable in the slightest.
however comma, that smut was fucking s p i c y. like, i literally said oh! aloud multiple times.
that cliffhanger was fucking diabolical, and so i’m ignoring the expiring libby holds to dive into book two 😃
my one complaint was that cameron’s narrator spoke wayyyy too low, even for my noise cancelling headphones to clearly hear.
——
diving in because you guessed it… my libby hold expires soon 😅 i’m slightly apprehensive about a dark military romance though…
was it well-written? hmm yes, that’s debatable; but the plot was not believable in the slightest.
however comma, that smut was fucking s p i c y. like, i literally said oh! aloud multiple times.
that cliffhanger was fucking diabolical, and so i’m ignoring the expiring libby holds to dive into book two 😃
my one complaint was that cameron’s narrator spoke wayyyy too low, even for my noise cancelling headphones to clearly hear.
——
diving in because you guessed it… my libby hold expires soon 😅 i’m slightly apprehensive about a dark military romance though…
August 25, 2025
˙₊➴ ꒰ 2.5-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖
📜┆ ARC ⤿ Sourcebooks Bloom Books & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ K. M. Moronova
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 11/11/25
When clinically insane, Cameron is given a punishment for killing his squad partners; he has only one task to follow. It is not to kill the fragile pink-haired girl right in front of him. Emery escaped one death sentence, only to walk straight into another, this time with the added challenge of surviving the Underground Trials for a shot at freedom. Little does she know that this freedom comes with the threat of being killed in the Trials or by the partner she was given.
While both Cameron and Emery are given no choice but to be cruel in this brutal world, all they can do is strive to survive. Will they see the end of the trials together, will Emery survive Cameron, or will they be like all the other cadets in the Under, never seeing the light of day again?
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Characters
⟡ Cameron “Mori” - is known as the best interrogator on the Fury Squad, yet he is the most detrimental member to it. Mori has a problem, and it has to do with never having a permanent partner because he always ends up killing them.
⟡ Emery Maves - is known to be the Severance Executioner of the great underground Mavestelli family. After she got arrested, Emery was taken under the Dark Forces and paired with Cameron. Now she is given the only choice to survive the Under and also Cameron to earn her card to freedom.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
‧˚ ꒰ 🪖 ꒱ plot & action ₊˚⋆
As most of you probably guessed, I really didn’t enjoy Leave Me Behind, so going into this book (set in the same world) I was fully prepared for another letdown. But to my surprise, My Knife, Your Heart turned out to be an upgrade. It finally delivered the action I had been hoping for. From the training scenes and daily life in the Under, to the Trials that Cameron and Emery had to face and survive, this book brought the grit and stakes that Leave Me Behind was missing. The plot was easy to follow, and the action scenes were good and kept me interested. The romance, while being insta-attraction, was still somewhat compelling and had enough intrigue to keep me invested. The darker elements of the story definitely pulled me in, and they’re probably what’s convincing me to stick around for the rest of the ride.
‧˚ ꒰ 🖤 ꒱ romance ₊˚⋆
The romance in this one was definitely insta-attraction, with both characters clearly drawn to and curious about each other from the start. There were hot and cold/push and pull moments mostly for the thrill of it, but it made sense why they kept each other at arm's length. Despite the hesitation, their connection was easy to follow and surprisingly solid. Honestly, they were definitely a couple who could match each other's freak, so that’s good for them. The darker elements of the story were tied to the Underground and the experiments, which also played a big role in why the characters were so cautious around each other. It added a layer of tension that made Cameron and Emery’s dynamic more complex.
‧˚ ꒰ 💉 ꒱ concerns ₊˚⋆
Originally, I thought I’d give this book 3 stars, but there was something about the writing that held me back. It often came off more cringey than heartfelt, which made it hard to fully connect with the story. This also impacted the characters as they felt more like exaggerated versions of themselves rather than fully fleshed out individuals. At times, their actions/feelings/stories didn’t align with how they were portrayed, which made me feel the disconnect. I also noticed a few inconsistencies where later scenes contradicted information given earlier in the book, which also confused me. Plot, action, and romance-wise this one’s better, but the writing, character, and inconsistencies made it fall a bit short of what it could’ve been.
‧˚ ꒰ ⛓️ ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
Truth be told, I thought this was going to be another Leave Me Behind, but I’m happy to say I liked this one better. There was more action, the dark elements of the dark romance were delivered, and the romance itself was surprisingly nice. Overall, it’s not too bad. It’s definitely an improvement, though the writing style and some character inconsistencies held it back from reaching its full potential. Still, I’m genuinely curious to see where the next book goes and whether it can fully redeem the series👀💭
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author —Sourcebooks Bloom Books, KM Moronova & NetGalley— for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
Leave Me Behind didn’t fully hit the mark for me, but it definitely made me crave for more special forces and military action. So here I am, diving into this one and crossing my fingers for all the action and drama I need!🙈🤞🏻
Also, this is available as a “Read Now” title on NetGalley! So if you’re interested, go grab your ARC while it’s up!🙂↕️🖤
📜┆ ARC ⤿ Sourcebooks Bloom Books & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ K. M. Moronova
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 11/11/25
❝ Because you’ll need to get not only yourself, but her out of the trials as well. Your main task is to not kill your partner in the heat of battle. ❞
When clinically insane, Cameron is given a punishment for killing his squad partners; he has only one task to follow. It is not to kill the fragile pink-haired girl right in front of him. Emery escaped one death sentence, only to walk straight into another, this time with the added challenge of surviving the Underground Trials for a shot at freedom. Little does she know that this freedom comes with the threat of being killed in the Trials or by the partner she was given.
While both Cameron and Emery are given no choice but to be cruel in this brutal world, all they can do is strive to survive. Will they see the end of the trials together, will Emery survive Cameron, or will they be like all the other cadets in the Under, never seeing the light of day again?
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Characters
⟡ Cameron “Mori” - is known as the best interrogator on the Fury Squad, yet he is the most detrimental member to it. Mori has a problem, and it has to do with never having a permanent partner because he always ends up killing them.
❝ He knows I’ll kill her in the next ten minutes if I’m left alone with her. I simply can’t help it. I’m a twisted, fucked-up soldier, and he knows it. ❞
⟡ Emery Maves - is known to be the Severance Executioner of the great underground Mavestelli family. After she got arrested, Emery was taken under the Dark Forces and paired with Cameron. Now she is given the only choice to survive the Under and also Cameron to earn her card to freedom.
❝ Most people aren’t drawn to the darkness in others. I can’t help but fawn over it. I don’t want to look away. Not when it’s him. ❞
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
❝ We do what we need to in order to survive. That’s it. ❞
‧˚ ꒰ 🪖 ꒱ plot & action ₊˚⋆
As most of you probably guessed, I really didn’t enjoy Leave Me Behind, so going into this book (set in the same world) I was fully prepared for another letdown. But to my surprise, My Knife, Your Heart turned out to be an upgrade. It finally delivered the action I had been hoping for. From the training scenes and daily life in the Under, to the Trials that Cameron and Emery had to face and survive, this book brought the grit and stakes that Leave Me Behind was missing. The plot was easy to follow, and the action scenes were good and kept me interested. The romance, while being insta-attraction, was still somewhat compelling and had enough intrigue to keep me invested. The darker elements of the story definitely pulled me in, and they’re probably what’s convincing me to stick around for the rest of the ride.
❝ You brought me out of the dark, Em. I would’ve felt nothing forever if you hadn’t stumbled into my lap. I would’ve forgotten what tenderness still remains in a heart long after spiritual death. ❞
‧˚ ꒰ 🖤 ꒱ romance ₊˚⋆
The romance in this one was definitely insta-attraction, with both characters clearly drawn to and curious about each other from the start. There were hot and cold/push and pull moments mostly for the thrill of it, but it made sense why they kept each other at arm's length. Despite the hesitation, their connection was easy to follow and surprisingly solid. Honestly, they were definitely a couple who could match each other's freak, so that’s good for them. The darker elements of the story were tied to the Underground and the experiments, which also played a big role in why the characters were so cautious around each other. It added a layer of tension that made Cameron and Emery’s dynamic more complex.
❝ Your knife yearned for my heart, just as you promised it would. ❞
‧˚ ꒰ 💉 ꒱ concerns ₊˚⋆
Originally, I thought I’d give this book 3 stars, but there was something about the writing that held me back. It often came off more cringey than heartfelt, which made it hard to fully connect with the story. This also impacted the characters as they felt more like exaggerated versions of themselves rather than fully fleshed out individuals. At times, their actions/feelings/stories didn’t align with how they were portrayed, which made me feel the disconnect. I also noticed a few inconsistencies where later scenes contradicted information given earlier in the book, which also confused me. Plot, action, and romance-wise this one’s better, but the writing, character, and inconsistencies made it fall a bit short of what it could’ve been.
❝ She is my morphine, and without her, I’m nothing more than an aimless monster. ❞
‧˚ ꒰ ⛓️ ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
Truth be told, I thought this was going to be another Leave Me Behind, but I’m happy to say I liked this one better. There was more action, the dark elements of the dark romance were delivered, and the romance itself was surprisingly nice. Overall, it’s not too bad. It’s definitely an improvement, though the writing style and some character inconsistencies held it back from reaching its full potential. Still, I’m genuinely curious to see where the next book goes and whether it can fully redeem the series👀💭
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author —Sourcebooks Bloom Books, KM Moronova & NetGalley— for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
Leave Me Behind didn’t fully hit the mark for me, but it definitely made me crave for more special forces and military action. So here I am, diving into this one and crossing my fingers for all the action and drama I need!🙈🤞🏻
Also, this is available as a “Read Now” title on NetGalley! So if you’re interested, go grab your ARC while it’s up!🙂↕️🖤
November 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐎𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐄, 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 °❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is the first full length dark military romance book in the (Dark Forces) series and set 10 years before "Leave me behind' by new to me author K.M. Moronova. Spoken in dual POV's. In this you'll meet Cameron (Code name Mori) & Emery (Code name Morphine)
Since I really enjoyed Leave Me Behind I noticed this newly released book set within the same world by this author and wanted to read it to see if it's a genre I want to read more of..And bugger it all it is...Looking for similar kinds of books nothing really jumped out at me..So the hunt will continue..
Like the other book (standalone) this was also inhaled. And yet again, it ticked all my boxes. Not sure why when I put this on my tbr it showed all the 3 star ratings, glimpsing at them, they all had the same common factor, that cliffy, kind of guessed one would come at me being that it’s a series. But that bitch was brutal!! There were a few unbelievable over the top bits but I didn’t dwell on those either. It’s fictional so I enjoyed it for what it is and can’t wait to read more.
Now that crappy waiting game starts for the next book.
This one had me sitting on the edge of my seat, more times than I could count. I loved these two, all the broken dark pieces of them, this even got my emotions running rampant as a character I liked failed a trial. Sadness wrapped itself around my heart.
This definitely had that hunger games feel to it, 3 levels of trials to progress through, don't get attached, don't form commitments, contestants against contestants, it's brutal, it's emotional, it's gritty, it's so damn addictive.
Don't be fooled by Emery, she's got this nurturing soft side which rears its head often, but she's got blood on her hands which is why she's where she is. I really loved her character. When needed she'd have your back, no questions asked.
Cameron was a pill popping deadman walking, the lab rat, he killed without remorse, popped pills like there was no tomorrow, to be the soldier boy they wanted, he was a deadly sacrificial killing machine that felt no pain *at all* ran faster than a speed of lightning, some would say he probably didn't have a heart. But Emery slowly got under his skin like no other.
I hope the author keeps this series going, new characters to love, the setting, the grittiness of it, definitely gets my tick of approval..
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐅𝐄, 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 °❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is the first full length dark military romance book in the (Dark Forces) series and set 10 years before "Leave me behind' by new to me author K.M. Moronova. Spoken in dual POV's. In this you'll meet Cameron (Code name Mori) & Emery (Code name Morphine)
Since I really enjoyed Leave Me Behind I noticed this newly released book set within the same world by this author and wanted to read it to see if it's a genre I want to read more of..And bugger it all it is...Looking for similar kinds of books nothing really jumped out at me..So the hunt will continue..
Like the other book (standalone) this was also inhaled. And yet again, it ticked all my boxes. Not sure why when I put this on my tbr it showed all the 3 star ratings, glimpsing at them, they all had the same common factor, that cliffy, kind of guessed one would come at me being that it’s a series. But that bitch was brutal!! There were a few unbelievable over the top bits but I didn’t dwell on those either. It’s fictional so I enjoyed it for what it is and can’t wait to read more.
Now that crappy waiting game starts for the next book.
This one had me sitting on the edge of my seat, more times than I could count. I loved these two, all the broken dark pieces of them, this even got my emotions running rampant as a character I liked failed a trial. Sadness wrapped itself around my heart.
This definitely had that hunger games feel to it, 3 levels of trials to progress through, don't get attached, don't form commitments, contestants against contestants, it's brutal, it's emotional, it's gritty, it's so damn addictive.
Don't be fooled by Emery, she's got this nurturing soft side which rears its head often, but she's got blood on her hands which is why she's where she is. I really loved her character. When needed she'd have your back, no questions asked.
Cameron was a pill popping deadman walking, the lab rat, he killed without remorse, popped pills like there was no tomorrow, to be the soldier boy they wanted, he was a deadly sacrificial killing machine that felt no pain *at all* ran faster than a speed of lightning, some would say he probably didn't have a heart. But Emery slowly got under his skin like no other.
I hope the author keeps this series going, new characters to love, the setting, the grittiness of it, definitely gets my tick of approval..
November 21, 2025
NO BECAUSE WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT????
KM IM SENDING YOU MY THERAPY BILL.
I need book two immediately.
KM IM SENDING YOU MY THERAPY BILL.
I need book two immediately.
December 18, 2025
“ᴡʜʏ ᴅᴏ ɪ ꜰɪɴᴅ ɪᴛ ꜱᴏ ᴄʜɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴀꜱ ᴅᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ᴍᴇ?”
Okay. So.
This was my first dark military romance and um—yeah, I think I’m gonna like it here.
Your Knife, My Heart was fast-paced, intense, and dangerously addictive. The kind of book you tell yourself you’ll read “just one chapter” of… and suddenly it’s hours later and you’re staring at the ceiling because that ending just rewired your brain. (Yes, I’m already downloading book two.)
But what really got me was THEM.
Cameron and Emery gave me serious emotional whiplash—in the best way. Two morally gray, deeply damaged souls who felt like magnets: constantly fighting their connection, constantly colliding, and still finding ways to truly see each other beyond the walls they’ve had to build to survive.
Their bond is volatile and messy, forged in chaos and sharpened by survival. They recognize the darkness in each other—the violence, the fear, the broken parts—and instead of flinching, they lean in. That push and pull? Completely addictive.
Cameron—our grumpy, tragic-poet, broken psychopath. I loved him. I felt for him. And honestly, the fact that I understood him might say more about me than I’d like to admit. Haunted, dangerous, and unexpectedly tender where it counts.
And Emery? I love a morally gray FMC. From the moment she opened her mouth with that sharp wit and unshakeable attitude, I was sold. Small but fierce, guarded but perceptive—she refuses to be underestimated and refuses to soften herself for anyone.
And that ending???
Cruel. Unfair. Illegal.
I need book two immediately.
If you like dark romance, morally gray characters, and relationships that feel like emotional warfare wrapped in yearning, this one is absolutely worth it.
Okay. So.
This was my first dark military romance and um—yeah, I think I’m gonna like it here.
Your Knife, My Heart was fast-paced, intense, and dangerously addictive. The kind of book you tell yourself you’ll read “just one chapter” of… and suddenly it’s hours later and you’re staring at the ceiling because that ending just rewired your brain. (Yes, I’m already downloading book two.)
But what really got me was THEM.
Cameron and Emery gave me serious emotional whiplash—in the best way. Two morally gray, deeply damaged souls who felt like magnets: constantly fighting their connection, constantly colliding, and still finding ways to truly see each other beyond the walls they’ve had to build to survive.
Their bond is volatile and messy, forged in chaos and sharpened by survival. They recognize the darkness in each other—the violence, the fear, the broken parts—and instead of flinching, they lean in. That push and pull? Completely addictive.
Cameron—our grumpy, tragic-poet, broken psychopath. I loved him. I felt for him. And honestly, the fact that I understood him might say more about me than I’d like to admit. Haunted, dangerous, and unexpectedly tender where it counts.
And Emery? I love a morally gray FMC. From the moment she opened her mouth with that sharp wit and unshakeable attitude, I was sold. Small but fierce, guarded but perceptive—she refuses to be underestimated and refuses to soften herself for anyone.
And that ending???
Cruel. Unfair. Illegal.
I need book two immediately.
If you like dark romance, morally gray characters, and relationships that feel like emotional warfare wrapped in yearning, this one is absolutely worth it.
August 18, 2025
In my opinion, this is K. M. Moronova’s darkest novel! The story takes place in the Dark Forces universe, but ten years before the events of Leave Me Behind. There are a lot of fights in the book, and the violent scenes are described in great detail, so be sure to pay attention to triggers!
The main character, Cameron, could be called a test subject because he’s given various pills that make him a universal, fearless soldier who doesn’t feel pain. But the side effect is that he wants to kill and ends up killing his partners. One day, his partner becomes Emery, who manages to survive a night with him in the same cell. She changes Cameron—he no longer wants to kill her and instead wants to protect her.
I liked the characters, especially Cameron! He’s broken and mysterious, fearless and brave, but in many moments I felt incredibly sorry for him!
I really like that K. M. Moronova stays true to her style—her characters always have heavy pasts and tragic fates that evoke sympathy and empathy!
The ending impressed me, and although this isn’t my favorite trope, I’m sure the author will use it in an interesting way in the second book!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓dark military romance
✓forced proximity
✓one bed
✓tortured MMC
✓mental health rep
✓touch her and die
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books (Bloom Books) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The main character, Cameron, could be called a test subject because he’s given various pills that make him a universal, fearless soldier who doesn’t feel pain. But the side effect is that he wants to kill and ends up killing his partners. One day, his partner becomes Emery, who manages to survive a night with him in the same cell. She changes Cameron—he no longer wants to kill her and instead wants to protect her.
I liked the characters, especially Cameron! He’s broken and mysterious, fearless and brave, but in many moments I felt incredibly sorry for him!
I really like that K. M. Moronova stays true to her style—her characters always have heavy pasts and tragic fates that evoke sympathy and empathy!
The ending impressed me, and although this isn’t my favorite trope, I’m sure the author will use it in an interesting way in the second book!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓dark military romance
✓forced proximity
✓one bed
✓tortured MMC
✓mental health rep
✓touch her and die
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books (Bloom Books) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 22, 2025
✩ 3 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Deadly Trials
➼ Enemies-to-Lovers
➼ Possessive MMC
➼ Touch Her & Die
➼ Dark Military Romance
➼ Narrated by Isabelle Turner & Walker Williams
➼ Dual First Person POV
My feelings about this book are pretty mixed. The story kept me very engaged and I finished it quickly, but the romance really didn’t appeal to me. The whole premise that he kills all his other partners lost credibility every time I read from his POV. Maybe others will disagree, but I felt like he seemed very in control of his choices and actions despite his recurring symptoms triggered by the drug. I know the author wanted the reader to believe it was his connection to the FMC that allowed him to resist, but their interactions didn’t fully convince me of that.
I kept expecting to see character growth from him, but the only thing I think he developed was an obsession with her. I could see the author giving the MMC a more meaningful character arc in book two, so perhaps I just need to be patient. I will likely still continue this series, but I might try to convince myself to DNF if I don’t like where it’s going.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: I preordered this book, but I just got the ALC from Libro.FM! This will be my first book by this author and while I’ve heard mostly great things, I don’t typically love dark romance, so I’m curious to see how I’ll feel about this. Hopefully the people haven’t led me astray…
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Deadly Trials
➼ Enemies-to-Lovers
➼ Possessive MMC
➼ Touch Her & Die
➼ Dark Military Romance
➼ Narrated by Isabelle Turner & Walker Williams
➼ Dual First Person POV
My feelings about this book are pretty mixed. The story kept me very engaged and I finished it quickly, but the romance really didn’t appeal to me. The whole premise that he kills all his other partners lost credibility every time I read from his POV. Maybe others will disagree, but I felt like he seemed very in control of his choices and actions despite his recurring symptoms triggered by the drug. I know the author wanted the reader to believe it was his connection to the FMC that allowed him to resist, but their interactions didn’t fully convince me of that.
I kept expecting to see character growth from him, but the only thing I think he developed was an obsession with her. I could see the author giving the MMC a more meaningful character arc in book two, so perhaps I just need to be patient. I will likely still continue this series, but I might try to convince myself to DNF if I don’t like where it’s going.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: I preordered this book, but I just got the ALC from Libro.FM! This will be my first book by this author and while I’ve heard mostly great things, I don’t typically love dark romance, so I’m curious to see how I’ll feel about this. Hopefully the people haven’t led me astray…
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
November 29, 2025
I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWW (rtc)
breathlessly-anticipating
September 23, 2025After reading leave me behind I cannot waitttt to read this book. I’m ready for round two with chaos 🙏
November 29, 2025
I freaking loved this book !!!!!!!
It takes place in the same universe as Leave me Behind. So we have Emery this girl who’s been an assassin for her very wealthy family since she was 16 years old. Her body count is enormous. She gets “caught” and sent to prison. There comes General piece of shit Nolan and takes her against her will to the Dark Forces. There she is thrown in solitary to spend a night with Cameron aka Mori aka the deadliest soldier in the Fury squad the one that kills absolutely everyone INCLUDING HIS PARTNERS ! So her first task is to survive the night and then after that survive the cadets and the trainings (that they can actually be killed) and ALSO survive Mori.
Cameron is so broken and beautiful, he speaks in low tones, he has a deep sadness about him that literally guts you. He is cold and deadly but he is not mean. His mission is for once not kill his partner otherwise HE will be terminated. He reads old literature and poems, he says the most awful things and 5 seconds later he says or do something so beautiful that melts your heart. 😭 this is book one and it will be a duet but book 2 is coming out now Dec/10 and I am very excited about it ❤️
It takes place in the same universe as Leave me Behind. So we have Emery this girl who’s been an assassin for her very wealthy family since she was 16 years old. Her body count is enormous. She gets “caught” and sent to prison. There comes General piece of shit Nolan and takes her against her will to the Dark Forces. There she is thrown in solitary to spend a night with Cameron aka Mori aka the deadliest soldier in the Fury squad the one that kills absolutely everyone INCLUDING HIS PARTNERS ! So her first task is to survive the night and then after that survive the cadets and the trainings (that they can actually be killed) and ALSO survive Mori.
Cameron is so broken and beautiful, he speaks in low tones, he has a deep sadness about him that literally guts you. He is cold and deadly but he is not mean. His mission is for once not kill his partner otherwise HE will be terminated. He reads old literature and poems, he says the most awful things and 5 seconds later he says or do something so beautiful that melts your heart. 😭 this is book one and it will be a duet but book 2 is coming out now Dec/10 and I am very excited about it ❤️
August 22, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ I ATE THIS UP!!
If there is one thing I love… it’s 2 bat sh*t crazy main characters! These two are insane and I love them!
“Pink suits you. Have I ever told you that?” 😭😭 stop Cam is so broken and my heart can’t handle it.
The ending 😳😳 GIVE ME BOOK 2.
“She’s as crazy as I am. Or she’s pretending to be. I don’t think I care either way.”
If there is one thing I love… it’s 2 bat sh*t crazy main characters! These two are insane and I love them!
“Pink suits you. Have I ever told you that?” 😭😭 stop Cam is so broken and my heart can’t handle it.
The ending 😳😳 GIVE ME BOOK 2.
“She’s as crazy as I am. Or she’s pretending to be. I don’t think I care either way.”
November 4, 2025
Tropes:
• Dark Military Romance
• Forced proximity
• Touch her and die
• One bed
This was an absolute gem, had me hooked from the beginning. Cameron and Emery were captivating, individually and together. The chemistry, the banter and the spicy were SOOOO good. I didn't want it to stop. Cameron and Emery definitely stole a piece of my heart.
Cameron is essentially the dark forces guinea pig for testing a super soldier drug, that prevents him from feeling pain. But the side effects of the pills he's given, have him killing off his partners... When Emery comes along and survives a night with Cameron...It has him questioning why her and why he all of sudden wants to protect her...
When I was first introduced to Cameron..oh baby I couldn't get enough. Same with Emery, her fiery spunk drew me in. What really cemented how much I loved these characters was the way they fed off one another. They both carry tragic pasts and yearn for tenderness. For soft touches and moments of connection. They’ve both had to stay on guard for most of their lives, especially Cameron, who doesn’t truly understand what tenderness feels like. And even though Emery is a total badass, there’s a softness in her that reminds Cameron of everything he’s been missing. Those simple, loving human connections.
Overall, this was easily a 5 star read for me. I definitely wasn't expecting that ending, it had me unwell. But I’m so excited there’s a second book coming, because I need more of them!
I want to thank Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books and K.M. Moronova for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
• Dark Military Romance
• Forced proximity
• Touch her and die
• One bed
This was an absolute gem, had me hooked from the beginning. Cameron and Emery were captivating, individually and together. The chemistry, the banter and the spicy were SOOOO good. I didn't want it to stop. Cameron and Emery definitely stole a piece of my heart.
Cameron is essentially the dark forces guinea pig for testing a super soldier drug, that prevents him from feeling pain. But the side effects of the pills he's given, have him killing off his partners... When Emery comes along and survives a night with Cameron...It has him questioning why her and why he all of sudden wants to protect her...
When I was first introduced to Cameron..oh baby I couldn't get enough. Same with Emery, her fiery spunk drew me in. What really cemented how much I loved these characters was the way they fed off one another. They both carry tragic pasts and yearn for tenderness. For soft touches and moments of connection. They’ve both had to stay on guard for most of their lives, especially Cameron, who doesn’t truly understand what tenderness feels like. And even though Emery is a total badass, there’s a softness in her that reminds Cameron of everything he’s been missing. Those simple, loving human connections.
Overall, this was easily a 5 star read for me. I definitely wasn't expecting that ending, it had me unwell. But I’m so excited there’s a second book coming, because I need more of them!
I want to thank Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books and K.M. Moronova for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 22, 2025
4⭐️
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November 20, 2025
“May the odds be NEVER in my favor again.”
This book felt like someone tried to rewrite The Hunger Games after binge-reading Fifty Shades of Grey and inhaling three cans of Red Bull. It’s the literary equivalent of a crossover fanfic written at 3AM by someone who hates sleep and loves chaos.
Let me break it down:
The plot?
Couldn’t find one. I’m convinced it escaped. If anyone sees a confused storyline wandering the streets, please return it to the author.
The worldbuilding?
It’s like the book said:
“Logic? Never heard of her.”
Random rules appear and disappear like NPCs in a glitchy video game.
The romance?
If trauma bonding, confused flirting, and softcore interrogation scenes count as chemistry… then sure. Otherwise?
It’s giving “What if Katniss fell for President Snow’s emotionally unstable intern?”
The characters?
Paper-thin but somehow still exhausting. Everyone acts like they’re competing in the Olympics of bad decisions. The heroine has one brain cell, and the hero borrows it on weekends.
The writing?
Every sentence is either:
A) trying too hard,
B) not trying at all, or
C) a metaphor so dramatic it made me put the book down and stare at the wall.
By the halfway mark, I wasn’t reading for the plot — I was reading to see what ELSE could go wrong. The book became my own personal dystopian arena, but instead of weapons, I was being attacked by cringe.
One star.
Because giving zero stars felt too cruel… to myself, for finishing.
This book felt like someone tried to rewrite The Hunger Games after binge-reading Fifty Shades of Grey and inhaling three cans of Red Bull. It’s the literary equivalent of a crossover fanfic written at 3AM by someone who hates sleep and loves chaos.
Let me break it down:
The plot?
Couldn’t find one. I’m convinced it escaped. If anyone sees a confused storyline wandering the streets, please return it to the author.
The worldbuilding?
It’s like the book said:
“Logic? Never heard of her.”
Random rules appear and disappear like NPCs in a glitchy video game.
The romance?
If trauma bonding, confused flirting, and softcore interrogation scenes count as chemistry… then sure. Otherwise?
It’s giving “What if Katniss fell for President Snow’s emotionally unstable intern?”
The characters?
Paper-thin but somehow still exhausting. Everyone acts like they’re competing in the Olympics of bad decisions. The heroine has one brain cell, and the hero borrows it on weekends.
The writing?
Every sentence is either:
A) trying too hard,
B) not trying at all, or
C) a metaphor so dramatic it made me put the book down and stare at the wall.
By the halfway mark, I wasn’t reading for the plot — I was reading to see what ELSE could go wrong. The book became my own personal dystopian arena, but instead of weapons, I was being attacked by cringe.
One star.
Because giving zero stars felt too cruel… to myself, for finishing.
December 4, 2025
4⭐️
жорстокі випробування, брудні вбивства, і двоє божевільних найманих вбивць, які в цьому розквітають 😮💨🤌
авторка непогано розвиває історії у власному військовому всесвіті, і ця книга мені сподобалась більше за «залиш мене» через відсутність недолугої санта-барбари в другій половині книги 😏
кемерон - це кохання з прологу 😈🤤 відірваний на усю голову мен, з яскравою фантазією до вбивств. найкращий виконавець загону «люті», який не відчуває болю і не може контролювати себе (через ліки, які йому дають) щоб не вбивати свого напарника. і звичайно нашу героїню відправляють до нього новою напарницею. файт 🌚
розкриття цього персонажу мені максимально сподобалось. травматичне дитинство і юність, не без таємниць у його вже дорослому минулому, які залишають простір для розвитку героя в наступній частині.
ооу а як він червоніє від погляду на емері, і як заплітає їй волоссячко. сооу кют ☺️
до емері трохи змішані відчуття. їй уваги приділили менше, хоча вона також крутишка - катівниця із впливової родини, яку готували бути фізичною зброєю і яку зрадила її ж сім'я. вона не стала художницею, але творчо підходить до виконання своїх кривавих обов'язків 🔪🩸
проблема в тому, що вона почала пускати слину на кемерона з першого погляду і при кожній наступній зустрічі. ну ти там трохи тримай себе в руках, я від тебе такого інста-лав не очікувала 😁
особливо орунькаю, коли емері бачить кема вперше, в нього розсічене око ще стікає кров'ю, він місяць просидів в ізоляційній камері і сам каже, що схожий на божевільного, який помирає, а вона видає: «він найпрекрасніший чоловік, якого я бачила». всратись і не жити - оце в тебе смаки, жінко 😆
але далі слинопускання трохи вгомонилось, і вже не кидалось в очі, тому норм 👌
до їхнього зв'язку та лл спочатку теж було багато питань. якось дуже просто, легко і швидко в них виникла симпатія й потяг. кем одразу записав себе в її захисники, а емері забула, що він на повному серйозі може її вбити. ну їй ще про це пару разів пізніше нагадають 😅
але далі вже з'явились перепалки, агресія. а їхні емоційні гойдалки під час близькості 🥵😬 агрх.. бісять. продовжуйте в тому ж дусі 😈👉👈
під кінець хімію розігріли прям харашо, як мені до смаку 😋
сюжет, як завжди, динамічно й захопливо несеться. навчання та випробування і жорстокі бійні, аля «голодні ігри», які відповідають для підготовки в лігво підпільної організації з найманими вбивцями. графічні описи жорстокості ще більш відверті - це стає зрозуміло одразу з прологу.
і уууф, яка смачна напруга у фіналі. твіст я зацінила, люблю читати книги з подібним тропом, якщо він гарно прописаний 😌
очікування на заключну частину не завищую, бо, як показала практика, другі частини історій авторка трохи зливає, тому побацим побацим 🤓🤞
жорстокі випробування, брудні вбивства, і двоє божевільних найманих вбивць, які в цьому розквітають 😮💨🤌
авторка непогано розвиває історії у власному військовому всесвіті, і ця книга мені сподобалась більше за «залиш мене» через відсутність недолугої санта-барбари в другій половині книги 😏
кемерон - це кохання з прологу 😈🤤 відірваний на усю голову мен, з яскравою фантазією до вбивств. найкращий виконавець загону «люті», який не відчуває болю і не може контролювати себе (через ліки, які йому дають) щоб не вбивати свого напарника. і звичайно нашу героїню відправляють до нього новою напарницею. файт 🌚
розкриття цього персонажу мені максимально сподобалось. травматичне дитинство і юність, не без таємниць у його вже дорослому минулому, які залишають простір для розвитку героя в наступній частині.
ооу а як він червоніє від погляду на емері, і як заплітає їй волоссячко. сооу кют ☺️
до емері трохи змішані відчуття. їй уваги приділили менше, хоча вона також крутишка - катівниця із впливової родини, яку готували бути фізичною зброєю і яку зрадила її ж сім'я. вона не стала художницею, але творчо підходить до виконання своїх кривавих обов'язків 🔪🩸
проблема в тому, що вона почала пускати слину на кемерона з першого погляду і при кожній наступній зустрічі. ну ти там трохи тримай себе в руках, я від тебе такого інста-лав не очікувала 😁
особливо орунькаю, коли емері бачить кема вперше, в нього розсічене око ще стікає кров'ю, він місяць просидів в ізоляційній камері і сам каже, що схожий на божевільного, який помирає, а вона видає: «він найпрекрасніший чоловік, якого я бачила». всратись і не жити - оце в тебе смаки, жінко 😆
але далі слинопускання трохи вгомонилось, і вже не кидалось в очі, тому норм 👌
до їхнього зв'язку та лл спочатку теж було багато питань. якось дуже просто, легко і швидко в них виникла симпатія й потяг. кем одразу записав себе в її захисники, а емері забула, що він на повному серйозі може її вбити. ну їй ще про це пару разів пізніше нагадають 😅
але далі вже з'явились перепалки, агресія. а їхні емоційні гойдалки під час близькості 🥵😬 агрх.. бісять. продовжуйте в тому ж дусі 😈👉👈
під кінець хімію розігріли прям харашо, як мені до смаку 😋
сюжет, як завжди, динамічно й захопливо несеться. навчання та випробування і жорстокі бійні, аля «голодні ігри», які відповідають для підготовки в лігво підпільної організації з найманими вбивцями. графічні описи жорстокості ще більш відверті - це стає зрозуміло одразу з прологу.
і уууф, яка смачна напруга у фіналі. твіст я зацінила, люблю читати книги з подібним тропом, якщо він гарно прописаний 😌
очікування на заключну частину не завищую, бо, як показала практика, другі частини історій авторка трохи зливає, тому побацим побацим 🤓🤞
August 18, 2025
This was so good! I love a tortured man who hates everyone but her and this book absolutely delivered.
Your Knife, My Heart is dark, violent, a little toxic, and a lot spicy, while also being genuinely emotional and sweet. The story follows Emery and Cameron, two morally gray (morally black if we’re being honest) professional killers who are forced to be partners and thrown into the Under Trials, a deadly boot camp that only the best of the best can survive. The catch: Cameron has a habit of killing his partners.
I genuinely wish this book was longer because I’m in desperate need for more. I will absolutely be picking up book two!
Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books, and K.M. Moronova for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Your Knife, My Heart is dark, violent, a little toxic, and a lot spicy, while also being genuinely emotional and sweet. The story follows Emery and Cameron, two morally gray (morally black if we’re being honest) professional killers who are forced to be partners and thrown into the Under Trials, a deadly boot camp that only the best of the best can survive. The catch: Cameron has a habit of killing his partners.
I genuinely wish this book was longer because I’m in desperate need for more. I will absolutely be picking up book two!
Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books, and K.M. Moronova for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
November 13, 2025
Not for me. 48% in and I had to DNF.
There was more spice than plot. If that’s what you’re looking, fair enough. However, I was listening to this on Remembrance Day when it’s supposed to be about a brutal military academy.
Basically, a dark romance where the tiny female character is paired with the dark and big male character who is known for killing his partners.
You need to know he’s big and broody. Oh, and she smells like a blooming petal.
Audiobook arc gifted by Libro.fm.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
There was more spice than plot. If that’s what you’re looking, fair enough. However, I was listening to this on Remembrance Day when it’s supposed to be about a brutal military academy.
Basically, a dark romance where the tiny female character is paired with the dark and big male character who is known for killing his partners.
You need to know he’s big and broody. Oh, and she smells like a blooming petal.
Audiobook arc gifted by Libro.fm.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
November 2, 2025
“𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺. 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴.”
your knife, my heart is a dark military romance revolving around the “dark forces” that were introduced in her previous book 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 (but it does not need to be read prior to reading this book). after being put in jail, emery is selected to join the trials for the dark forces, an underground military operation filled with only the deadliest of criminals. as if surviving these deadly trials weren’t enough she’s paired up with cameron, a dark forces soldier that is infamous for killing his partners.
man i don’t know what k.m. moronova puts in her books but every single one i’ve read has me fully invested within the first few pages and i never want to have it end or put it down??? there were so many moments that had my heart pounding and just straight up had me STRESSED (especially that fucking ending).
i was completely captivated by the characters of this book. cameron is so unhinged, lethal, violent and riddled with trauma but i swear i can fix him??? i feel like it was so hard not to like emery - she’s smart, so incredibly strong and still has some air of innocence to her despite her background.
as always, remember to read the trigger warnings before you start the book. 😌
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⋆˚࿔
i have been gnawing at the bars of my enclosure all week to start this and now the time is finally here. 🙂↔️
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬.𝘮. 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢, 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
your knife, my heart is a dark military romance revolving around the “dark forces” that were introduced in her previous book 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 (but it does not need to be read prior to reading this book). after being put in jail, emery is selected to join the trials for the dark forces, an underground military operation filled with only the deadliest of criminals. as if surviving these deadly trials weren’t enough she’s paired up with cameron, a dark forces soldier that is infamous for killing his partners.
man i don’t know what k.m. moronova puts in her books but every single one i’ve read has me fully invested within the first few pages and i never want to have it end or put it down??? there were so many moments that had my heart pounding and just straight up had me STRESSED (especially that fucking ending).
i was completely captivated by the characters of this book. cameron is so unhinged, lethal, violent and riddled with trauma but i swear i can fix him??? i feel like it was so hard not to like emery - she’s smart, so incredibly strong and still has some air of innocence to her despite her background.
as always, remember to read the trigger warnings before you start the book. 😌
𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⋆˚࿔
i have been gnawing at the bars of my enclosure all week to start this and now the time is finally here. 🙂↔️
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬.𝘮. 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢, 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
November 25, 2025
This one, unfortunately, wasn't for me!
I thought I would give it a try, considering I loved Leave Me Behind and figured this book would have similar vibes.
Nope.
It didn't really seem like the story went anywhere.
The whole underground militaryesque experimental super human soldier wasn't doing it for me.
The romance was also not quite what I was wanting. The back and forth was a bit annoying.
I thought I would give it a try, considering I loved Leave Me Behind and figured this book would have similar vibes.
Nope.
It didn't really seem like the story went anywhere.
The whole underground militaryesque experimental super human soldier wasn't doing it for me.
The romance was also not quite what I was wanting. The back and forth was a bit annoying.
September 20, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher Bloom Books for the eArc
Okay… this was my first K.M. Moronova book and yes—I GET IT NOW. I devoured it in a single sitting because I physically could not put it down. K.M. knows how to craft a story, and an addictive one at that.
It’s dark. It’s bloody. It’s two broken, murderous forces colliding. Emery + Cameron?? I’m obsessed.
Emery: deadly, unhinged, with a twisted artistic side… yet somehow still soft. Her whole “I can save him” attitude = relatable girl 😭
Cameron: broken, chaotic, a total psychopath… yet somehow loveable (yes, I said psychopath and loveable in the same sentence—my ability to overlook red flags is a talent 😂)
The tension between them was 🔥🔥🔥. Both characters are villain-coded perfection. I was rooting for them the whole way.
The blood. The trials. The twists. Never a dull moment—I ate this up.
And that ENDING?? No, because I’m unwell.
Book 2, please and thank you. 🖤
Also, the cover is stunning. K.M. does all her own art—what a super talented queen 😍
Okay… this was my first K.M. Moronova book and yes—I GET IT NOW. I devoured it in a single sitting because I physically could not put it down. K.M. knows how to craft a story, and an addictive one at that.
It’s dark. It’s bloody. It’s two broken, murderous forces colliding. Emery + Cameron?? I’m obsessed.
Emery: deadly, unhinged, with a twisted artistic side… yet somehow still soft. Her whole “I can save him” attitude = relatable girl 😭
Cameron: broken, chaotic, a total psychopath… yet somehow loveable (yes, I said psychopath and loveable in the same sentence—my ability to overlook red flags is a talent 😂)
The tension between them was 🔥🔥🔥. Both characters are villain-coded perfection. I was rooting for them the whole way.
The blood. The trials. The twists. Never a dull moment—I ate this up.
And that ENDING?? No, because I’m unwell.
Book 2, please and thank you. 🖤
Also, the cover is stunning. K.M. does all her own art—what a super talented queen 😍
December 8, 2025
Nu pala, dabar ramiai. Kaip įsiutino paskutinis skyrius 🙉🙉🙉 Plz, apsieikim be šito trope, ok???
O šiaip aš obsessed! Cam 😭😭😭💘💘💘 Bet ir Em!
Rytoj lekiu antros dalies!!!
O šiaip aš obsessed! Cam 😭😭😭💘💘💘 Bet ir Em!
Rytoj lekiu antros dalies!!!
September 10, 2025
4.25 stars!
KM Moronova does it again—and honestly, I need book 2 yesterday.
The way she crafts dark romance isn’t just writing—it’s a full-blown descent into madness. Twisted imagery? Check. Suspense and death? Double check.
Heartache, misery, passion, and mental states so questionable they should probably come with their own DSM entry? Absolutely.
From the very first paragraph, this story doesn’t just hook you—it drags you kicking, screaming, and maybe even a little turned on, straight into a wild ride you won’t crawl out of unscathed.
KM Moronova’s dark forces universe isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for readers who want their romance with teeth, claws, and a smirk that says, “You’re not making it out alive—but you’ll thank me later.”
KM Moronova does it again—and honestly, I need book 2 yesterday.
The way she crafts dark romance isn’t just writing—it’s a full-blown descent into madness. Twisted imagery? Check. Suspense and death? Double check.
Heartache, misery, passion, and mental states so questionable they should probably come with their own DSM entry? Absolutely.
From the very first paragraph, this story doesn’t just hook you—it drags you kicking, screaming, and maybe even a little turned on, straight into a wild ride you won’t crawl out of unscathed.
KM Moronova’s dark forces universe isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for readers who want their romance with teeth, claws, and a smirk that says, “You’re not making it out alive—but you’ll thank me later.”
November 17, 2025
my favorite brand of psychopath is a hot platinum blonde with a big d!ck.
November 18, 2025
DNF. The male narrator’s constant whispery delivery was supposed to set the mood, but it was so distracting and annoying that I couldn’t enjoy the story. I’m also not invested enough to switch formats and buy the ebook just to see how it plays out. Just not for me.
August 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC- releases Nov 11
I ate this up. KM Moronova knows how to write military romance and really good spicy scenes. The overall concept I really enjoyed. I loved the characters, I loved that shocking ending.
This book takes place 10 years prior to Leave Me Behind. There is one character cross over but it’s not imperative to read Leave Me Behind to read this.
Was it “as good as” Leave Me Behind? No. But I’m not suppose to compare 😅
The pacing was perfect, I loved the number of pages this book was. Really enjoyed! Need book 2!!
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC- releases Nov 11
I ate this up. KM Moronova knows how to write military romance and really good spicy scenes. The overall concept I really enjoyed. I loved the characters, I loved that shocking ending.
This book takes place 10 years prior to Leave Me Behind. There is one character cross over but it’s not imperative to read Leave Me Behind to read this.
Was it “as good as” Leave Me Behind? No. But I’m not suppose to compare 😅
The pacing was perfect, I loved the number of pages this book was. Really enjoyed! Need book 2!!
November 26, 2025
“𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙎𝙤 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚, 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙣?”
4.5⭐️
This was one of those books that took me multiple tries to get into because I was scared it wouldn’t live up to Leave Me Behind. But finally, after a million attempts, I made it through the first few chapters and then I was HOOKED. And then immediately started kicking myself for not getting into it sooner.
I didn’t think it was possible that I could love Cameron more than Bones, but here we are. His character is a beautiful and tragic dichotomy, the battle between good and bad. Watching his relationship with Emery become something deeper only makes you love him more. And I loved Em’s mind, she’s strong and capable but she’s not perfect and Cameron teaches her so much, she’s a quick study and can take whatever comes at her.
“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙩. 𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙄 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚. 𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.”
Moronova knows how to write dark, morally compromised characters with a beautiful spin. And that cliffhanger?? I’m SOOO glad we don’t have to wait a whole year for book 2.
Thanks to @netgalley and @read_bloom for the e-arc!
4.5⭐️
This was one of those books that took me multiple tries to get into because I was scared it wouldn’t live up to Leave Me Behind. But finally, after a million attempts, I made it through the first few chapters and then I was HOOKED. And then immediately started kicking myself for not getting into it sooner.
I didn’t think it was possible that I could love Cameron more than Bones, but here we are. His character is a beautiful and tragic dichotomy, the battle between good and bad. Watching his relationship with Emery become something deeper only makes you love him more. And I loved Em’s mind, she’s strong and capable but she’s not perfect and Cameron teaches her so much, she’s a quick study and can take whatever comes at her.
“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙩. 𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙄 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙚. 𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.”
Moronova knows how to write dark, morally compromised characters with a beautiful spin. And that cliffhanger?? I’m SOOO glad we don’t have to wait a whole year for book 2.
Thanks to @netgalley and @read_bloom for the e-arc!
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