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They Call Me Blue
“All elgrew possess an intrinsic desire to consume elves. Born twisted and deformed, they steal our faces and wear our bones so they can look beautiful like us.”
ARDEN
They say blue elves taste the sweetest, but I'd like to think I'm bitter. Elgrew killed my parents when I was sixteen, and I've been responsible for protecting my little sister ever since. With nowhere else to go, we joined the resistance, and I've spent the past five years fine-tuning my body into the perfect weapon to get revenge on the monsters who destroyed our home.
Some creatures are born evil, and the only cure is extermination.
LYRICK
My father wants me to be something I’m not. He expects me to rule over the elgrew city beside him, but the way we treat elves disgusts me—the fighting pits, the butcher’s blocks, the pleasure houses we put them in—they make my skin crawl. I’d much rather live in the forest where I can hunt and eat the creatures ethically, but that isn't an option. My father has given me two choices—join him or die, and I might die anyway if he discovers my greatest secret.
Five years ago, I committed treason by letting the blue elf go. Now, Arden and I are connected mentally and physically by the bite I left on her palm. She's dangerous, lethal, and I've let the elf run wild, anticipating how thrilling it’ll be to hunt her down. When we finally meet again, I'm certain it'll be nothing short of catastrophic.
They say blue elves taste the sweetest. It’s time I find out.
Author's They Call Me Blue is an adult grimdark fantasy and horror novel. It contains romantic themes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please visit the author's website for a complete list of content warnings.
ARDEN
They say blue elves taste the sweetest, but I'd like to think I'm bitter. Elgrew killed my parents when I was sixteen, and I've been responsible for protecting my little sister ever since. With nowhere else to go, we joined the resistance, and I've spent the past five years fine-tuning my body into the perfect weapon to get revenge on the monsters who destroyed our home.
Some creatures are born evil, and the only cure is extermination.
LYRICK
My father wants me to be something I’m not. He expects me to rule over the elgrew city beside him, but the way we treat elves disgusts me—the fighting pits, the butcher’s blocks, the pleasure houses we put them in—they make my skin crawl. I’d much rather live in the forest where I can hunt and eat the creatures ethically, but that isn't an option. My father has given me two choices—join him or die, and I might die anyway if he discovers my greatest secret.
Five years ago, I committed treason by letting the blue elf go. Now, Arden and I are connected mentally and physically by the bite I left on her palm. She's dangerous, lethal, and I've let the elf run wild, anticipating how thrilling it’ll be to hunt her down. When we finally meet again, I'm certain it'll be nothing short of catastrophic.
They say blue elves taste the sweetest. It’s time I find out.
Author's They Call Me Blue is an adult grimdark fantasy and horror novel. It contains romantic themes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please visit the author's website for a complete list of content warnings.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2025
6 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Loren Huxley
3 books41 followersLoren Huxley is a full-time author who loves all things dark—dark fantasy, dark romance, dark chocolate (you get the point!). By seventh grade, she was listening to heavy metal, playing RPGs with her older siblings, and writing horror-themed short stories. By high school, she was sneaking dark romances from her aunt’s favorite bookshelves. When Loren isn’t writing something brutal, she’s playing tabletop games with her husband or cuddling with her two giant dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 2, 2025
Update: I finished it and it was great fun if you don't mind the extensive list of content warnings!
I think in terms of reading experience and flow, this was pretty close to The Carnal Games which I also LOVED.
I am really excited to see where this is going in book 2!!!
good morning depraved weirdos with questionable taste
this is giving
(translation: it's just a bag full of content warnings haha)
Even tho I am not quite done reading this book I will give it my highest stamp of approval: it is one hot mess of a trainwreck. Can't look away, can't stop reading.
I think in terms of reading experience and flow, this was pretty close to The Carnal Games which I also LOVED.
I am really excited to see where this is going in book 2!!!
good morning depraved weirdos with questionable taste
this is giving
(translation: it's just a bag full of content warnings haha)
Even tho I am not quite done reading this book I will give it my highest stamp of approval: it is one hot mess of a trainwreck. Can't look away, can't stop reading.
December 2, 2025
3.5 (might give this 4 stars once I think about this more)
This was a tough one. It was very, very readable, but I’m giving this 3.5 stars rather than 4 as this was marketed as a dark romance. Which there was nothing really romantic happening in this first book. It’s mostly lots of trauma and horror. However, it was very original and I’m interested to see where the second book goes if it ever gets released.
One big issue that I had with the fmc is that she’s very reckless and ends up whether intentionally or unintentionally killing the mmc’s baby sister (she sets off a bomb at his father’s mansion and didn’t know she was inside). It’s going to be hard to come back from that I feel like. She also ends up killing a teenager by stabbing him in the back where she could have just knocked him out. The MMCs no prince either, he eats her people and doesn’t speak out against the regime that supports that, even though he mentions that he’s not super into it. He was also part of the hunting party that killed the fmcs parents. I’m going to be super interested to see if they’re able to overcome all of that in the next book. I feel like major groveling is needed on both sides and I still don’t know how these two are going to make their “relationship” work.
This was a tough one. It was very, very readable, but I’m giving this 3.5 stars rather than 4 as this was marketed as a dark romance. Which there was nothing really romantic happening in this first book. It’s mostly lots of trauma and horror. However, it was very original and I’m interested to see where the second book goes if it ever gets released.
One big issue that I had with the fmc is that she’s very reckless and ends up whether intentionally or unintentionally killing the mmc’s baby sister (she sets off a bomb at his father’s mansion and didn’t know she was inside). It’s going to be hard to come back from that I feel like. She also ends up killing a teenager by stabbing him in the back where she could have just knocked him out. The MMCs no prince either, he eats her people and doesn’t speak out against the regime that supports that, even though he mentions that he’s not super into it. He was also part of the hunting party that killed the fmcs parents. I’m going to be super interested to see if they’re able to overcome all of that in the next book. I feel like major groveling is needed on both sides and I still don’t know how these two are going to make their “relationship” work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect. I read a lot of fantasy and the occasional dark fantasy, but rarely do I pick up anything in the monster category. Honestly had this been by any author other than Loren, I would've passed after glancing at it. I'm very glad it was Loren and I did read it because I LOVED this book. It has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone now because how many other great stories am I missing!?
They Call Me Blue has detailed world building that immediately immerses you. The history tidbits at the beginning of each chapter were extremely helpful in summarizing past events so you understand both the elves and the elgrew cultures. I love that we got these because they were brief enough to give the perfect amount of context without giving away too much.
I fully believed I would hate all Elgrew when I started this book. I could not have been more wrong. This is a complex story between two different species trying to survive, although it is clear one is predator and one is prey. While I do think the Elgrew have WAY more to atone for, the elves aren't without their flaws.
I ended up enjoying Lyrick's POV more than Arden's for the most part. I felt Lyrick was a very flushed out, complicated character. He was put in a difficult situation of trying to stick to his morals, but nearly dying and causing more suffering for elves because of them. The way Lyrics story was written gave a lot of perspective into the "enemy's" motivations that had me struggling to hate all of them. I say this as someone who is a vegetarian as well!
I didn't feel Arden was as complex of a character, but I also didn't feel this was a flaw in the writing. Arden had been in survival mode throughout the whole story. Her thoughts are constantly how to keep her & her sister safe.
I cannot wait to read more in this series. Thank you so much to Loren for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
They Call Me Blue has detailed world building that immediately immerses you. The history tidbits at the beginning of each chapter were extremely helpful in summarizing past events so you understand both the elves and the elgrew cultures. I love that we got these because they were brief enough to give the perfect amount of context without giving away too much.
I fully believed I would hate all Elgrew when I started this book. I could not have been more wrong. This is a complex story between two different species trying to survive, although it is clear one is predator and one is prey. While I do think the Elgrew have WAY more to atone for, the elves aren't without their flaws.
I ended up enjoying Lyrick's POV more than Arden's for the most part. I felt Lyrick was a very flushed out, complicated character. He was put in a difficult situation of trying to stick to his morals, but nearly dying and causing more suffering for elves because of them. The way Lyrics story was written gave a lot of perspective into the "enemy's" motivations that had me struggling to hate all of them. I say this as someone who is a vegetarian as well!
I didn't feel Arden was as complex of a character, but I also didn't feel this was a flaw in the writing. Arden had been in survival mode throughout the whole story. Her thoughts are constantly how to keep her & her sister safe.
I cannot wait to read more in this series. Thank you so much to Loren for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(4.5/5)
WARNING: this review may have slight cannibalism jokes
I signed up for this ARC skeptical that high fantasy, graphic horror, and dark romance could share the same spine. I’m came out convinced… and a little obsessed.
The worldbuilding is bold and delightfully grotesque, but what sold me is how coherent it feels. Elgrew (a wood-nymph/elf hybrid) must eat elves to survive and can only reproduce with them because all female elgrew are infertile. That biology doesn’t just shock; it structures everything—an economy of slavery and trafficking, the city’s politics, and even its theology. Huxley doesn’t flinch from the premise, and the setting feels built from it outward rather than decorated after the fact.
We follow two leads: Arden and Lyrick. Arden, the only known blue elf, is relentlessly hunted; before she reaches her Age of Majority (elven magical adulthood), Lyrick “claims” her to keep others from consuming her—protection that’s both lifesaving and chilling. Arden’s arc threads into an underground elven resistance, while Lyrick—son of the Grand Overseer and an unflinching hunter who prefers elves “fresh” (what I’d call free-range elf; not ethically-sourced as he does like chasing and having them beg 😳)—pulls back the curtain on elgrew culture, ethics, and appetites. Their connection is a TRUE slow burn, and that push-pull between care and predation gives the romance real bite.
As a reader who loves horror, grimdark, and dark romance, this hit my sweet spot: vivid set pieces, razor-edged stakes, and a premise that refuses to blink.
My one struggle was the POV. The dual first-person framing nudges the book toward a familiar romantasy vibe even though romance is a subplot. When other perspectives pop in, they tend to tell rather than unfold as fully lived-in scenes, which flattens the bigger political canvas. I found myself wishing for a tight third-person approach with the same intensity, wider lens, less head-hopping.
I would highly recommend this, but please check ALL the trigger warnings. If your lane includes graphic horror and morally messy worlds, this is a gnarly treat. I closed the final page already hungry for Book 2 in the planned trilogy.
Thank you to Loren Huxley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
WARNING: this review may have slight cannibalism jokes
I signed up for this ARC skeptical that high fantasy, graphic horror, and dark romance could share the same spine. I’m came out convinced… and a little obsessed.
The worldbuilding is bold and delightfully grotesque, but what sold me is how coherent it feels. Elgrew (a wood-nymph/elf hybrid) must eat elves to survive and can only reproduce with them because all female elgrew are infertile. That biology doesn’t just shock; it structures everything—an economy of slavery and trafficking, the city’s politics, and even its theology. Huxley doesn’t flinch from the premise, and the setting feels built from it outward rather than decorated after the fact.
We follow two leads: Arden and Lyrick. Arden, the only known blue elf, is relentlessly hunted; before she reaches her Age of Majority (elven magical adulthood), Lyrick “claims” her to keep others from consuming her—protection that’s both lifesaving and chilling. Arden’s arc threads into an underground elven resistance, while Lyrick—son of the Grand Overseer and an unflinching hunter who prefers elves “fresh” (what I’d call free-range elf; not ethically-sourced as he does like chasing and having them beg 😳)—pulls back the curtain on elgrew culture, ethics, and appetites. Their connection is a TRUE slow burn, and that push-pull between care and predation gives the romance real bite.
As a reader who loves horror, grimdark, and dark romance, this hit my sweet spot: vivid set pieces, razor-edged stakes, and a premise that refuses to blink.
My one struggle was the POV. The dual first-person framing nudges the book toward a familiar romantasy vibe even though romance is a subplot. When other perspectives pop in, they tend to tell rather than unfold as fully lived-in scenes, which flattens the bigger political canvas. I found myself wishing for a tight third-person approach with the same intensity, wider lens, less head-hopping.
I would highly recommend this, but please check ALL the trigger warnings. If your lane includes graphic horror and morally messy worlds, this is a gnarly treat. I closed the final page already hungry for Book 2 in the planned trilogy.
Thank you to Loren Huxley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book in advance. My opinions are still my own.
This is a no nonsense, dark fantasy romance book and it is LONG, so buckle up for a ride you won’t forget.
I love a good “new to me” creature, so the Elgrew were quite enjoyable to read about. I loved the little lore snippets at the headers of some chapters, as well as what was in the book itself. The Elgrew are gritty, gory, and downright GROSS. Their species is deformed, created through interspecies breeding. Their beauty hinges on stealing (and sewing) the skins of elves to their bodies— Which, only the rich (or stupid) can afford.
There is a caste system within the Elgrew society, which our MMC, Lyrick is a begrudging part of. His father, a leader in this society, has “Blue” (Arden) in his unseemly sights, and tasks Lyrick to capture and bring her back. His plans? Usher in a new crop of the rare, almost extinct Blue skinned elves.
Arden, our FMC, is hunted for her skin. A pariah among her own elvish tribes, she does what she must to ensure survival for herself and her sister. Hunting, killing, hiding are their lifeline and saving skills.
I found it very interesting that the vicious, monstrous Elgrew had a significantly more structured civilization, despite having slaves, “Myrie” (breeding elves), etc. Their very basic urges involve cannibalism and violence, but yet they support their own SIGNIFICANTLY more than the scheming Elvish leaders do (within their own elvish tribes).
While a lot did happen in this book, I feel like the meat of the story was really in the last ~150 pages. We as readers really begin uncovering some of the inner workings, and get to know the developing relationship between Arden and Lyrick better. The book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger, and I feel like book two will drop us straight into the action (and I am quite sure there will be plenty of it).
I would definitely pay attention to the trigger warnings, as there are some very heavy subjects detailed in They Call Me Blue.
This is a no nonsense, dark fantasy romance book and it is LONG, so buckle up for a ride you won’t forget.
I love a good “new to me” creature, so the Elgrew were quite enjoyable to read about. I loved the little lore snippets at the headers of some chapters, as well as what was in the book itself. The Elgrew are gritty, gory, and downright GROSS. Their species is deformed, created through interspecies breeding. Their beauty hinges on stealing (and sewing) the skins of elves to their bodies— Which, only the rich (or stupid) can afford.
There is a caste system within the Elgrew society, which our MMC, Lyrick is a begrudging part of. His father, a leader in this society, has “Blue” (Arden) in his unseemly sights, and tasks Lyrick to capture and bring her back. His plans? Usher in a new crop of the rare, almost extinct Blue skinned elves.
Arden, our FMC, is hunted for her skin. A pariah among her own elvish tribes, she does what she must to ensure survival for herself and her sister. Hunting, killing, hiding are their lifeline and saving skills.
I found it very interesting that the vicious, monstrous Elgrew had a significantly more structured civilization, despite having slaves, “Myrie” (breeding elves), etc. Their very basic urges involve cannibalism and violence, but yet they support their own SIGNIFICANTLY more than the scheming Elvish leaders do (within their own elvish tribes).
While a lot did happen in this book, I feel like the meat of the story was really in the last ~150 pages. We as readers really begin uncovering some of the inner workings, and get to know the developing relationship between Arden and Lyrick better. The book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger, and I feel like book two will drop us straight into the action (and I am quite sure there will be plenty of it).
I would definitely pay attention to the trigger warnings, as there are some very heavy subjects detailed in They Call Me Blue.
August 22, 2025
Dark fantasy lovers, this one is for you!
This story was unlike anything I’ve read before, and I was captivated from start to finish. The conflict between the Elgrew and the Elves runs deep, Elves are hunted as slaves, food, or incubators for Elgrew offspring. To survive, they are forced into hiding, forming tribes and factions that, alongside the rigid castes of Elgrew society, create an intricate political landscape where the fate of both species hangs in the balance. The twisted romance between the two main characters, Lyrick and Arden, is a single thread in an incredibly dark and complex tale. The author’s afterword was especially insightful, offering a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain into the inspiration for such a rich and haunting story.
This story was unlike anything I’ve read before, and I was captivated from start to finish. The conflict between the Elgrew and the Elves runs deep, Elves are hunted as slaves, food, or incubators for Elgrew offspring. To survive, they are forced into hiding, forming tribes and factions that, alongside the rigid castes of Elgrew society, create an intricate political landscape where the fate of both species hangs in the balance. The twisted romance between the two main characters, Lyrick and Arden, is a single thread in an incredibly dark and complex tale. The author’s afterword was especially insightful, offering a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain into the inspiration for such a rich and haunting story.
September 6, 2025
I just want to thank Loren Huxley for letting me be an ARC reader for this book! This is a true definition of Enemies and I love it! I loved reading from both of their POVs. I love reading dark romances and anything dark and this was right up my alley! I loved both the main characters and how in depth their characters are! I can't wait to see where it takes them! I'm hoping for a HEA.
a couple things I didnt like was her sister and her supposed best friend. I know her sister is a child, but she whined too much for me and didn't believe Arden when she said it's dangerous topside.
her bestie sucked as a bestie. He deserved what he got to him after the fight! Like how could you make everyone abandon her and her sister? They were both children. Well, I guess Karma got him in the end 😈
a couple things I didnt like was her sister and her supposed best friend. I know her sister is a child, but she whined too much for me and didn't believe Arden when she said it's dangerous topside.
her bestie sucked as a bestie. He deserved what he got to him after the fight! Like how could you make everyone abandon her and her sister? They were both children. Well, I guess Karma got him in the end 😈
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2025
I was an ARC for this book. This was an interesting read in the way the species needed each other to survive but also hated each other. It was pretty graphic at times with the hunting, eating, killing so def be warned. It made me feel icky as a vegetarian but also think thats what made the book interesting in the political/systemic dynamics.
August 28, 2025
Thank you to Loren for the ARC. I can’t wait to continue this story.
This book is wild, but so good. Definitely check your trigger warnings, if you enjoy dark fantasy, this is solid.
The authors world building is incredible and some of the scenes can be so brutal, I actually felt anxious in a few parts because the writing was so descriptive. The story is so captivating and intense, I couldn’t put it down. Both main characters are complex and morally grey, the story is packed full of revenge, violence and gore (among many other things). If you’re expecting a HEA this is not the one.
Can’t wait to see what the next books in the series have in store, I will 10/10 be reading them all!
Again check those trigger warnings, they are there for a reason.
August 25, 2025
4.30/5.00 ⭐️ rating
0.50/5.00 🌶️ rating
Tropes/Kinks: elves, slaves, multiple SA (on side characters and MMC, not by FMC), NC (labeled as CNC in book, but felt but NC on that fact that the FMC was drugged by the MMC), biting, drugging, bondage, oral, knife play
READ TRIGGER WARNINGS!!
Thoughts:
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you love DARK, DARK, DARK fantasy books with a heavy world building on slaves, then look no further! This has all the tropes you are looking for and maybe a few more. Depending on how dark you like it, I would suggest going in blind.
This is DARK! One of the darkest books I’ve read all year, if not the darkest. It had a very Frank-stein feel to it that I loved. I may have binged the book, but that doesn’t mean it was easy to read through. I do have to give a lot of props to the author because this book had me on the edge of my seat, even with the scenes I had issues getting through. That’s how you know this book was written beautifully! There were parts I absolutely loved, so much that they overshadowed the darkness I didn’t enjoy, until we got another scene that left a sour taste in my mouth. If the author was less talented, the scenes wouldn’t have affected me as much as they did.
If you have issues with slavery, this is not the book for you. It doesn’t have moments of it, this entire world revolves around it. The slaves are sliced up for parts, forced to submit in any way their master wants, to be bred, to fight for entertainment and many other sadistic ways. While I knew this was going to be a reoccurring trope of the book, I still wasn’t prepared for the scenes shown from the MMC’s POV.
I knew this book was going to leave off on a cliffhanger and I had a feeling I would dislike it… and what do you know? I hated the cliffhanger! I understand that this is a duet and this sets up the next book, but the MMC just pisses me off. He was so one-sided the whole way through the book and then just throws it out the window at the last few chapters. I was rooting for him up until the end with their encounter, and I don’t want to anymore. Did he not question anything?
I struggled rating this book. The book’s writing should get 5 out of 5 stars; it was beautifully crafted. My own personal rating on how much I enjoyed the book would be a 3.65 out of 5 stars. Some parts just hit me wrong, especially the forced pregnancy and breastfeeding parts. I can usually deal with some forced pregnancy books, if done tastefully, but the slavery took it a bit too dark for me. While I understand the premise of why it’s a part of the world, I don’t enjoy reading about it in such exquisite detail. Again though, the rest of the book was written so exquisitely that I forgot about some of the darkness until light was shined on it again. I think I’m just going to average my rating and go with that.
Would I reread this book? Only to remember it before reading the duet. It was too dark in the slave category for my tastes. Do I regret reading it? HELL NO! This was written so beautifully that I HAVE to read the next book. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a while!
0.50/5.00 🌶️ rating
Tropes/Kinks: elves, slaves, multiple SA (on side characters and MMC, not by FMC), NC (labeled as CNC in book, but felt but NC on that fact that the FMC was drugged by the MMC), biting, drugging, bondage, oral, knife play
READ TRIGGER WARNINGS!!
Thoughts:
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you love DARK, DARK, DARK fantasy books with a heavy world building on slaves, then look no further! This has all the tropes you are looking for and maybe a few more. Depending on how dark you like it, I would suggest going in blind.
This is DARK! One of the darkest books I’ve read all year, if not the darkest. It had a very Frank-stein feel to it that I loved. I may have binged the book, but that doesn’t mean it was easy to read through. I do have to give a lot of props to the author because this book had me on the edge of my seat, even with the scenes I had issues getting through. That’s how you know this book was written beautifully! There were parts I absolutely loved, so much that they overshadowed the darkness I didn’t enjoy, until we got another scene that left a sour taste in my mouth. If the author was less talented, the scenes wouldn’t have affected me as much as they did.
If you have issues with slavery, this is not the book for you. It doesn’t have moments of it, this entire world revolves around it. The slaves are sliced up for parts, forced to submit in any way their master wants, to be bred, to fight for entertainment and many other sadistic ways. While I knew this was going to be a reoccurring trope of the book, I still wasn’t prepared for the scenes shown from the MMC’s POV.
I knew this book was going to leave off on a cliffhanger and I had a feeling I would dislike it… and what do you know? I hated the cliffhanger! I understand that this is a duet and this sets up the next book, but the MMC just pisses me off. He was so one-sided the whole way through the book and then just throws it out the window at the last few chapters. I was rooting for him up until the end with their encounter, and I don’t want to anymore. Did he not question anything?
I struggled rating this book. The book’s writing should get 5 out of 5 stars; it was beautifully crafted. My own personal rating on how much I enjoyed the book would be a 3.65 out of 5 stars. Some parts just hit me wrong, especially the forced pregnancy and breastfeeding parts. I can usually deal with some forced pregnancy books, if done tastefully, but the slavery took it a bit too dark for me. While I understand the premise of why it’s a part of the world, I don’t enjoy reading about it in such exquisite detail. Again though, the rest of the book was written so exquisitely that I forgot about some of the darkness until light was shined on it again. I think I’m just going to average my rating and go with that.
Would I reread this book? Only to remember it before reading the duet. It was too dark in the slave category for my tastes. Do I regret reading it? HELL NO! This was written so beautifully that I HAVE to read the next book. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a while!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2025
Honestly? Not what I expected from a book I read for free via an IG ad.
The world is complex, interesting and unique. I think there are some creative choices I never would have anticipated and it was genuinely enjoyable reading about them for the most part.
The species and lore were incredibly unique which was fun to read about, and I also enjoyed the little history bits at the top of the chapters.
I loved Arden, I felt like she was a deeply flawed, arrogant and scared individual and even Lyrick felt like a very conflicted, at odds with his society and being propagandized into this culture he feels separated from was interesting to read (even if I felt he was a touch whiny..). Frustrating side characters, which is always helpful to move the plot along (and a good thing, makes them feel more fleshed out).
I really wish they had more of that back and forth before she reached majority, because immediately going into that scene was a little random and honestly outside of feeling oddly timed to the rest of the slow burn, it didn’t feel dark or cnc really at all. All the actual assault was clearly rallied against by Lyrick and there’s even a line about how he can tell she wants this because of their bond. Or whatever. There’s horror to it for sure and I like the way it’s detailed but it’s a TV-14 SCYFY gore. Theatrical, maybe a little corn-syrupy.
Now… we are going to take a moment to discuss the absolute unseriousness of the plot. Two slightly different species are at odds because one of them is an obligate carnivore of the other, and has culturally wiped the others out through generations of stalking, hunting, raping, drugging, impregnating, eating, murdering, skinning for parts (in that order). I felt like I was watching Mad God. AND they’re all ugly underneath. Really wild to think about, interesting in a way that makes me think the author doesn’t know that specifically white people have been (for generations) stalking, hunting, raping, drugging, impregnating, eating, and skinning for parts other humans for an unfortunate amount of time (see: the usage of egyptian mummies by victorian nobility and slaveholders in america who ate their slaves. not discussing the taking of hair, and teeth for cosmetic reasons, or the ingestion of ground corpses as an aphrodisiac). I felt the discussion in the back regarding human ethics of eating beef or.. the murder of marine mammals to be ….. interesting to say the least. As someone with a degree in a similar field (and in history) I see where the author is coming from but I’m not sure … it was worth it to try and make that specific analogy.
Regardless, it was well written and entertaining. No real smut but I liked their dynamic mostly. Probably will not pick up the sequel.
The world is complex, interesting and unique. I think there are some creative choices I never would have anticipated and it was genuinely enjoyable reading about them for the most part.
The species and lore were incredibly unique which was fun to read about, and I also enjoyed the little history bits at the top of the chapters.
I loved Arden, I felt like she was a deeply flawed, arrogant and scared individual and even Lyrick felt like a very conflicted, at odds with his society and being propagandized into this culture he feels separated from was interesting to read (even if I felt he was a touch whiny..). Frustrating side characters, which is always helpful to move the plot along (and a good thing, makes them feel more fleshed out).
I really wish they had more of that back and forth before she reached majority, because immediately going into that scene was a little random and honestly outside of feeling oddly timed to the rest of the slow burn, it didn’t feel dark or cnc really at all. All the actual assault was clearly rallied against by Lyrick and there’s even a line about how he can tell she wants this because of their bond. Or whatever. There’s horror to it for sure and I like the way it’s detailed but it’s a TV-14 SCYFY gore. Theatrical, maybe a little corn-syrupy.
Now… we are going to take a moment to discuss the absolute unseriousness of the plot. Two slightly different species are at odds because one of them is an obligate carnivore of the other, and has culturally wiped the others out through generations of stalking, hunting, raping, drugging, impregnating, eating, murdering, skinning for parts (in that order). I felt like I was watching Mad God. AND they’re all ugly underneath. Really wild to think about, interesting in a way that makes me think the author doesn’t know that specifically white people have been (for generations) stalking, hunting, raping, drugging, impregnating, eating, and skinning for parts other humans for an unfortunate amount of time (see: the usage of egyptian mummies by victorian nobility and slaveholders in america who ate their slaves. not discussing the taking of hair, and teeth for cosmetic reasons, or the ingestion of ground corpses as an aphrodisiac). I felt the discussion in the back regarding human ethics of eating beef or.. the murder of marine mammals to be ….. interesting to say the least. As someone with a degree in a similar field (and in history) I see where the author is coming from but I’m not sure … it was worth it to try and make that specific analogy.
Regardless, it was well written and entertaining. No real smut but I liked their dynamic mostly. Probably will not pick up the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2025
Where to begin? You're instantly put into Arden or donned as Blues shoes and met with catastrophic events early on. Young and defenseless, Arden has one goal - survive with her little sister. But as fate has it, she's caught before she can truly escape the reason behind her world crashing down in flames. Marked by a monster - one she's painfully tried to get rid of and ignore. Arden is far behind, not reaching Age of Majority and accepting she'll never reach it, she hones her skills and finds a home despite it feeling like a cage - but she has her sister to worry about so she endures. She becomes a weapon that is constantly underestimated but never falters. As protection of her own continues to bloom, severing her tie to the Lyrick and ending the reign of the Elgrew, Blue is thrust into a plan to bring the entire estate down from the ground up leaving nothing but destruction - retribution for all they've put her through, what Lyrick has and is doing, simply a puppet of his own bloods hands.
As Arden and Lyrick are pulled by the string of the mark that has remained hidden and unspoken of - they find it harder and harder to separate prey vs. predator. Lyrick is no longer just craving her taste - but her; and Arden finds herself stuck in the middle. Lore is shed to light but it couldn't be could it? They discover quickly they can do more than be marked - they can speak and enter each other's minds and that only brings more questions than answers.
Arden is thrust into the lion's den with malicious misguidance from those who were supposed to be on her team - struggling through what lies ahead, she forges on despite the pain, the newness and the fog that clouds her brain, all while Lyrick is stepping into a role he didn't want, a path set before him that he can't step from when all he wants to do is run but as much as he wants to abandon the way of life he despises so much - duty is more important and takes control.
Explosions of unexpected turns and events lead you wondering and trying to guess their next move. Leaving the reader in a state of shock and awe, it can only get crazier from here.
This book is unlike any other and the author is not only well versed in her world but spoke passionately afterwards about the necessity and logic behind human instinct and animal rights and how she tied the topics into her story, weaving an intricate and detailed story unlike any other giving the dark and fantasy a new twist while maintaining a carefully curated world you've never experienced before.
Thank you for allowing me to read this for you Loren, I'm curious to see how this plays out!
As Arden and Lyrick are pulled by the string of the mark that has remained hidden and unspoken of - they find it harder and harder to separate prey vs. predator. Lyrick is no longer just craving her taste - but her; and Arden finds herself stuck in the middle. Lore is shed to light but it couldn't be could it? They discover quickly they can do more than be marked - they can speak and enter each other's minds and that only brings more questions than answers.
Arden is thrust into the lion's den with malicious misguidance from those who were supposed to be on her team - struggling through what lies ahead, she forges on despite the pain, the newness and the fog that clouds her brain, all while Lyrick is stepping into a role he didn't want, a path set before him that he can't step from when all he wants to do is run but as much as he wants to abandon the way of life he despises so much - duty is more important and takes control.
Explosions of unexpected turns and events lead you wondering and trying to guess their next move. Leaving the reader in a state of shock and awe, it can only get crazier from here.
This book is unlike any other and the author is not only well versed in her world but spoke passionately afterwards about the necessity and logic behind human instinct and animal rights and how she tied the topics into her story, weaving an intricate and detailed story unlike any other giving the dark and fantasy a new twist while maintaining a carefully curated world you've never experienced before.
Thank you for allowing me to read this for you Loren, I'm curious to see how this plays out!
August 30, 2025
The Dyslexic Reviewer - Spoil Free Reviews
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: Multiple POV, 1st person
Gene: Dark Romantasy
Triggers: Cannibalism, Slavery, Dehumanization, Forced breeding and breastfeeding,Open Door Sex, & plenty of others!
Expected Publishing Date: 09/05/2025
What I loved about this book:
❤️ World Building - The world building in this book is incredible! It is rich and descriptive, you actually get two whole different worlds in this book, that of the societies of the prey, and the society of the predator. Both have hierarchies, family bonds, love & comradery. While the two societies have a lot in common, there is way too much of a difference between them. These differences are often horrific and make up the dynamic of the predator/prey situation. I highly suggest you read the afterwords where the author describes her logic on this system. I found that part extremely interesting as the author has a background in biology.
❤️ The Characters - Arden was exceptional! She is our MFC and I found her relatable. She is on her own from a young age, as well as being responsible for her younger sister and she will do ANYTHING for her sister. She is strong, determined, stubborn & thinks she knows best. Lyrick had a depth to him that you don’t think about when considering a “villian”. He was born into a world that eats & breeds elves, to the Elgrew they are nothing but chattel. He struggles with this ideology while still wanting to treat the chattel more humanly. There is a profundity to these characters that you don’t often see in books.
❤️ The Story - The story was deeper and heavier than I was expecting. It wasn’t just about the cannibalism or the forced breeding, the story behind all had much more discernment than that. I’m going to leave this section a little lacking because I don’t want to spoil anything about the story.
Overall: This book was fantastic! I stayed up until 2:30am last night just to finish it! I HIGHLY suggest you go preorder this book now!
🐍Mudsnake Fact - Inspired by the Mudsnakes in the story:
The Mud snake (Farancia abacura) is a nonvenomous, semiaquatic snake native to the southeastern United States. This snake spends most of its time in the water but hibernates in cavities in soil or old tree stumps.
🥰 Favorite Quote “I don’t need their help, and I don’t need his permission. I can do this on my own, just like everything else”
I got this book free from @lorenhuxleybooks my honest review.
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
POV: Multiple POV, 1st person
Gene: Dark Romantasy
Triggers: Cannibalism, Slavery, Dehumanization, Forced breeding and breastfeeding,Open Door Sex, & plenty of others!
Expected Publishing Date: 09/05/2025
What I loved about this book:
❤️ World Building - The world building in this book is incredible! It is rich and descriptive, you actually get two whole different worlds in this book, that of the societies of the prey, and the society of the predator. Both have hierarchies, family bonds, love & comradery. While the two societies have a lot in common, there is way too much of a difference between them. These differences are often horrific and make up the dynamic of the predator/prey situation. I highly suggest you read the afterwords where the author describes her logic on this system. I found that part extremely interesting as the author has a background in biology.
❤️ The Characters - Arden was exceptional! She is our MFC and I found her relatable. She is on her own from a young age, as well as being responsible for her younger sister and she will do ANYTHING for her sister. She is strong, determined, stubborn & thinks she knows best. Lyrick had a depth to him that you don’t think about when considering a “villian”. He was born into a world that eats & breeds elves, to the Elgrew they are nothing but chattel. He struggles with this ideology while still wanting to treat the chattel more humanly. There is a profundity to these characters that you don’t often see in books.
❤️ The Story - The story was deeper and heavier than I was expecting. It wasn’t just about the cannibalism or the forced breeding, the story behind all had much more discernment than that. I’m going to leave this section a little lacking because I don’t want to spoil anything about the story.
Overall: This book was fantastic! I stayed up until 2:30am last night just to finish it! I HIGHLY suggest you go preorder this book now!
🐍Mudsnake Fact - Inspired by the Mudsnakes in the story:
The Mud snake (Farancia abacura) is a nonvenomous, semiaquatic snake native to the southeastern United States. This snake spends most of its time in the water but hibernates in cavities in soil or old tree stumps.
🥰 Favorite Quote “I don’t need their help, and I don’t need his permission. I can do this on my own, just like everything else”
I got this book free from @lorenhuxleybooks my honest review.
September 11, 2025
Updated to 4.5 stars
From the first chapter, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary dark fantasy. Loren drops you into a vicious world where survival is a constant battle, and the line between prey and predator is razor-thin. Elves, stripped of freedom, are forced into hiding to avoid being captured as food, slaves, or breeders. On the other side, the Elgrew — grotesque and terrifying in their hunger — have constructed a society that is as organized as it is horrifying. Their caste system, traditions, and twisted sense of loyalty make them feel disturbingly real.⭐
What struck me most was the contrast: while Elves splinter into tribes and betray each other for scraps of safety, the Elgrew, for all their brutality, rally fiercely around their own. That inversion unsettled me in the best way. The added chapter lore snippets were brilliant — concise, intriguing, and layered adding to the background of the story through journal entries and snippets from history books from each side.🗡️
The characters elevated everything. Arden, the blue-skinned outcast, isn’t your typical heroine. She’s young, stubborn, and rough-edged, but her ferocity comes from one driving force: keeping her sister alive. She refuses to bend, no matter how impossible her circumstances. Lyrick, on the other hand, is a walking contradiction — a product of a monstrous culture, yet burdened by conscience. Watching him wrestle with the expectations of his bloodline while being drawn to the very prey he’s meant to consume gave his perspective so much weight. Their connection is twisted, tense, and fascinating — the kind of morally grey romance I crave.😭
The pacing was solid throughout, but the last section was where the book truly ignited. Betrayals, revelations, and an escalation in both the political stakes and Arden/Lyrick’s relationship had me glued to the pages. And that ending? A brutal cliffhanger that sets book two up for pure chaos.😳
This story is brutal, layered, and refreshingly original. It’s not just shock-value gore or empty darkness — it digs into instinct, survival, and the cost of defying the roles you’re born into. Loren’s afterword, tying her worldbuilding back to biology and animal behaviour- It honestly had me lying awake after it thinking about everything she said ( also had me debating becoming a vegetarian, something I've struggled with for years if I'm honest) I really love when a book affects me that way.
If you’re looking for dark romantasy with teeth — literally and figuratively 😂 — this is one you don’t want to miss.
Thanks to Books Sirens & the Author for this ARC
From the first chapter, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary dark fantasy. Loren drops you into a vicious world where survival is a constant battle, and the line between prey and predator is razor-thin. Elves, stripped of freedom, are forced into hiding to avoid being captured as food, slaves, or breeders. On the other side, the Elgrew — grotesque and terrifying in their hunger — have constructed a society that is as organized as it is horrifying. Their caste system, traditions, and twisted sense of loyalty make them feel disturbingly real.⭐
What struck me most was the contrast: while Elves splinter into tribes and betray each other for scraps of safety, the Elgrew, for all their brutality, rally fiercely around their own. That inversion unsettled me in the best way. The added chapter lore snippets were brilliant — concise, intriguing, and layered adding to the background of the story through journal entries and snippets from history books from each side.🗡️
The characters elevated everything. Arden, the blue-skinned outcast, isn’t your typical heroine. She’s young, stubborn, and rough-edged, but her ferocity comes from one driving force: keeping her sister alive. She refuses to bend, no matter how impossible her circumstances. Lyrick, on the other hand, is a walking contradiction — a product of a monstrous culture, yet burdened by conscience. Watching him wrestle with the expectations of his bloodline while being drawn to the very prey he’s meant to consume gave his perspective so much weight. Their connection is twisted, tense, and fascinating — the kind of morally grey romance I crave.😭
The pacing was solid throughout, but the last section was where the book truly ignited. Betrayals, revelations, and an escalation in both the political stakes and Arden/Lyrick’s relationship had me glued to the pages. And that ending? A brutal cliffhanger that sets book two up for pure chaos.😳
This story is brutal, layered, and refreshingly original. It’s not just shock-value gore or empty darkness — it digs into instinct, survival, and the cost of defying the roles you’re born into. Loren’s afterword, tying her worldbuilding back to biology and animal behaviour- It honestly had me lying awake after it thinking about everything she said ( also had me debating becoming a vegetarian, something I've struggled with for years if I'm honest) I really love when a book affects me that way.
If you’re looking for dark romantasy with teeth — literally and figuratively 😂 — this is one you don’t want to miss.
Thanks to Books Sirens & the Author for this ARC
August 23, 2025
A dark story with beautiful prose and storytelling. Huxley has a gift for crafting immersive fantasy worlds and characters with an immediate voice. While this content is darker than my usual read, the story was captivating and brilliantly constructed. Dark romance girlies who view TW's as a menu and are up for nearly anything, this is your read. More than once, I clutched my imaginary pearls as the book completely sucked me in.
The FMC Arden is bloodthirsty, badass, and brutal, and I loved every second of it. She is a complex, unique character and I loved seeing a woman who wasn't afraid to be a villain to accomplish her goals. Arden doesn't shy away from terrible deeds, making her incredibly compelling. Navigating a world that's made her vicious through and through, I loved to see her tenderness and protectiveness with her sister, yet fully supported and even rooted for her darkest actions. A fun addition was the telepathic bond the two characters share and how it comes into play in tangible and unique ways. Even though the characters don't physically interact for a portion of the story, the bond constantly connects them, and sometimes in hilarious ways.
The MMC Lyrick has great depth and there were so many great nuances to him. His struggle against the practices of his people and how he wanted to be good, even as his father and people and friends resisted his attempts and attempted to pull him into life with them at every turn. And then, the plot twist came and I watched in horror (pun intended for this grimdark horror fantasy) as he made decisions with permanent consequences. I couldn't put the book down when the two characters finally clashed as their world set their conflicting belief systems and values against one another.
There is no HEA in this book, and based on where this book ended, the HEA is going to be hard-earned. There is a spicy scene, but it's not until the end, and it's not at all what you are going to expect.
Please, please, please read those trigger warnings. They're there for a reason.
This is a voluntary ARC review, and I will absolutely be coming back for the next book in this series because I have to know what happens next.
The FMC Arden is bloodthirsty, badass, and brutal, and I loved every second of it. She is a complex, unique character and I loved seeing a woman who wasn't afraid to be a villain to accomplish her goals. Arden doesn't shy away from terrible deeds, making her incredibly compelling. Navigating a world that's made her vicious through and through, I loved to see her tenderness and protectiveness with her sister, yet fully supported and even rooted for her darkest actions. A fun addition was the telepathic bond the two characters share and how it comes into play in tangible and unique ways. Even though the characters don't physically interact for a portion of the story, the bond constantly connects them, and sometimes in hilarious ways.
The MMC Lyrick has great depth and there were so many great nuances to him. His struggle against the practices of his people and how he wanted to be good, even as his father and people and friends resisted his attempts and attempted to pull him into life with them at every turn. And then, the plot twist came and I watched in horror (pun intended for this grimdark horror fantasy) as he made decisions with permanent consequences. I couldn't put the book down when the two characters finally clashed as their world set their conflicting belief systems and values against one another.
There is no HEA in this book, and based on where this book ended, the HEA is going to be hard-earned. There is a spicy scene, but it's not until the end, and it's not at all what you are going to expect.
Please, please, please read those trigger warnings. They're there for a reason.
This is a voluntary ARC review, and I will absolutely be coming back for the next book in this series because I have to know what happens next.
September 5, 2025
*I received an ARC, but all opinions in this review are strictly my own*
They Call Me Blue is dark, gritty, complex, and emotionally charged. A story of two species in a predator and prey scenario, the Elgrew and Elves. We have POVs from both species and we get to see the different cultures and how they are constantly at odds and why the hatred between the two is present. The trigger warnings are not to be ignored in this one as there are very disturbing details written out on the page on the treatment of the captive elves.
Arden: an ostracized elf from birth due to the color of her skin who only wishes to survive with her younger sister. Despises the Elgrew and ends up joining a militia squad as that is the only option to be accepted into a tribe. For most of her POV she was in survival mode so we don’t get to see too many facets of her character. I did wish we could have seen softer sides of her somewhere in this arc as even when she was with her sister, Arden still felt very guarded and holding back. I’m hopeful that a sequel can show more personality from her as this is my biggest complaint since her opposite feels much more fleshed out.
Lyrick: an Elgrew who feels like the black sheep of his species as he is feeling conflicted with his species treatment of elves. Lyrick was 100 percent the star in the book. He has so many layers to his character and I looked forward to his POV the most. I loved reading about his internal conflicts and struggles in wanting to fit in with his species, his morals conflicting on his responsibilities and obligations to please his father all while being disgusted at what his species is capable of. We see him constantly go back and forth in his head between what he deems right and wrong and how no scenario is truly black and white.
The story itself was interesting, but you will spend the first 250 or so pages getting pelted at with complex world building and establishing characters. The plot doesn’t move too much at all for the first half the book. The second half is much more fast paced and is like a snowball going downhill. This is a very solid first book in a series and I’m excited to see where this journey takes us next.
They Call Me Blue is dark, gritty, complex, and emotionally charged. A story of two species in a predator and prey scenario, the Elgrew and Elves. We have POVs from both species and we get to see the different cultures and how they are constantly at odds and why the hatred between the two is present. The trigger warnings are not to be ignored in this one as there are very disturbing details written out on the page on the treatment of the captive elves.
Arden: an ostracized elf from birth due to the color of her skin who only wishes to survive with her younger sister. Despises the Elgrew and ends up joining a militia squad as that is the only option to be accepted into a tribe. For most of her POV she was in survival mode so we don’t get to see too many facets of her character. I did wish we could have seen softer sides of her somewhere in this arc as even when she was with her sister, Arden still felt very guarded and holding back. I’m hopeful that a sequel can show more personality from her as this is my biggest complaint since her opposite feels much more fleshed out.
Lyrick: an Elgrew who feels like the black sheep of his species as he is feeling conflicted with his species treatment of elves. Lyrick was 100 percent the star in the book. He has so many layers to his character and I looked forward to his POV the most. I loved reading about his internal conflicts and struggles in wanting to fit in with his species, his morals conflicting on his responsibilities and obligations to please his father all while being disgusted at what his species is capable of. We see him constantly go back and forth in his head between what he deems right and wrong and how no scenario is truly black and white.
The story itself was interesting, but you will spend the first 250 or so pages getting pelted at with complex world building and establishing characters. The plot doesn’t move too much at all for the first half the book. The second half is much more fast paced and is like a snowball going downhill. This is a very solid first book in a series and I’m excited to see where this journey takes us next.
December 15, 2025
Interesting concept but lacking in execution and worldbuilding.
Sort of like the morlocks and eloi from HG Wells The Time Machine by way of the Star Trek Enteprise episode "Faces" and that one episode of Farscape.
Of course that is somewhat of a simplification but the themes are there.
Maybe I am a bit too harsh in my verdict on this book but my rating system takes in account many factors. Is all of this book bad it starts strong enough by the female protagonist rscuing her young sister from the Elgrew who has just murdered their parents and several of their tribe. The book then goes into
The book has a lof dragging sections which could have benefited from being cut.
I would caution anyone going into this expecting a romance to not expect that. (But do expect a lot of gore and gross behavior) A mind bond is formed between the elf Arden and the Elgrew . He is only a relatively more kind Elgrew in comparision to his fellow Elgrew. Its ok if you kill and eat elves as long as you hunt them yourself the ethical way and not keep them as cattel.
The author migh be taking a stance on something here but I cant put my finger on it...
The author tried making a world that was both primitive and hi-tech which felt incongrous to me. I would like to say that while not all women in this book were victims the female elves certainly were. I just find it hard to believe that even if they recieved training to be docile that none of them managed to learn the Elgrewian language independently.
Also this has a pet peeve of mine. The Elgrew females have a somewhat equal role to the males in their society but they are all infertile. Their species have perfected the art of plastic surgery and the ceasarean but no one is looking into this??
Also the Elgrew guy often mentions his siblings but we never see any of them.
So in conclusion and with my aforementioned statement of how I arrived at my grading of this book.
Its not that this book is too dark or too gory. (Though it is very)
I just never felt fascinated by it. It might just be that I was expecting a very different book in which the mmc Elgrew was hunting Arden more proactively. The book does end on the promise of that but sorry this just wasnt for me.
Written on mobile first draft
Sort of like the morlocks and eloi from HG Wells The Time Machine by way of the Star Trek Enteprise episode "Faces" and that one episode of Farscape.
Of course that is somewhat of a simplification but the themes are there.
Maybe I am a bit too harsh in my verdict on this book but my rating system takes in account many factors. Is all of this book bad it starts strong enough by the female protagonist rscuing her young sister from the Elgrew who has just murdered their parents and several of their tribe. The book then goes into
The book has a lof dragging sections which could have benefited from being cut.
I would caution anyone going into this expecting a romance to not expect that. (But do expect a lot of gore and gross behavior) A mind bond is formed between the elf Arden and the Elgrew . He is only a relatively more kind Elgrew in comparision to his fellow Elgrew. Its ok if you kill and eat elves as long as you hunt them yourself the ethical way and not keep them as cattel.
The author migh be taking a stance on something here but I cant put my finger on it...
The author tried making a world that was both primitive and hi-tech which felt incongrous to me. I would like to say that while not all women in this book were victims the female elves certainly were. I just find it hard to believe that even if they recieved training to be docile that none of them managed to learn the Elgrewian language independently.
Also this has a pet peeve of mine. The Elgrew females have a somewhat equal role to the males in their society but they are all infertile. Their species have perfected the art of plastic surgery and the ceasarean but no one is looking into this??
Also the Elgrew guy often mentions his siblings but we never see any of them.
So in conclusion and with my aforementioned statement of how I arrived at my grading of this book.
Its not that this book is too dark or too gory. (Though it is very)
I just never felt fascinated by it. It might just be that I was expecting a very different book in which the mmc Elgrew was hunting Arden more proactively. The book does end on the promise of that but sorry this just wasnt for me.
Written on mobile first draft
August 28, 2025
Be advised that I was given an ARC copy to read and review. Thank you Loren for giving me the opportunity to receieve an ARC!
Before I give my review, please know these are the major trigger warnings of the book for the following:
Acts of Terr0r!sm
Cann!bal!sm
Sl@very
NONCON (between main characters)
Mention of and acts of SA
Dr*g Use (Forced & Voluntary)
Guerrilla warfare
Child/Infant D3ath
Animal D3ath
Dehumanization
Su!c!dal ideation
T0rture
R@c!sm
To see the full list of trigger and content warnings please see Loren Huxley's website!
My review:
So I've read a few dark romnantasy books in my life but this one intrigued me. Ive never encountered a story that included elves, fae AND cann!bal!sm.
I will admit cann!bal!sm is not my thing but this story made it work. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and now im second guessing myself on what other books Ive missed out. Im glad that Loren's story was the first to do this for me cause I was INVESTED. I was able to finish this book in one day.
Immediately the story is dark. You quickly learn that the elves are being hunted by a species called Elgrew. They are being hunted to be eaten and enslaved. From there the story gets complex (IN A GOOD WAY)
You go back and forth on the perspectives of Arden who is an Elf (a badass stabby FMC) and Lyrick who is an Elgrew (an obsessed morally grey LI) and this was great way to learn about both sides of the political intrigue and "the everyday life" between species. Lord have mercy, let's just say I was agaped, shook, and taking walks lol
I also appreciated the small tidbits of history, quotes, and letters/journal entries before the chapters began. Gave a small foreshadowing of what's to come and to better learn the world building of the book.
Overall Loren wrote a one of a kind story. I cant wait for book 2 to come out. Need to know what happens to my girl Arden 😭
Before I give my review, please know these are the major trigger warnings of the book for the following:
Acts of Terr0r!sm
Cann!bal!sm
Sl@very
NONCON (between main characters)
Mention of and acts of SA
Dr*g Use (Forced & Voluntary)
Guerrilla warfare
Child/Infant D3ath
Animal D3ath
Dehumanization
Su!c!dal ideation
T0rture
R@c!sm
To see the full list of trigger and content warnings please see Loren Huxley's website!
My review:
So I've read a few dark romnantasy books in my life but this one intrigued me. Ive never encountered a story that included elves, fae AND cann!bal!sm.
I will admit cann!bal!sm is not my thing but this story made it work. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and now im second guessing myself on what other books Ive missed out. Im glad that Loren's story was the first to do this for me cause I was INVESTED. I was able to finish this book in one day.
Immediately the story is dark. You quickly learn that the elves are being hunted by a species called Elgrew. They are being hunted to be eaten and enslaved. From there the story gets complex (IN A GOOD WAY)
You go back and forth on the perspectives of Arden who is an Elf (a badass stabby FMC) and Lyrick who is an Elgrew (an obsessed morally grey LI) and this was great way to learn about both sides of the political intrigue and "the everyday life" between species. Lord have mercy, let's just say I was agaped, shook, and taking walks lol
I also appreciated the small tidbits of history, quotes, and letters/journal entries before the chapters began. Gave a small foreshadowing of what's to come and to better learn the world building of the book.
Overall Loren wrote a one of a kind story. I cant wait for book 2 to come out. Need to know what happens to my girl Arden 😭
September 6, 2025
*ARC REVIEW*
I really enjoyed this book. The world that Huxley created was so detailed and immersive. The imagery was mesmerizing and vivid. I was equally horrified and fascinated with the crazy society that I was being submerged into and found myself wanting to learn more about the beings on this messed up planet. I am totally invested in seeing how this series develops.
They Call Me Blue starts with a trigger warning list the length of my arm.
Which of course as one does, I took as a challenge.
Read the list y’all. Seriously. This book is not for everyone. But if you’re a fan of dark fantasy, horror, and monster romance, then this book may be for you.
Yes this is a dark romantasy but I would say it’s mostly a dark fantasy/horror with explicit content. There isn't really much romance here. At least not between our MC’s as you might hope if you’re picking up the book for the romantic plot.
I found the world flushed out, the society complex and the characters flawed. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. I found myself on the edge of my seat, facial expressions completely NOT under control, and the scribbles in my margins full of "WTF!" and "OMG!". Each chapter starts with a brief clipping of some sort of letter, historical text, or journal entry from this world that set the tone for the chapter. Providing additional context for what you were about to witness. I absolutely loved this touch from the author. Here my margins were filled with "oh snap! its about to get crazy" or "hmm i wonder how this will be applied".
I landed on this quote from Arden. I felt it pretty solidly encompassed who her character is thru this book.
“I don’t need their help, and I don’t need his permission. I can do this on my own, just like everything else.”
**********
I really enjoyed this book. The world that Huxley created was so detailed and immersive. The imagery was mesmerizing and vivid. I was equally horrified and fascinated with the crazy society that I was being submerged into and found myself wanting to learn more about the beings on this messed up planet. I am totally invested in seeing how this series develops.
They Call Me Blue starts with a trigger warning list the length of my arm.
Which of course as one does, I took as a challenge.
Read the list y’all. Seriously. This book is not for everyone. But if you’re a fan of dark fantasy, horror, and monster romance, then this book may be for you.
Yes this is a dark romantasy but I would say it’s mostly a dark fantasy/horror with explicit content. There isn't really much romance here. At least not between our MC’s as you might hope if you’re picking up the book for the romantic plot.
I found the world flushed out, the society complex and the characters flawed. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. I found myself on the edge of my seat, facial expressions completely NOT under control, and the scribbles in my margins full of "WTF!" and "OMG!". Each chapter starts with a brief clipping of some sort of letter, historical text, or journal entry from this world that set the tone for the chapter. Providing additional context for what you were about to witness. I absolutely loved this touch from the author. Here my margins were filled with "oh snap! its about to get crazy" or "hmm i wonder how this will be applied".
I landed on this quote from Arden. I felt it pretty solidly encompassed who her character is thru this book.
“I don’t need their help, and I don’t need his permission. I can do this on my own, just like everything else.”
**********
September 3, 2025
I was an ARC reader for this book!
I went into it only reading the trigger warnings, and I was pleasantly surprised with this story.
This book has such a unique perspective for a story that it had me hooked instantly!
Huxley creates a world with species and lore I've never heard over, and it was fascinating. I tried to Google Elgrew to get a better vision, but alas, this is the first of its kind.
It gives me avatar vibes but a darker story, I assume. (I've never seen Avatar, so take that with a grain of salt).
I would love to see drawings of the characters and world scenes as it is so colorful and different.
Arden and Lyrick are such an interesting set of characters, but I came to love both for their intelligence and morality balances.
The few things I had issues with were keeping up with the world building. There is a lot of lore to learn about, so sometimes I get lost or confused. And towards the end, it does feel a bit rushed and not cohesive. The character Lyrick has such conflicted feelings about Arden. I don't truly understand where his head is at in the end. Would like a little more explanation for his actions at the end in the next book.
One thing I am left curious about is the nature of mixing cannibalism and breeding the elves. Its very interesting to mix both, I feel like other than Lyrick, most Elgrew dont seem to have the dilemma of fucking their food lol. I know they need elves to breed, but I figured this story would be more of a meat market than anything else before reading past the 1st chapter.
Overall, it was a great story, and I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers and dark romance readers. This book is for you, and I can't wait for a second book to see what happens next!
I went into it only reading the trigger warnings, and I was pleasantly surprised with this story.
This book has such a unique perspective for a story that it had me hooked instantly!
Huxley creates a world with species and lore I've never heard over, and it was fascinating. I tried to Google Elgrew to get a better vision, but alas, this is the first of its kind.
It gives me avatar vibes but a darker story, I assume. (I've never seen Avatar, so take that with a grain of salt).
I would love to see drawings of the characters and world scenes as it is so colorful and different.
Arden and Lyrick are such an interesting set of characters, but I came to love both for their intelligence and morality balances.
The few things I had issues with were keeping up with the world building. There is a lot of lore to learn about, so sometimes I get lost or confused. And towards the end, it does feel a bit rushed and not cohesive. The character Lyrick has such conflicted feelings about Arden. I don't truly understand where his head is at in the end. Would like a little more explanation for his actions at the end in the next book.
One thing I am left curious about is the nature of mixing cannibalism and breeding the elves. Its very interesting to mix both, I feel like other than Lyrick, most Elgrew dont seem to have the dilemma of fucking their food lol. I know they need elves to breed, but I figured this story would be more of a meat market than anything else before reading past the 1st chapter.
Overall, it was a great story, and I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers and dark romance readers. This book is for you, and I can't wait for a second book to see what happens next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5⭐️)
PLEASE make sure to read through the trigger warnings! As Loren states in the Author’s Note, vegetarians may have a difficult time stomaching this read, and the graphic content may not be for the faint of heart.
Intense. Horrific. Addictive. This book left me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and practically biting my nails. I never thought that grimdark horror and high fantasy could coexist so seamlessly until I started They Call Me Blue. I can only imagine how the series will escalate moving into the next book.
Yes, there is a slow burn, dark romance brewing at simmer, but that’s not what held my attention throughout this read. The world building was detailed, immersive, and brilliantly written. The historical excerpts provided at the beginning of each chapter both addressed past events and foreshadowed a glimpse of what was to come.
In all honestly, I thought I was going to despise the Elgrew, and to an extent I do. However, Lyrick’s POV and what he experiences gave deeper insight to the species, especially those closest to him. He is a complex character wrought with inner turmoil, struggling with his moral compass in regard to the Elves while being pressured to give in to his baser instincts and conform to society’s barbaric ideology.
While I do like Arden and my heart ached for her in the first few chapters, I just don’t see the same depth of character or development. Outside of her need to survive and keep her sister safe, her personality gives me “angsty teenager” vibes, angry at the world and what she can’t control.
Thank you for the ARC! This was my first opportunity to partake in an ARC review, and I couldn’t be more grateful or more excited to continue the trilogy! 🖤
PLEASE make sure to read through the trigger warnings! As Loren states in the Author’s Note, vegetarians may have a difficult time stomaching this read, and the graphic content may not be for the faint of heart.
Intense. Horrific. Addictive. This book left me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath and practically biting my nails. I never thought that grimdark horror and high fantasy could coexist so seamlessly until I started They Call Me Blue. I can only imagine how the series will escalate moving into the next book.
Yes, there is a slow burn, dark romance brewing at simmer, but that’s not what held my attention throughout this read. The world building was detailed, immersive, and brilliantly written. The historical excerpts provided at the beginning of each chapter both addressed past events and foreshadowed a glimpse of what was to come.
In all honestly, I thought I was going to despise the Elgrew, and to an extent I do. However, Lyrick’s POV and what he experiences gave deeper insight to the species, especially those closest to him. He is a complex character wrought with inner turmoil, struggling with his moral compass in regard to the Elves while being pressured to give in to his baser instincts and conform to society’s barbaric ideology.
While I do like Arden and my heart ached for her in the first few chapters, I just don’t see the same depth of character or development. Outside of her need to survive and keep her sister safe, her personality gives me “angsty teenager” vibes, angry at the world and what she can’t control.
Thank you for the ARC! This was my first opportunity to partake in an ARC review, and I couldn’t be more grateful or more excited to continue the trilogy! 🖤
August 24, 2025
Phenomenal and completely unexpected.
Going in I thought I knew what to expect. From the list of trigger warning and synopsis I thought I knew where this story was going to take me.
But I couldn’t have been more wrong and more ecstatic in my surprise.
Not only was this beautifully written and gripping. But the depth and complexity of the characters and the world I was pulled into was stunning.
The conflict and relationship between the predatory Elgrew and the prey Elves is complex and multifaceted. Making you question how we would react or continue if the animals we raise for food were as intelligent as us and able to communicate. As the authors says herself in her insightful afterword, to a cow, pig or turkey we are surely the villains.
Lyrick, the Elgrew MC, is certainly sympathetic to the mistreatment and cruel acts performed against the elves. But still seeing them very much as animals. Wishing instead to follow his baser instinct to hunt and kill and devour worthy prey in the wilderness.
The counterpoint then of Arden, the FMC, who suffers immense loss and betrayal early on due to being hunted relentlessly. Who is perceived as small and weak due to her stature but moulds herself over the course of years into a skilled, hardened and brutal badass.
The romance is a slow burn with the majority of the story finding them apart from each but linked irrevocably.
The build up to that ending and then again at the last minute going completely the opposite way than I expected it to all had me on the edge of my seat.
I am gutted this isn’t even out yet and only an ARC because it means I am going to have that much longer to wait for the next instalment 😭
Going in I thought I knew what to expect. From the list of trigger warning and synopsis I thought I knew where this story was going to take me.
But I couldn’t have been more wrong and more ecstatic in my surprise.
Not only was this beautifully written and gripping. But the depth and complexity of the characters and the world I was pulled into was stunning.
The conflict and relationship between the predatory Elgrew and the prey Elves is complex and multifaceted. Making you question how we would react or continue if the animals we raise for food were as intelligent as us and able to communicate. As the authors says herself in her insightful afterword, to a cow, pig or turkey we are surely the villains.
Lyrick, the Elgrew MC, is certainly sympathetic to the mistreatment and cruel acts performed against the elves. But still seeing them very much as animals. Wishing instead to follow his baser instinct to hunt and kill and devour worthy prey in the wilderness.
The counterpoint then of Arden, the FMC, who suffers immense loss and betrayal early on due to being hunted relentlessly. Who is perceived as small and weak due to her stature but moulds herself over the course of years into a skilled, hardened and brutal badass.
The romance is a slow burn with the majority of the story finding them apart from each but linked irrevocably.
The build up to that ending and then again at the last minute going completely the opposite way than I expected it to all had me on the edge of my seat.
I am gutted this isn’t even out yet and only an ARC because it means I am going to have that much longer to wait for the next instalment 😭
September 5, 2025
This is the first book by Loren Huxley I've read it was good. They Call Me Blue is marketed as a grimdark horror set in a fantasy world. Would I say it was horror? No. I love horror and this wasn't that. Was it a bit darker yes but not horror more Dark Romance with a sprinkle of edgier subjects. I still loved the book but if you are looking for something that will have you looking over your shoulder or have you questioning what you just read this wouldn't be the book. That aside I give the book a solid 4 stars. The spice was a 1 at best.
Lyric the whole book had me falling in love with him excited he was going to get away from his father and make a change only to have him truly fumble at the end and turn into the villain was not it for me. We have beef now and I need this corrected in that second book. Through the whole book Lyric talks about wanting to not be like others and in the end i feel like he becomes the worse one of them all. Then to have all the people Arden thought she could trust betray her is a slap in the face to my poor girl. All she ever wanted was to free her friends and family even though they weren't good to her she still had the sweetest heart and in the end people still claim she was the bad guy is pretty messed up. She is doing everything for them and I feel like it will never be good enough in their eyes. They are the real villains and you cant change my mind. Meanwhile we got people working behind the scenes pretending to be good whole time they have Arden's little sister using her because they are mad at her parents because they saw how everything that was happening and left. These people held a grudge and now because of it Arden and her little sister are being punished.
Lyric the whole book had me falling in love with him excited he was going to get away from his father and make a change only to have him truly fumble at the end and turn into the villain was not it for me. We have beef now and I need this corrected in that second book. Through the whole book Lyric talks about wanting to not be like others and in the end i feel like he becomes the worse one of them all. Then to have all the people Arden thought she could trust betray her is a slap in the face to my poor girl. All she ever wanted was to free her friends and family even though they weren't good to her she still had the sweetest heart and in the end people still claim she was the bad guy is pretty messed up. She is doing everything for them and I feel like it will never be good enough in their eyes. They are the real villains and you cant change my mind. Meanwhile we got people working behind the scenes pretending to be good whole time they have Arden's little sister using her because they are mad at her parents because they saw how everything that was happening and left. These people held a grudge and now because of it Arden and her little sister are being punished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
They Call Me Blue follows Arden, known as Blue, the last of a lost Elvish race. After losing her parents and taking on the responsibility of protecting her sister, Blue is forced into a world where survival and sacrifice intertwine. As a child, she’s captured by Lyrrick, a hunter of elves and member of a mutated wood nymph race called the Elgrew. In marking her, Lyrrick unknowingly forges a permanent bond between them—one that allows them to feel, hear, and even sense one another across great distances.
As Blue grows, she crosses paths with a resistance determined to overthrow the Elgrew. She finally gets her chance to strike back, but in doing so, she destroys the very people Lyrrick loves most, setting him on a path of vengeance and shifting the story into a tense, emotional collision of fate, loyalty, and revenge.
What stood out to me most were the unique magical elements woven into the story. Huxley introduces ideas and systems I haven’t seen before in fantasy, which kept me intrigued. However, I did feel the extensive trigger warning list was heavier than necessary( but as a side note I really don’t have triggers), and the pacing took a while to build—the action and intensity didn’t really spark until around 80% of the book. Once it did, though, the story picked up with real weight and impact.
Overall, I’d rate this 3.5–4/5 stars. A creative, fresh take on fantasy magic with an emotional core, though I would’ve loved to see the tension and adrenaline kick in a little earlier.
As Blue grows, she crosses paths with a resistance determined to overthrow the Elgrew. She finally gets her chance to strike back, but in doing so, she destroys the very people Lyrrick loves most, setting him on a path of vengeance and shifting the story into a tense, emotional collision of fate, loyalty, and revenge.
What stood out to me most were the unique magical elements woven into the story. Huxley introduces ideas and systems I haven’t seen before in fantasy, which kept me intrigued. However, I did feel the extensive trigger warning list was heavier than necessary( but as a side note I really don’t have triggers), and the pacing took a while to build—the action and intensity didn’t really spark until around 80% of the book. Once it did, though, the story picked up with real weight and impact.
Overall, I’d rate this 3.5–4/5 stars. A creative, fresh take on fantasy magic with an emotional core, though I would’ve loved to see the tension and adrenaline kick in a little earlier.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
This story drew me into this world where elves are an endangered species being hunted by a race called the Elgrew. The Elgrew use them as a food source and also need them for their race to survive (the Elgrew females are infertile, so the males must impregnate the female elves). At the beginning of our story we meet Blue and her sister as an attack on her village is taking place. It’s a confusing and scary scene which orphans Blue and her sister. In the midst of escaping Blue ends up being marked by Lyrick, the Hunters’ leader, but is let go.
We don’t know it at the time but they will meet again and it will be epic when they do. As the story goes, we see Lyrick’s inner turmoil over how his people treat the Elves and we see Blue’s increasing radicalization to fight in the rebellion to overthrow the Elgrew leader.
Something really big happens at the end of the book which will change the future of these characters’ lives… but we’ll need to wait until book 2 to find out how.
Also, the author delves into some of the philosophical points of the story in the note just after, which may have you rethinking some views about the story.
This was a real story (despite it not being humans) and the struggles of both Lyrick and Blue were approachable and had me emotionally invested. I definitely recommend this story. It’s got a bit of an enemies to lovers (?) vibe where you wonder if it will be a Romeo/Juliette type of relationship or a true enemies to enemies situation. I guess we’ll see more in the next book…
We don’t know it at the time but they will meet again and it will be epic when they do. As the story goes, we see Lyrick’s inner turmoil over how his people treat the Elves and we see Blue’s increasing radicalization to fight in the rebellion to overthrow the Elgrew leader.
Something really big happens at the end of the book which will change the future of these characters’ lives… but we’ll need to wait until book 2 to find out how.
Also, the author delves into some of the philosophical points of the story in the note just after, which may have you rethinking some views about the story.
This was a real story (despite it not being humans) and the struggles of both Lyrick and Blue were approachable and had me emotionally invested. I definitely recommend this story. It’s got a bit of an enemies to lovers (?) vibe where you wonder if it will be a Romeo/Juliette type of relationship or a true enemies to enemies situation. I guess we’ll see more in the next book…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
Thank you for the ARC!
I LOVED this. It’s so original and brilliantly written. The first half was a little slow going for me (hence four stars instead of five), but I flew through the second half. Be prepared for some dark themes, and some beautiful world-building.
The story focuses on two primary narratives: Arden, an elf with rare blue skin whose parents are killed, leading to her being shunned and joining the resistance to protect her sister; and Lyrick, the son of the ruler of the elgrew, a brutalistic hybrid race who enslave, breed with, and eat the elves. Lyrick bites and thus “claims” Arden early in the book and then lets her go, a traitorous act, but which means they are connected through the bite mark.
I expected a lot more interaction between the two protagonists, but what you actually get is a really effective side by side of their individual stories, with the occasional down-the-bond communication between the two which gives us a glimpse into the internal conflict which has grown between them.
There is very little spice content, so don’t go into this thinking that it’s going to be your usual romantasy enemies to lovers trope. While there is a tiny bit of sexual tension and a couple of pretty spicy scenes towards the end, the two characters end the book hating each other as much, IF NOT MORE, than they did previously, but with a bit more “but my horny crotch betrays me” feeling. And I LOVE THAT. I hope that there is a second book because it’s begging for a sequel filled with more internal conflict and confused yearning.
I LOVED this. It’s so original and brilliantly written. The first half was a little slow going for me (hence four stars instead of five), but I flew through the second half. Be prepared for some dark themes, and some beautiful world-building.
The story focuses on two primary narratives: Arden, an elf with rare blue skin whose parents are killed, leading to her being shunned and joining the resistance to protect her sister; and Lyrick, the son of the ruler of the elgrew, a brutalistic hybrid race who enslave, breed with, and eat the elves. Lyrick bites and thus “claims” Arden early in the book and then lets her go, a traitorous act, but which means they are connected through the bite mark.
I expected a lot more interaction between the two protagonists, but what you actually get is a really effective side by side of their individual stories, with the occasional down-the-bond communication between the two which gives us a glimpse into the internal conflict which has grown between them.
There is very little spice content, so don’t go into this thinking that it’s going to be your usual romantasy enemies to lovers trope. While there is a tiny bit of sexual tension and a couple of pretty spicy scenes towards the end, the two characters end the book hating each other as much, IF NOT MORE, than they did previously, but with a bit more “but my horny crotch betrays me” feeling. And I LOVE THAT. I hope that there is a second book because it’s begging for a sequel filled with more internal conflict and confused yearning.
September 5, 2025
This book is what you get when you throw Avatar, Silence of the lambs, and a little pinch of Aliens into a blender, the result is a unique and strange fantasy. I can honestly say I have never read anything like this. I am honestly finding it hard to articulate my feelings on the book because they are kind of all over the place. At first I was a bit put off by the main concept there is an element that is a little disturbing, but the two MCs are really what intrigued me and kept me going. This true enemies to not really lovers was good, it kept me going needed to see how these two waring species where going to bridge the gap so to speak. I ended up really enjoying it. However i will say that the ending is not my favorite. I am the type of girl like likes concrete evidence that their will be a second or if not that the book wraps up and leave that finished feeling, this one i am stuck in a limbo. I don’t know if there will be another i really hope there is because i need to continue following what happens to Lyrick and Arden, but if there is not going to be another forewarning this book leave you on a Rebecca yarros type ending…meaning you turn the page and ask yourself, “thats it?” Anyways if you are looks for something super unique and totally different from all the other fantasy reads out right now, then i definitely recommend you picking this one up. I am going to hope for a book two! I received this as an ARC read so these are just my personal thoughts and feeling after experiencing “They Call Me Blue”
September 7, 2025
**I am voluntarily leaving this review, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Loren Huxley and BookSirens for the ARC copy** -- readers do not go into this book without reading content trigger warnings & troupes.
💙Dark Romance
🩵Fantasy Horror
💙Cannibalism
🩵Rape/Profanity
💙Suicide/Abuse
🩵Enemies to Lovers
"They say blue elves taste the sweetest. It’s time I find out."
⭐��⭐ 3.5 Stars
'They Call Me Blue' was a new genre for me, I went into this not knowing what really to expect. I love dark romance, and fantasy which was what caught my attention with this. But also, I am in my "Monster-Era" and keep stumbling across all kinds of magical, mythical and terrifying creatures and LOVING the vibes. I really enjoyed the world-building it catapults you into the grotesque details, each chapter offer you something different with a continuous flow.
There are two main character POV's - Arden (Blue) who is the only elf of her kind and is always running from being hunted, and then Lyrick - son of the Grand Overseer and must do his duty. I am not used to reading horror so that at times caught me off guard, but this is truly a SLOW-BURN romance and keeps readers gripped. I am on the fence to recommend this book, only because I am not a seasoned reader of this genre. The writing is great and creates a powerful landscape exploring notions of economy of slavery and trafficking, and the city’s politics. This book is a planned trilogy and I am looking forward to continuing this series.
💙Dark Romance
🩵Fantasy Horror
💙Cannibalism
🩵Rape/Profanity
💙Suicide/Abuse
🩵Enemies to Lovers
"They say blue elves taste the sweetest. It’s time I find out."
⭐��⭐ 3.5 Stars
'They Call Me Blue' was a new genre for me, I went into this not knowing what really to expect. I love dark romance, and fantasy which was what caught my attention with this. But also, I am in my "Monster-Era" and keep stumbling across all kinds of magical, mythical and terrifying creatures and LOVING the vibes. I really enjoyed the world-building it catapults you into the grotesque details, each chapter offer you something different with a continuous flow.
There are two main character POV's - Arden (Blue) who is the only elf of her kind and is always running from being hunted, and then Lyrick - son of the Grand Overseer and must do his duty. I am not used to reading horror so that at times caught me off guard, but this is truly a SLOW-BURN romance and keeps readers gripped. I am on the fence to recommend this book, only because I am not a seasoned reader of this genre. The writing is great and creates a powerful landscape exploring notions of economy of slavery and trafficking, and the city’s politics. This book is a planned trilogy and I am looking forward to continuing this series.
September 5, 2025
It's been a while since I've read grimdark and boy, oh boy did Loren Huxley check all the marks. It's macabre and brutal with twisted personalities and agendas.
To get it out of the way, this is DARK. There's a lot of triggers in here that the author did list out in the front of the book and it's quite long. The most predominant ones are cannibalism, slavery, gore, forced breeding and body modifications. So please, please, please know what you're getting into before actually reading. They're extremely graphic and a huge part of the story.
They Call Me Blue follows the survival of Arden and morality of Lyrick in two completely different societies. Both have familial responsibilities on their shoulders along with trying to do what they define as "right." It's the best type of gray (literally).
Every moment of the story is chaotic due to the shifting political authorities and navigating the complex principles of the "greater good." The multiple perspectives show the similarities in the two societies, while highlighting the dynamics of prey versus predator.
This really has been one of my favorite reads of the year and I can't wait to continue the story.
I received an ARC of this book from Loren Huxley, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
To get it out of the way, this is DARK. There's a lot of triggers in here that the author did list out in the front of the book and it's quite long. The most predominant ones are cannibalism, slavery, gore, forced breeding and body modifications. So please, please, please know what you're getting into before actually reading. They're extremely graphic and a huge part of the story.
They Call Me Blue follows the survival of Arden and morality of Lyrick in two completely different societies. Both have familial responsibilities on their shoulders along with trying to do what they define as "right." It's the best type of gray (literally).
Every moment of the story is chaotic due to the shifting political authorities and navigating the complex principles of the "greater good." The multiple perspectives show the similarities in the two societies, while highlighting the dynamics of prey versus predator.
This really has been one of my favorite reads of the year and I can't wait to continue the story.
I received an ARC of this book from Loren Huxley, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 16, 2025
Every trigger warning is real—They Call Me Blue is danger, desire, and survival comingled.
Arri “Blue” is a survivor first and everything else second. Her loyalty to her sister is the only pure thing in a world full of blood feuds, captivity, and power games. The romance here definitely isn’t sweet. It’s dangerous, magnetic, and tangled in coercion, manipulation, and blurred lines of consent. If you like your relationships morally complicated and your characters a little (or a lot) questionable, this book leans hard into that.
Trigger warnings are not window dressing: expect graphic violence, explicit sexual content, abuse (physical and psychological), captivity, and repeated threats to a child. It’s dark, and it stays dark.
The worldbuilding is textured without bogging down the pace. Arri’s voice is sharp, defiant, and consistent even in the worst situations. The political undercurrent adds weight to every personal decision.
For fans of morally gray worlds, high-stakes romance, and characters who bleed for what they love, They Call Me Blue delivers exactly what its trigger list promises. Just make sure you read the trigger warnings so you know what you’re walking into!
Arri “Blue” is a survivor first and everything else second. Her loyalty to her sister is the only pure thing in a world full of blood feuds, captivity, and power games. The romance here definitely isn’t sweet. It’s dangerous, magnetic, and tangled in coercion, manipulation, and blurred lines of consent. If you like your relationships morally complicated and your characters a little (or a lot) questionable, this book leans hard into that.
Trigger warnings are not window dressing: expect graphic violence, explicit sexual content, abuse (physical and psychological), captivity, and repeated threats to a child. It’s dark, and it stays dark.
The worldbuilding is textured without bogging down the pace. Arri’s voice is sharp, defiant, and consistent even in the worst situations. The political undercurrent adds weight to every personal decision.
For fans of morally gray worlds, high-stakes romance, and characters who bleed for what they love, They Call Me Blue delivers exactly what its trigger list promises. Just make sure you read the trigger warnings so you know what you’re walking into!
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