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We Were Men Once
What happens when the person you’d burn the world for forgets you entirely?
When Xaraan sacrifices himself to destroy an archdevil he once made a pact with, his soul is cast into Hell. But his husband, Kyarlin, refuses to let death be the end. He descends into Hell to reclaim the soul of the man he loves, only to find Xaraan transformed into Suneelon, a devil bound to Astaroth’s will and stripped of all memory.
As Kyarlin navigates a war-torn underworld rife with political manipulation, infernal monstrosities, and damned souls, he must decide whether to save who Xaraan was—or love who Suneelon has become.
In an unforgiving hellscape where love is weakness, souls are currency, memory is fractured, and obsession is power, Kyarlin’s devotion may be either salvation or damnation.
We Were Men Once is a dark romantic fantasy inspired by Dante's Inferno and Orpheus and Eurydice (with some Baldur's Gate 3 vibes sprinkled in).
When Xaraan sacrifices himself to destroy an archdevil he once made a pact with, his soul is cast into Hell. But his husband, Kyarlin, refuses to let death be the end. He descends into Hell to reclaim the soul of the man he loves, only to find Xaraan transformed into Suneelon, a devil bound to Astaroth’s will and stripped of all memory.
As Kyarlin navigates a war-torn underworld rife with political manipulation, infernal monstrosities, and damned souls, he must decide whether to save who Xaraan was—or love who Suneelon has become.
In an unforgiving hellscape where love is weakness, souls are currency, memory is fractured, and obsession is power, Kyarlin’s devotion may be either salvation or damnation.
We Were Men Once is a dark romantic fantasy inspired by Dante's Inferno and Orpheus and Eurydice (with some Baldur's Gate 3 vibes sprinkled in).
410 pages, ebook
First published September 30, 2025
3 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Overall this story did not grip me the way I wish it would have and I don’t know if it is because I did not read the first book but in the description for this book it did say this could be read as a standalone. I do feel like I would have enjoyed this story more if I liked D&D. It is very much set up in that style.
I am not going to lie the first half of the book did have me wanting to DNF it. It was very slow pace and I did not connect with the characters as much as I had hoped I would. The love story was there and I really thought it would redeem this book but the main character was just very unlikable.
The writing wasn’t awful, I think that is what saved me from DNFing this book, I just did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Absolutely love the cover design though!
Overall this story did not grip me the way I wish it would have and I don’t know if it is because I did not read the first book but in the description for this book it did say this could be read as a standalone. I do feel like I would have enjoyed this story more if I liked D&D. It is very much set up in that style.
I am not going to lie the first half of the book did have me wanting to DNF it. It was very slow pace and I did not connect with the characters as much as I had hoped I would. The love story was there and I really thought it would redeem this book but the main character was just very unlikable.
The writing wasn’t awful, I think that is what saved me from DNFing this book, I just did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Absolutely love the cover design though!
July 25, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After losing his husband Xaraan a year ago (who sacrificed himself after making a deal with the archdevil Astaroth), dark-elf cleric Kyarlin tirelessly offers sacrifices to his deity in hopes of bringing Xaraan back. When his ring begins to pulse, Kyarlin suspects that Xaraan’s soul still lingers in Hell. He rallies his companions, and together they embark on a dangerous journey through the underworld to save Xaraan before his soul is lost forever.
Edit Jul. 25: The author/publisher added in the blurb this is a sequel that can be read as a standalone and that correction makes all the difference to me. Thank you so much for doing so. I really think I ought to give this book another chance when it's released.
First off, let me explain why I started this book enraged: it is actually a sequel to the author’s first book, Malediction’s Embrace. Oh, you didn’t know? I wouldn’t blame you, because this crucial detail isn’t shared on Goodreads, StoryGraph, NetGalley, the author’s website, the blurb, or even through the cover designs. In fact, it’s not mentioned inside the book itself except on a page tucked at the very end, after the Glossary:
And doesn't that make the intentions pretty clear? 🙃 This sort of dishonorable marketing drives me up the wall. Publishers and authors spring these on readers hoping to make you feel like you need to buy the earlier book to understand what’s going on or risk missing out/get FOMO. It’s actually the second time this week alone I’ve received an undisclosed sequel as an ARC. That’s an unacceptable practice to me.
Rant aside, let’s talk about the book itself. It is definitely competently written. Even though I hadn’t read the first installment(duh!), I did appreciate that the author took time to summarize key events for new readers. These explanations have the subtlety of an elephant in a porcelain shop and kept pulling me out of the narrative, but they were very accessible and succeeded in making this book somewhat of a standalone: I didn’t feel completely lost without reading that first book. The best compliment I can give this book is that the overall writing quality is solid and it is definitely atmospheric.
The book stands out most when it comes to aesthetics and body horror, occasionally giving creepy cosmic-horror vibes. Unfortunately, the pacing and structure made it tough for me to stay engaged. The plot feels like a video game checklist: get a goal, talk to this NPC, complete the sidequest, unlock access to another area, have a battle, get new macguffin, talk to new NPC... I never connected with the characters or the action, and the dense, sprawling narrative often left me forgetting how the cast had even arrived at their current predicament.
In the end, I can’t quite put my finger on what didn’t work for me, since there were plenty of things the book got right. Maybe my annoyance with the undisclosed sequel status colored my whole experience. YMMV on this one. The plot was interesting (in another life, I would have inhaled this), the finale was emotional, and I’m guessing the series would be a hit with fans of DnD-style adventures and quest-driven narratives. I'm just not sure why it didn't land for me.
After losing his husband Xaraan a year ago (who sacrificed himself after making a deal with the archdevil Astaroth), dark-elf cleric Kyarlin tirelessly offers sacrifices to his deity in hopes of bringing Xaraan back. When his ring begins to pulse, Kyarlin suspects that Xaraan’s soul still lingers in Hell. He rallies his companions, and together they embark on a dangerous journey through the underworld to save Xaraan before his soul is lost forever.
Edit Jul. 25: The author/publisher added in the blurb this is a sequel that can be read as a standalone and that correction makes all the difference to me. Thank you so much for doing so. I really think I ought to give this book another chance when it's released.
We Were Men Once is the sequel to Malediction’s Embrace. If you’re interested in knowing more about the origins of Xaraan, Kyarlin, and Lynn’s stories, please purchase it on Amazon at this link.
And doesn't that make the intentions pretty clear? 🙃 This sort of dishonorable marketing drives me up the wall. Publishers and authors spring these on readers hoping to make you feel like you need to buy the earlier book to understand what’s going on or risk missing out/get FOMO. It’s actually the second time this week alone I’ve received an undisclosed sequel as an ARC. That’s an unacceptable practice to me.
Rant aside, let’s talk about the book itself. It is definitely competently written. Even though I hadn’t read the first installment
The book stands out most when it comes to aesthetics and body horror, occasionally giving creepy cosmic-horror vibes. Unfortunately, the pacing and structure made it tough for me to stay engaged. The plot feels like a video game checklist: get a goal, talk to this NPC, complete the sidequest, unlock access to another area, have a battle, get new macguffin, talk to new NPC... I never connected with the characters or the action, and the dense, sprawling narrative often left me forgetting how the cast had even arrived at their current predicament.
In the end, I can’t quite put my finger on what didn’t work for me, since there were plenty of things the book got right. Maybe my annoyance with the undisclosed sequel status colored my whole experience. YMMV on this one. The plot was interesting (in another life, I would have inhaled this), the finale was emotional, and I’m guessing the series would be a hit with fans of DnD-style adventures and quest-driven narratives. I'm just not sure why it didn't land for me.
August 24, 2025
C. Morris is a new author for me. But when I saw the art they commissioned for their upcoming novel, I just had to read it.
And "We were men once" did not disappoint. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It has Baldur's Gate 3 durge (dark urge) and Astarion romance vibes mixed with dark hellish grimdark fantasy. I can also see Dante's inferno inspiration and it felt like I walked into a gothic renaissance painting of hell. But the love/romance is so good. The prose is beautiful and poetic in a dark way I very much appreciated. And the ending is bittersweet!
Turns out this was book 2, but I enjoyed it despite not having read the first book. And I'm definitely getting the art book too!
And "We were men once" did not disappoint. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It has Baldur's Gate 3 durge (dark urge) and Astarion romance vibes mixed with dark hellish grimdark fantasy. I can also see Dante's inferno inspiration and it felt like I walked into a gothic renaissance painting of hell. But the love/romance is so good. The prose is beautiful and poetic in a dark way I very much appreciated. And the ending is bittersweet!
Turns out this was book 2, but I enjoyed it despite not having read the first book. And I'm definitely getting the art book too!
September 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Overall this story did not draw me in the way I wish it would have and I don't know if it is because I did not read the first book or what but it said this book could be read as a standalone. The character art and synopsis was sooo good I wanted to love this so bad. I do feel like I would have enjoyed this story more if I was into D&D and understood d&d more. But my d&d knowledge is very slim. It is very much set up in that style though and I know others would love this!! Its just not for me. :)
Overall this story did not draw me in the way I wish it would have and I don't know if it is because I did not read the first book or what but it said this book could be read as a standalone. The character art and synopsis was sooo good I wanted to love this so bad. I do feel like I would have enjoyed this story more if I was into D&D and understood d&d more. But my d&d knowledge is very slim. It is very much set up in that style though and I know others would love this!! Its just not for me. :)
August 6, 2025
A thoroughly enjoyable tale of friends embarking on a quest to save a loved one. Giving Lord of the rings, but in hell, the characters are well thought out and help strengthen the overall plot. I really enjoy how Morris adds depth to her characters by making their flaws, fears, and love important parts of the book. Strengthening the connection between the reader and the characters. The book was split into different povs around the main cast. I really enjoyed xaraans parts the most. And I'd actually really would love a novella from his perspective going a bit deeper into his story. As a fan of all things ancient Greek & hell related, this book really hit well with me. Inspiration drawn from Eurydice & orpheus, Morris turns her story into its own tragedy. The ending is well done. It provides both a stand-alone resolution and a hint at the series continuing.
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August 30, 20251/✨ DNF for We Were Men Once by Candice Morris
On paper, this book should have been everything I love: horror + DND-inspired fantasy = yes please. And honestly, the vibe pulled me in at first and the writing flows fine. But the further I got (30%), the more it felt like I was missing key information. I couldn’t connect to the characters, and the plot lacked any urgency for me.
Turns out… this is actually book 2. Which explains a lot, because all the essential worldbuilding and character development clearly happened in book 1. And that gap was just too noticeable for me to keep going. Such a shame, because the concept is incredible.
On paper, this book should have been everything I love: horror + DND-inspired fantasy = yes please. And honestly, the vibe pulled me in at first and the writing flows fine. But the further I got (30%), the more it felt like I was missing key information. I couldn’t connect to the characters, and the plot lacked any urgency for me.
Turns out… this is actually book 2. Which explains a lot, because all the essential worldbuilding and character development clearly happened in book 1. And that gap was just too noticeable for me to keep going. Such a shame, because the concept is incredible.
September 21, 2025
I was immediately intrigued by the premise, and ohhh I was loving it at the start! 🥹
But honestly… when I signed up for this, it didn’t say it was a sequel 😅 (though now it mentions it can be read as a standalone). Because of that, I couldn’t fully connect with the characters or story as much as I wanted. The author did try to summarize relevant events from book one, but some parts still left me a bit confused.
Now.. with that out of the way, let’s continue .. The world building? Wow, just WOW 🤯 The details were rich, immersive, and so so well done! chef’s kiss 🤌🏻 And the writing itself? beautiful!!
But characters wise… This was where things were a bit harder for me. The pain, trauma, and toxicity 💔 were so deeply present that I struggled to connect with them (especially Kyarlin) on an emotional level … Oh Boy, the obsession is obsessing 🏃🏻♀️
So, Yes… even though the world building was impressive, I couldn’t quite stay engaged with the storyline the way I hoped.
P.S. May this love never find me (iykyk) 👀🤞🏻
But honestly… when I signed up for this, it didn’t say it was a sequel 😅 (though now it mentions it can be read as a standalone). Because of that, I couldn’t fully connect with the characters or story as much as I wanted. The author did try to summarize relevant events from book one, but some parts still left me a bit confused.
Now.. with that out of the way, let’s continue .. The world building? Wow, just WOW 🤯 The details were rich, immersive, and so so well done! chef’s kiss 🤌🏻 And the writing itself? beautiful!!
But characters wise… This was where things were a bit harder for me. The pain, trauma, and toxicity 💔 were so deeply present that I struggled to connect with them (especially Kyarlin) on an emotional level … Oh Boy, the obsession is obsessing 🏃🏻♀️
So, Yes… even though the world building was impressive, I couldn’t quite stay engaged with the storyline the way I hoped.
P.S. May this love never find me (iykyk) 👀🤞🏻
September 27, 2025
I’m sad that I didn’t love this book. I love and adore the character art but I was genuinely confused through the majority of this, partially because I didn’t know there is a prequel to this???
There’s definitely potential involved in the story but it’s very very lore heavy and not having read the previous book I couldn’t immerse myself in it the way I wanted to.
I wish I connected more with the characters which would have made this a higher star read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this arc. This is my honest opinion.
There’s definitely potential involved in the story but it’s very very lore heavy and not having read the previous book I couldn’t immerse myself in it the way I wanted to.
I wish I connected more with the characters which would have made this a higher star read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this arc. This is my honest opinion.
August 12, 2025
I will preface this by saying I did not realize this was a sequel when I started to read it. I'd rate the first 40% of the book 3 stars and the rest 4 stars.
After sacrificing himself to destroy the archdevil he made a pact with Xaraan finds himself reborn in hell as Suneelon, bound to that same archdevil, Astaroth.
His husband, Kyarlin, cannot accept his death and goes on a mission to bring his soul back from Hell. He, along with Xaraan's sister and a couple other allies devise a plan to not only get Xaraan's soul back but also destroy Astaroth for good.
Even without reading the previous book We Were Men Once did a nice job explaining everything and made the plot easy to follow. The first 40% of the story did drag on a bit. Kyarlin's self-deprecation and self harm did grow a bit old rather quickly.
Things picked up after the group made it into Hell. The author does a wonderful job of being descriptive and giving a real feeling for the surroundings. There was a lot of sneaking and scheming in Hell and it was fun to read. Be warned there is quite a bit of body horror throughout the story.
I especially enjoyed Suneelon's perspective in Hell, preferring his POV to Kyarlin's. This is a story where nothing can stop true love, not even Hell.
This is an adventure, fantasy and romance all rolled into one dark story.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After sacrificing himself to destroy the archdevil he made a pact with Xaraan finds himself reborn in hell as Suneelon, bound to that same archdevil, Astaroth.
His husband, Kyarlin, cannot accept his death and goes on a mission to bring his soul back from Hell. He, along with Xaraan's sister and a couple other allies devise a plan to not only get Xaraan's soul back but also destroy Astaroth for good.
Even without reading the previous book We Were Men Once did a nice job explaining everything and made the plot easy to follow. The first 40% of the story did drag on a bit. Kyarlin's self-deprecation and self harm did grow a bit old rather quickly.
Things picked up after the group made it into Hell. The author does a wonderful job of being descriptive and giving a real feeling for the surroundings. There was a lot of sneaking and scheming in Hell and it was fun to read. Be warned there is quite a bit of body horror throughout the story.
I especially enjoyed Suneelon's perspective in Hell, preferring his POV to Kyarlin's. This is a story where nothing can stop true love, not even Hell.
This is an adventure, fantasy and romance all rolled into one dark story.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2025
I was initially drawn to reading We Were Men Once by the spellbinding cover and the title, both of which are superb. The hook of this story also; so original and I'm a big D&D fan even if I don't play anymore. I Googled the author before reading and decided I needed to read the first book in the series first, because so many people said, whilst stand-alone, it would benefit from knowing the universe. I held off reading this until I'd finished Malediction's Embrace. They're both well-written books and not hard to read, whilst slightly YA at times, I think these fall into both YA and adult high-fantasy/dark-fantasy. Going on to We Were Men Once, I felt more excited because the artwork and concept was slightly less trad-fantasy and that appealed.
I wasn't let-down, the novel doesn't let go until the end. It's very original. Yes I've read stories that are set in hell, utilizing Greek histories and underworlds, but rarely done with finesse. I think what elevates this novel is the author's multi-lingual history & her love of language. As tri-lingual myself I could appreciate this, much like learning linguistics interests me. The author's obvious passion for her genre(s) to include high-fantasy/dark-fantasy as well as the hard-nod to D&D ensures anyone into role-play will find something here.
Xaraan/Suneelon (his reborn name) is an excellent 3-dimentional character we connect with. What I loved was the modern-LGBTQi+ 'twist' of his husband Kyarlin, who is realistically portrayed without too much 'wokeness' but naturalistic (in a fantasy realm of course) in a way I longed for when I read fantasy novels pre-LGBTQi+ in most fiction). Often the clumsy intentionality of such characters, ruins the realism (suspended) and this was handled effortlessly with Kyarlin's inability to accept Zaraan/Suneelon's death being super-moving. Of course this leads to his going on a mission of kinds, to bring Z/S's soul back from Hell. Candice Morris creates some excellent character's to get behind, she's great at all genders/backgrounds, I loved not only the premise but the execution of her story, because so often there is this too aware concept of 'going on a quest' in fantasy, that feels really tired and Candice's characters possess none of that, they are fresh, interesting, involving.
I definitely would not recommend reading We Were Men Once without reading the first book because they're interdependent - perhaps more so than the author was aware, given I've read both now and would really not have garnered as much if I hadn't. It's easy not to see that if you're the writer, but since both books are exceptional, you're adding to the value by reading the first one.
Kyarlin was my favorite character throughout. I think because unlike most fantasy novels where there is a hero and an anti-hero and then some side-characters, I think Kyarlin was a fresh new twist on the love-lost quester, hell bent (literally!) on saving the man he loves. His character is really engrossing, not least set against this hallucination of damned souls. It continually begs you to consider if you'd go that far, and what you would do in this situation and Kyarlin's self-deprecating nature was far more realistic than if he had been a wooden hero. I liked how he was vulnerable, damaged, self-doubting. Again, it's unashamedly unmasking what love really is: Not a perfect, shiny thing but something that can weak the best resolve, break things and hurt.
I'm not huge on horror, but the body-horror in We Were Men isn't awful, it's relevant and specific. The perspectives of Hell are super well described and illustrated in terms of detail and being a bit of a romantic, I think I liked the love-story-turned-on-its-head-in-hell because it avoided being too achingly sentimental, it fed our lust for high-and-dark-fantasy and you grew to really care about the characters, maybe in part because there are multiple-POV throughout.
At times I though of the graphic novel series, Olympus, but there's nothing simpering about this tale, and Candice Morris is deft in her wield and control of this fantasy world. I also love novels that deal with memory, in this case fractured and lost. Again, it applies to so much in our world, so the transition from fantasy to reality, makes this novel more memorable and easier to connect to. Candice did a terrific job in her attention to detail with in-world-language as well as embracing the idea love can be like a life-sentence, without rejecting it. Her character's obsessive qualities are relatable to anyone who has formed that kind of attachment and I loved how these damned souls had us trying to build their fractures back together because we become so invested in their outcomes. I won't spoil the ending but there was nothing done poorly here, this author is well on her way in terms of creating universes we want to spend time in. I highly recommend this and its accompanying prequel & would definitely read more of Candice Morris' work. Perfect for readers who love: High Fantasy / Dark Fantasy / Gothic Elements / Love-thru-Barriers / LGBTQi+ Characters / Alt-Universes / Hell/Mythology / Obsessive-Love / Role-Play / Fantasy-Horror / Grief / Broken-Souls / Hellscape / Damned-Souls / Memory-Loss/Amnesia.
I wasn't let-down, the novel doesn't let go until the end. It's very original. Yes I've read stories that are set in hell, utilizing Greek histories and underworlds, but rarely done with finesse. I think what elevates this novel is the author's multi-lingual history & her love of language. As tri-lingual myself I could appreciate this, much like learning linguistics interests me. The author's obvious passion for her genre(s) to include high-fantasy/dark-fantasy as well as the hard-nod to D&D ensures anyone into role-play will find something here.
Xaraan/Suneelon (his reborn name) is an excellent 3-dimentional character we connect with. What I loved was the modern-LGBTQi+ 'twist' of his husband Kyarlin, who is realistically portrayed without too much 'wokeness' but naturalistic (in a fantasy realm of course) in a way I longed for when I read fantasy novels pre-LGBTQi+ in most fiction). Often the clumsy intentionality of such characters, ruins the realism (suspended) and this was handled effortlessly with Kyarlin's inability to accept Zaraan/Suneelon's death being super-moving. Of course this leads to his going on a mission of kinds, to bring Z/S's soul back from Hell. Candice Morris creates some excellent character's to get behind, she's great at all genders/backgrounds, I loved not only the premise but the execution of her story, because so often there is this too aware concept of 'going on a quest' in fantasy, that feels really tired and Candice's characters possess none of that, they are fresh, interesting, involving.
I definitely would not recommend reading We Were Men Once without reading the first book because they're interdependent - perhaps more so than the author was aware, given I've read both now and would really not have garnered as much if I hadn't. It's easy not to see that if you're the writer, but since both books are exceptional, you're adding to the value by reading the first one.
Kyarlin was my favorite character throughout. I think because unlike most fantasy novels where there is a hero and an anti-hero and then some side-characters, I think Kyarlin was a fresh new twist on the love-lost quester, hell bent (literally!) on saving the man he loves. His character is really engrossing, not least set against this hallucination of damned souls. It continually begs you to consider if you'd go that far, and what you would do in this situation and Kyarlin's self-deprecating nature was far more realistic than if he had been a wooden hero. I liked how he was vulnerable, damaged, self-doubting. Again, it's unashamedly unmasking what love really is: Not a perfect, shiny thing but something that can weak the best resolve, break things and hurt.
I'm not huge on horror, but the body-horror in We Were Men isn't awful, it's relevant and specific. The perspectives of Hell are super well described and illustrated in terms of detail and being a bit of a romantic, I think I liked the love-story-turned-on-its-head-in-hell because it avoided being too achingly sentimental, it fed our lust for high-and-dark-fantasy and you grew to really care about the characters, maybe in part because there are multiple-POV throughout.
At times I though of the graphic novel series, Olympus, but there's nothing simpering about this tale, and Candice Morris is deft in her wield and control of this fantasy world. I also love novels that deal with memory, in this case fractured and lost. Again, it applies to so much in our world, so the transition from fantasy to reality, makes this novel more memorable and easier to connect to. Candice did a terrific job in her attention to detail with in-world-language as well as embracing the idea love can be like a life-sentence, without rejecting it. Her character's obsessive qualities are relatable to anyone who has formed that kind of attachment and I loved how these damned souls had us trying to build their fractures back together because we become so invested in their outcomes. I won't spoil the ending but there was nothing done poorly here, this author is well on her way in terms of creating universes we want to spend time in. I highly recommend this and its accompanying prequel & would definitely read more of Candice Morris' work. Perfect for readers who love: High Fantasy / Dark Fantasy / Gothic Elements / Love-thru-Barriers / LGBTQi+ Characters / Alt-Universes / Hell/Mythology / Obsessive-Love / Role-Play / Fantasy-Horror / Grief / Broken-Souls / Hellscape / Damned-Souls / Memory-Loss/Amnesia.
August 25, 2025
Thanks to The Author's Archive for an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To start, I'm another ARC reader who got into this book without knowing it was a sequel. Unfortunately, I think that caused a good amount of my problems with it. Because there's a narrative style here that refers to previous events and characters in an overly familiar way that wasn't earned: except now, I know that it was because it was in book 1. Now that I've finished the book, it's too late for me to change my feelings about that because that was a lot of effort reading this 400 some odd page book with that style in mind - and I had thought that these past events were meant to be past events, not book 1 events. I also think that this is information that should be provided either in the title, the cover page, Goodreads or at the very least, the offer to the ARC reader
That large road block aside, my journey on this book was a long one. It started strong: a diverse cast of characters, a Dungeons and Dragons-esque world with a clear inciting incident and some fun interactions. In the beginning, I read pretty quickly and I attributed the ease of the read to the trial of reading three other ARCS before it (or trying to, anyway) that were much poorer.
That unfortunately turned out to be true. Because by the time I waded more deeply into it, picking it back up became rather a chore and I had to attribute a few pages of reading a day to make sure I finished on time.
Past the beginning of the book, the plot slows down to a trudging pace. There's too much lore and too many characters introduced without proper pacing so that I could keep them separate and distinct (this might be a me problem). Morris also had an awful habit of describing grief and suffering by every character ad nauseum. The repetitions of how often Kyarlin felt nauseous or angry or in pain felt like what a script looks like after the first round of edits: a touch better than a fanfiction, but still needed some tightening. I lost empathy for the characters because I had to be reminded every damn page (if not three times on ONE) that he was suffering somehow.
I can tell that Morris has potential. There were a lot of really great lines in this novel that felt worth highlighting. She has some great imagery, especially considering this realm of hell that we visit.
Resting his head against a wall, he closed his eyes and folded tears into a prayer.
Up toward a layer of blood, he breached the thin membrane and emerged on the other side, glistening in amniotic rivulets.
A pearlescent devil with white hair stared up at him from the bottom of a black lake, in the same way the glassy eyes of a freshly decapitated head would stare at the moon.
Within him slept a dream, one where they were together again, in a place between desolations.
"You shall address me with that sagging muscle in your mouth."
The love you speak of cannot exist here, for if it did, it means it has strayed too much and has broken.
And I really appreciate But the entirety of the novel felt too long to wade through, too burdened by internalized feelings and descriptions of a plot and world from someone who expected me to follow already, but had not been given the chance. Because of how much work it felt like to finish this, I couldn't say I really liked it. I think with some heavier editing - tightening up of all the internalizations, some clear indication this is a sequel, etc. could make it a better published novel. And maybe a future work of Morris will shine a lot brighter.
To start, I'm another ARC reader who got into this book without knowing it was a sequel. Unfortunately, I think that caused a good amount of my problems with it. Because there's a narrative style here that refers to previous events and characters in an overly familiar way that wasn't earned: except now, I know that it was because it was in book 1. Now that I've finished the book, it's too late for me to change my feelings about that because that was a lot of effort reading this 400 some odd page book with that style in mind - and I had thought that these past events were meant to be past events, not book 1 events. I also think that this is information that should be provided either in the title, the cover page, Goodreads or at the very least, the offer to the ARC reader
That large road block aside, my journey on this book was a long one. It started strong: a diverse cast of characters, a Dungeons and Dragons-esque world with a clear inciting incident and some fun interactions. In the beginning, I read pretty quickly and I attributed the ease of the read to the trial of reading three other ARCS before it (or trying to, anyway) that were much poorer.
That unfortunately turned out to be true. Because by the time I waded more deeply into it, picking it back up became rather a chore and I had to attribute a few pages of reading a day to make sure I finished on time.
Past the beginning of the book, the plot slows down to a trudging pace. There's too much lore and too many characters introduced without proper pacing so that I could keep them separate and distinct (this might be a me problem). Morris also had an awful habit of describing grief and suffering by every character ad nauseum. The repetitions of how often Kyarlin felt nauseous or angry or in pain felt like what a script looks like after the first round of edits: a touch better than a fanfiction, but still needed some tightening. I lost empathy for the characters because I had to be reminded every damn page (if not three times on ONE) that he was suffering somehow.
I can tell that Morris has potential. There were a lot of really great lines in this novel that felt worth highlighting. She has some great imagery, especially considering this realm of hell that we visit.
Resting his head against a wall, he closed his eyes and folded tears into a prayer.
Up toward a layer of blood, he breached the thin membrane and emerged on the other side, glistening in amniotic rivulets.
A pearlescent devil with white hair stared up at him from the bottom of a black lake, in the same way the glassy eyes of a freshly decapitated head would stare at the moon.
Within him slept a dream, one where they were together again, in a place between desolations.
"You shall address me with that sagging muscle in your mouth."
The love you speak of cannot exist here, for if it did, it means it has strayed too much and has broken.
And I really appreciate But the entirety of the novel felt too long to wade through, too burdened by internalized feelings and descriptions of a plot and world from someone who expected me to follow already, but had not been given the chance. Because of how much work it felt like to finish this, I couldn't say I really liked it. I think with some heavier editing - tightening up of all the internalizations, some clear indication this is a sequel, etc. could make it a better published novel. And maybe a future work of Morris will shine a lot brighter.
August 31, 2025
I would like to thank the author for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
NOTE: Before I get into this review, I would like to state that I am aware this book is supposedly meant to be a sequel. However, I contacted the author for clarification and they confirmed that the story could be read as a standalone, and so I will be treating it as such.
We Were Men Once grabbed my attention by its concept. A queer Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, following a party of characters traversing through the various circles of hell to assist one of our protagonists, Kyarlin, to save his lover. The premise itself is intriguing and has so much promise to be a captivating page-turner. Did it succeed in doing so? In my opinion... it almost it.
Firstly, I would like to compliment the writing. The prose is beautifully written and is almost lyrical. It paints the action, character behaviours, emotions, and especially the various locations of hell vividly and as such I felt really connected to the environments. The characters all felt distinct from each other and I really enjoyed their dynamics and banter throughout. I also really liked the idea brought up of Kyarlin's love bordering on obsessive and somewhat toxic. That was not something I was expecting to see and I thought it really added to the story.
Now, I'll get into my critiques. As I stated at the beginning, it is said that this book can be read as a standalone. However, it heavily feels like this was written with the intention of it being a sequel, and with the assumption that the reader had read the first one. There is a lot of missing context. Dialogue has call backs to events we are not aware of, even the plot itself is constantly being affected by (and is happening) because of events that clearly occurred in the first book, but we are given next to no information about these things. The worldbuilding feels very loose as well, with not a lot of details or context given. It feels as though we are expected to know locations, characters, and concepts, but we don't (and have no way of knowing about them unless, I'm guessing, if we read the first book). As a result I constantly felt lost because there is no development or explanation of anything.
The story itself took its time to get going as well. In the first few chapters especially, it felt a lot like the author wasn't entirely sure how to kick-start the plot so characters did things for the sake of triggering the inciting events ("This needs to happen for the plot so I'm doing it"). Despite it's staggered start, however, once the narrative found it's footing it was a delight. If you are willing to get through the first 30%, then the rest of the book is a worthwhile experience.
All in all, I enjoyed what I read. But because of the lack of direction regarding supplying the reader with critical information regarding the world, prior events, and characters, I struggle to give this any more than three stars.
I once again would like to thank the author for giving me an ARC, and I look forward to reading their future work.
NOTE: Before I get into this review, I would like to state that I am aware this book is supposedly meant to be a sequel. However, I contacted the author for clarification and they confirmed that the story could be read as a standalone, and so I will be treating it as such.
We Were Men Once grabbed my attention by its concept. A queer Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, following a party of characters traversing through the various circles of hell to assist one of our protagonists, Kyarlin, to save his lover. The premise itself is intriguing and has so much promise to be a captivating page-turner. Did it succeed in doing so? In my opinion... it almost it.
Firstly, I would like to compliment the writing. The prose is beautifully written and is almost lyrical. It paints the action, character behaviours, emotions, and especially the various locations of hell vividly and as such I felt really connected to the environments. The characters all felt distinct from each other and I really enjoyed their dynamics and banter throughout. I also really liked the idea brought up of Kyarlin's love bordering on obsessive and somewhat toxic. That was not something I was expecting to see and I thought it really added to the story.
Now, I'll get into my critiques. As I stated at the beginning, it is said that this book can be read as a standalone. However, it heavily feels like this was written with the intention of it being a sequel, and with the assumption that the reader had read the first one. There is a lot of missing context. Dialogue has call backs to events we are not aware of, even the plot itself is constantly being affected by (and is happening) because of events that clearly occurred in the first book, but we are given next to no information about these things. The worldbuilding feels very loose as well, with not a lot of details or context given. It feels as though we are expected to know locations, characters, and concepts, but we don't (and have no way of knowing about them unless, I'm guessing, if we read the first book). As a result I constantly felt lost because there is no development or explanation of anything.
The story itself took its time to get going as well. In the first few chapters especially, it felt a lot like the author wasn't entirely sure how to kick-start the plot so characters did things for the sake of triggering the inciting events ("This needs to happen for the plot so I'm doing it"). Despite it's staggered start, however, once the narrative found it's footing it was a delight. If you are willing to get through the first 30%, then the rest of the book is a worthwhile experience.
All in all, I enjoyed what I read. But because of the lack of direction regarding supplying the reader with critical information regarding the world, prior events, and characters, I struggle to give this any more than three stars.
I once again would like to thank the author for giving me an ARC, and I look forward to reading their future work.
October 31, 2025
📚We Were Men Once
✍🏻Candice Morris
Blurb:
What happens when the person you’d burn the world for forgets you entirely?
When Xaraan sacrifices himself to destroy an archdevil he once made a pact with, his soul is cast into Hell. But his husband, Kyarlin, refuses to let death be the end. He descends into Hell to reclaim the soul of the man he loves, only to find Xaraan transformed into Suneelon, a devil bound to Astaroth’s will and stripped of all memory.
As Kyarlin navigates a war-torn underworld rife with political manipulation, infernal monstrosities, and damned souls, he must decide whether to save who Xaraan was—or love who Suneelon has become.
In an unforgiving hellscape where love is weakness, souls are currency, memory is fractured, and obsession is power, Kyarlin’s devotion may be either salvation or damnation.
We Were Men Once is a dark romantic fantasy inspired by Dante's Inferno and Orpheus and Eurydice (with some Baldur's Gate 3 vibes sprinkled in).
My Thoughts::
First this is a sequel, first book is Malediction Erace (We Were Men Once) Book #1. Wish I could have read book #1 before reading book 2. I would have known more about the characters, character development and backstory. The author did summarize relevant events from book one but I was still lost at some parts. This is my first book with D&D in the book, that kinda threw me off. But I continue reading. It's a tale of friends embarking on a quest to save a loved one. Giving Lord of the rings, but in hell, the characters are well thought out and help strengthen the overall plot. I really enjoy how Morris adds depth to her characters by making their flaws, fears, and love important parts of the book. Strengthening the connection between the reader and the characters.
The book was split into different POV's around the main cast. tale of friends embarking on a quest to save a loved one. Giving Lord of the rings, but in hell, the characters are well thought out and help strengthen the overall plot. I really enjoy how Morris adds depth to her characters by making their flaws, fears, and love important parts of the book. Strengthening the connection between the reader and the characters. The book was split into different povs around the main cast. I really enjoyed xaraans parts the most., This book really hit well with me. Inspiration drawn from Eurydice & orpheus, The ending is well done. It provides both a stand-alone resolution and a hint at the series continuing.
Thanks NetGalley, Publishing Company, Author Candice Morris for the complimentary ARC, I am leaving my honest review in appreciation.
Trigger Warnings:
⚠️Grief
⚠️Self Harm
⚠️Blood & Gore
#NetGalley
#WeWereMenOnce
#CandiceMorris
⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Candice Morris
Blurb:
What happens when the person you’d burn the world for forgets you entirely?
When Xaraan sacrifices himself to destroy an archdevil he once made a pact with, his soul is cast into Hell. But his husband, Kyarlin, refuses to let death be the end. He descends into Hell to reclaim the soul of the man he loves, only to find Xaraan transformed into Suneelon, a devil bound to Astaroth’s will and stripped of all memory.
As Kyarlin navigates a war-torn underworld rife with political manipulation, infernal monstrosities, and damned souls, he must decide whether to save who Xaraan was—or love who Suneelon has become.
In an unforgiving hellscape where love is weakness, souls are currency, memory is fractured, and obsession is power, Kyarlin’s devotion may be either salvation or damnation.
We Were Men Once is a dark romantic fantasy inspired by Dante's Inferno and Orpheus and Eurydice (with some Baldur's Gate 3 vibes sprinkled in).
My Thoughts::
First this is a sequel, first book is Malediction Erace (We Were Men Once) Book #1. Wish I could have read book #1 before reading book 2. I would have known more about the characters, character development and backstory. The author did summarize relevant events from book one but I was still lost at some parts. This is my first book with D&D in the book, that kinda threw me off. But I continue reading. It's a tale of friends embarking on a quest to save a loved one. Giving Lord of the rings, but in hell, the characters are well thought out and help strengthen the overall plot. I really enjoy how Morris adds depth to her characters by making their flaws, fears, and love important parts of the book. Strengthening the connection between the reader and the characters.
The book was split into different POV's around the main cast. tale of friends embarking on a quest to save a loved one. Giving Lord of the rings, but in hell, the characters are well thought out and help strengthen the overall plot. I really enjoy how Morris adds depth to her characters by making their flaws, fears, and love important parts of the book. Strengthening the connection between the reader and the characters. The book was split into different povs around the main cast. I really enjoyed xaraans parts the most., This book really hit well with me. Inspiration drawn from Eurydice & orpheus, The ending is well done. It provides both a stand-alone resolution and a hint at the series continuing.
Thanks NetGalley, Publishing Company, Author Candice Morris for the complimentary ARC, I am leaving my honest review in appreciation.
Trigger Warnings:
⚠️Grief
⚠️Self Harm
⚠️Blood & Gore
#NetGalley
#WeWereMenOnce
#CandiceMorris
⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley & Candice for allowing me an ARC in exhange for an honest review!
I have been following Candice's work/progress since book 1, and was excited to see that she was continuing this story through to a sequel that can also work as a standalone. The artwork she's commisioned is gorgeous & the concept/imagery really drew me to this one.
Comparing this book to the 1st, the writing is just as solid, but with deeper/richer world building and characters. While still staying true to the world building of the 1st book, in this one we get a fresh setting and very interesting descriptions. This goes for the characters as well. Everything felt a lot more polished in this book and in turn it was easier to attach to our core group of characters.
I do think emotions/emotional gravity for our characters ran deeper in this novel and were expressed easier than in the 1st book. We got to see more depth to our main 3 characters, and more realistic interactions. With such a tragic backstory, it is hard to fully express all of the emotional weight for everyone involved. I do think Candice does a good job of having all of the characters within the group feel like relatable people, and express their grief individually. I will say, the beginning of this one started off so emotionally strong/charged, and did feel as it if fizzled a little as the story progressed. By this I mean, the richness of the language in the first chapter (grief/agony) settled into less prominent, but still present, emotional reactions by chapter 3. I do think this feeds into the pacing slightly.
Speaking of, the pacing was so-so for me. Some points were really strong, and I was very invested, and then others felt like they were dragging a little. We start off really strong and interesting, and then flip POVs and lose that momentum in my opinion. And each time we flip back POVs, I felt Suneelon's POV was weaker (or maybe more confusing). This lead to that dragging feeling where I wished we'd stuck with a 3rd person Kyarlin POV. However, this novel does not read as a "campain" nearly as much as book 1 did. I did feel like the overall plot structure was less point to point to point and more of a natural progression.
Overall, I enjoyed returning to this world and following our characters through another journey. These books are very much an emotional journey as much as a physical one for these characters, which I love. I can see so much improvement in this one over book 1, and look forward to seeing what book 3 has in store for these characters (you thought you could end it like that huh? 😭)
I have been following Candice's work/progress since book 1, and was excited to see that she was continuing this story through to a sequel that can also work as a standalone. The artwork she's commisioned is gorgeous & the concept/imagery really drew me to this one.
Comparing this book to the 1st, the writing is just as solid, but with deeper/richer world building and characters. While still staying true to the world building of the 1st book, in this one we get a fresh setting and very interesting descriptions. This goes for the characters as well. Everything felt a lot more polished in this book and in turn it was easier to attach to our core group of characters.
I do think emotions/emotional gravity for our characters ran deeper in this novel and were expressed easier than in the 1st book. We got to see more depth to our main 3 characters, and more realistic interactions. With such a tragic backstory, it is hard to fully express all of the emotional weight for everyone involved. I do think Candice does a good job of having all of the characters within the group feel like relatable people, and express their grief individually. I will say, the beginning of this one started off so emotionally strong/charged, and did feel as it if fizzled a little as the story progressed. By this I mean, the richness of the language in the first chapter (grief/agony) settled into less prominent, but still present, emotional reactions by chapter 3. I do think this feeds into the pacing slightly.
Speaking of, the pacing was so-so for me. Some points were really strong, and I was very invested, and then others felt like they were dragging a little. We start off really strong and interesting, and then flip POVs and lose that momentum in my opinion. And each time we flip back POVs, I felt Suneelon's POV was weaker (or maybe more confusing). This lead to that dragging feeling where I wished we'd stuck with a 3rd person Kyarlin POV. However, this novel does not read as a "campain" nearly as much as book 1 did. I did feel like the overall plot structure was less point to point to point and more of a natural progression.
Overall, I enjoyed returning to this world and following our characters through another journey. These books are very much an emotional journey as much as a physical one for these characters, which I love. I can see so much improvement in this one over book 1, and look forward to seeing what book 3 has in store for these characters (you thought you could end it like that huh? 😭)
October 17, 2025
Edit: Just finding out that there is a prequel to this!? This is 100% why it felt so confusing at the beginning.
Actual Rating: 3.75☆
There is a lot to unpack in this dark fantasy. Read the trigger warnings before you dive into this one.
Kyarlin would do anything for his husband, Xaraan, and that includes following him into hell. In life, Xaraan sacrificed himself to defeat a devil, but it was only that devil back to Aornos. When Kyarlin feels a faint heartbeat from Xaraan's ring, he discovers that Xaraan has been transformed into a Duke of Hell and decides to travel to the underworld to bring his husband back before he makes a soul deal.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kyarlin is traveling with a ragtag team: Lynn, Elim, Suzie, and Calirae. Kyarlin is a clergyman. Lynn is a king's guard. Elim is a tavern owner with an imp familiar. Suzie is a bard. Calirae is a druid. There is something to love about each of these characters, but not all of them make it out alive.
The world-building was done wonderfully. I felt fully immersed wherever the crew traveled. The character development was also done very well. You aren't given all of the characters' pasts immediately, but all of my questions were answered as the story progressed.
There is a ton of information, and it was difficult to keep track of everything, especially since I read this one quite slowly due to a busy personal schedule. If you enjoy complex fantasies and have the time to sit down and read a good chunk of this book at a time to fully immerse yourself in the story, I think it would be even more enjoyable.
adult 18+ • anxiety • blood and gore • body horror • character death on page • dark fantasy • depictions of slavery (souls) • deteriorating mental health • devotion romance • dismemberment • epic quest into the underworld • fated soulmates • forbidden love in a dangerous realm • gothic • grief • hallucinations • hellish setting • high fantasy • high stakes heroism • identity change • infernal politics • intrusive thoughts • lost love • love vs duty • memory loss romance • obsession • open door intimacy • panic attacks • redemption • romantasy • self-harm • spiders • supernatural beings • tragic sacrifice • transformation
Actual Rating: 3.75☆
There is a lot to unpack in this dark fantasy. Read the trigger warnings before you dive into this one.
Kyarlin would do anything for his husband, Xaraan, and that includes following him into hell. In life, Xaraan sacrificed himself to defeat a devil, but it was only that devil back to Aornos. When Kyarlin feels a faint heartbeat from Xaraan's ring, he discovers that Xaraan has been transformed into a Duke of Hell and decides to travel to the underworld to bring his husband back before he makes a soul deal.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kyarlin is traveling with a ragtag team: Lynn, Elim, Suzie, and Calirae. Kyarlin is a clergyman. Lynn is a king's guard. Elim is a tavern owner with an imp familiar. Suzie is a bard. Calirae is a druid. There is something to love about each of these characters, but not all of them make it out alive.
The world-building was done wonderfully. I felt fully immersed wherever the crew traveled. The character development was also done very well. You aren't given all of the characters' pasts immediately, but all of my questions were answered as the story progressed.
There is a ton of information, and it was difficult to keep track of everything, especially since I read this one quite slowly due to a busy personal schedule. If you enjoy complex fantasies and have the time to sit down and read a good chunk of this book at a time to fully immerse yourself in the story, I think it would be even more enjoyable.
adult 18+ • anxiety • blood and gore • body horror • character death on page • dark fantasy • depictions of slavery (souls) • deteriorating mental health • devotion romance • dismemberment • epic quest into the underworld • fated soulmates • forbidden love in a dangerous realm • gothic • grief • hallucinations • hellish setting • high fantasy • high stakes heroism • identity change • infernal politics • intrusive thoughts • lost love • love vs duty • memory loss romance • obsession • open door intimacy • panic attacks • redemption • romantasy • self-harm • spiders • supernatural beings • tragic sacrifice • transformation
August 11, 2025
Firstly, let me start by pointing out that this is apparently a sequel to Malediction’s Embrace which was news to me until I got to the very end of the book. I do wish I had known this before I read this ARC because I would’ve totally purchased the first book to get a bit more background regarding the characters and their motivations. I noticed later the author added a note stating that while it is a sequel it can be read as a standalone which does make me feel better.
We Were Men Once was pure fantasy the likes I haven’t read in a while. It felt like a tumultuous affair between Dante’s Inferno, D&D and What Dreams May Come. I found myself captivated by the world building and the writing style. It is very well written and provides enough details for the reader to understand the world early on.
I was immersed in what I thought was a destructive sort of love between the two main characters. It was all tragically romantic but also quite frustrating. The actions of both MMCs were at times just plain silly…infuriatingly silly. Yes, in theory, the story is set up for the reader to understand why the characters make their choices but at times I just wanted to scream at both MMCs to get their heads out of their behinds. I wish there had been more sweet moments.
While I enjoyed the story overall, a blatant downfall was the frequent logistical inadequacies. It could be that I am just an overthinker and yes, this is fantasy, but I felt like there were big parts of the plot that just didn’t belong or make sense. Maybe this could be remedied if I had read the first book in the series but since it is supposed to be read as a standalone, I wish some of the scenes had been fleshed out more. At times the characters do feel confusing, and the pacing tittered back and forth between fast and snail-like. It was discombobulated and just as frustrating as the character’s inability to make good choices.
In summary, it was not a bad book, but it was not what I was hoping it would be. I do appreciate NetGalley for providing me with a virtual copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We Were Men Once was pure fantasy the likes I haven’t read in a while. It felt like a tumultuous affair between Dante’s Inferno, D&D and What Dreams May Come. I found myself captivated by the world building and the writing style. It is very well written and provides enough details for the reader to understand the world early on.
I was immersed in what I thought was a destructive sort of love between the two main characters. It was all tragically romantic but also quite frustrating. The actions of both MMCs were at times just plain silly…infuriatingly silly. Yes, in theory, the story is set up for the reader to understand why the characters make their choices but at times I just wanted to scream at both MMCs to get their heads out of their behinds. I wish there had been more sweet moments.
While I enjoyed the story overall, a blatant downfall was the frequent logistical inadequacies. It could be that I am just an overthinker and yes, this is fantasy, but I felt like there were big parts of the plot that just didn’t belong or make sense. Maybe this could be remedied if I had read the first book in the series but since it is supposed to be read as a standalone, I wish some of the scenes had been fleshed out more. At times the characters do feel confusing, and the pacing tittered back and forth between fast and snail-like. It was discombobulated and just as frustrating as the character’s inability to make good choices.
In summary, it was not a bad book, but it was not what I was hoping it would be. I do appreciate NetGalley for providing me with a virtual copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book was an ARC from the author for an honest review, so please know that I wanted to love this book so BADLY, but it just didn't fully work for me.
I went into it thinking that it solely focused on the relationship, the suffering of separation, the decent of kyarlin into a hellscape that does not have taverns and quests, but pain and horror and darkness and the searing desire to bring back the person you love in a different way than there actually was. I also expected a more classical story telling, so I totally didn't expect so many RPG-ish vibes. I think I probably misunderstood something, so that's on me.
Unfortunately the pacing also felt a little too slow for me in the beginning and there was a lot of info dumping and character introducing, while I was so HUNGRY for pain on a much more visceral level. Actually, I was about done at roughly the half-way mark. And although for a while I felt like I wasn't all that invested anymore, everything was tied together very well in the last chapters. It was a tough march for me to get there, though.
What I really REALLY liked, was the description of Kyarlin’s physical transformation in hell. It’s equal parts dark, beautiful, and haunting, with a lot of fine imaginative details. I also love how the hellscape itself was painted. And from chapter 19 on, which I LOVED, it got a lot better for me overall. Though there was still some party-questing going on, it had more focus on the relationship between the main characters and that really soothed my aching heart.
All in all I have to say that yes, the more campaign-driven, roleplay-style fantasy structure wasn’t quite what I was looking for, but this is very much a case of “right book, wrong reader”. I was just expecting something completely different.
The author’s craft is clear on every page, it is very well written — the prose is clean, the world feels fully realized, and fans of epic quest fantasies with rich lore and found party dynamics will likely have a fantastic time here. So although it didn’t really work for me, I can easily see this becoming a favorite for readers who enjoy this style of storytelling.
This book was an ARC from the author for an honest review, so please know that I wanted to love this book so BADLY, but it just didn't fully work for me.
I went into it thinking that it solely focused on the relationship, the suffering of separation, the decent of kyarlin into a hellscape that does not have taverns and quests, but pain and horror and darkness and the searing desire to bring back the person you love in a different way than there actually was. I also expected a more classical story telling, so I totally didn't expect so many RPG-ish vibes. I think I probably misunderstood something, so that's on me.
Unfortunately the pacing also felt a little too slow for me in the beginning and there was a lot of info dumping and character introducing, while I was so HUNGRY for pain on a much more visceral level. Actually, I was about done at roughly the half-way mark. And although for a while I felt like I wasn't all that invested anymore, everything was tied together very well in the last chapters. It was a tough march for me to get there, though.
What I really REALLY liked, was the description of Kyarlin’s physical transformation in hell. It’s equal parts dark, beautiful, and haunting, with a lot of fine imaginative details. I also love how the hellscape itself was painted. And from chapter 19 on, which I LOVED, it got a lot better for me overall. Though there was still some party-questing going on, it had more focus on the relationship between the main characters and that really soothed my aching heart.
All in all I have to say that yes, the more campaign-driven, roleplay-style fantasy structure wasn’t quite what I was looking for, but this is very much a case of “right book, wrong reader”. I was just expecting something completely different.
The author’s craft is clear on every page, it is very well written — the prose is clean, the world feels fully realized, and fans of epic quest fantasies with rich lore and found party dynamics will likely have a fantastic time here. So although it didn’t really work for me, I can easily see this becoming a favorite for readers who enjoy this style of storytelling.
October 13, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Candice Morris for graciously allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!
I requested to read this book because the queer fantasy take on an Orpheus and Eurydice-like story hooked me immediately, and Morris did not disappoint.
In this story, main character Kyarlin goes on a single-minded odyssey to save his husband Xaraan from hell after Xaraan sacrificed himself to save his loved ones. Once he arrives in hell, he finds Xaraan transformed into a version of himself he can no longer recognize, and has to struggle with saving who he was or loving what he became.
To disclaim, I did not know this was a sequel until I started reading it, and I also did not know it was a DnD universe, but I was quickly hooked by the plot and world building, so I didn't mind this at all.
The prose is graceful and purposeful, every sentence carefully crafted and each word hand-picked. It balances beautifully with a quick-paced, action-packed storyline, which is exactly what I like in a book. The storyline never lags or slows down but does not feel muddy or overwhelming— it's easy to follow, enjoy, with character development scenes and action scenes expertly woven together.
I am only a vague acquaintance of DnD, so I don't know how it works, how lore-accurate the book is or how much of it is creative liberty, but I loved the world and the way that Morris was able to paint it in words, it felt like the work of a true artist.
The characters all shone beautifully, with each character feeling unique and sympathetic. It was amazing to watch a character like Lynn who's archetype would usually be brushed off as rough or cold have so many moments of patience, showing where her heart shone through. Kyarlin was fascinating to watch, especially in the first half as we got to see him slowly descend into his single-minded focus.
One thing I loved especially before we get to many of Xaraan/Suneelon's scenes is how we first learn about Xaraan through the eyes of everyone else but himself. First through the eyes of the people he wronged, then through the eyes of people who loved him, and then finally himself.
I requested to read this book because the queer fantasy take on an Orpheus and Eurydice-like story hooked me immediately, and Morris did not disappoint.
In this story, main character Kyarlin goes on a single-minded odyssey to save his husband Xaraan from hell after Xaraan sacrificed himself to save his loved ones. Once he arrives in hell, he finds Xaraan transformed into a version of himself he can no longer recognize, and has to struggle with saving who he was or loving what he became.
To disclaim, I did not know this was a sequel until I started reading it, and I also did not know it was a DnD universe, but I was quickly hooked by the plot and world building, so I didn't mind this at all.
The prose is graceful and purposeful, every sentence carefully crafted and each word hand-picked. It balances beautifully with a quick-paced, action-packed storyline, which is exactly what I like in a book. The storyline never lags or slows down but does not feel muddy or overwhelming— it's easy to follow, enjoy, with character development scenes and action scenes expertly woven together.
I am only a vague acquaintance of DnD, so I don't know how it works, how lore-accurate the book is or how much of it is creative liberty, but I loved the world and the way that Morris was able to paint it in words, it felt like the work of a true artist.
The characters all shone beautifully, with each character feeling unique and sympathetic. It was amazing to watch a character like Lynn who's archetype would usually be brushed off as rough or cold have so many moments of patience, showing where her heart shone through. Kyarlin was fascinating to watch, especially in the first half as we got to see him slowly descend into his single-minded focus.
One thing I loved especially before we get to many of Xaraan/Suneelon's scenes is how we first learn about Xaraan through the eyes of everyone else but himself. First through the eyes of the people he wronged, then through the eyes of people who loved him, and then finally himself.
August 11, 2025
I received an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
My first thought when I started reading was that this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys playing D&D because the book uses the same magic system. I feel like I had a better grasp on the characters and their archetypes because of my experience playing D&D which other readers might be left out of if they don’t play, but of course that context isn’t necessary. My second impression was that I felt like I was immediately pushed into the world and the characters without introduction. I felt like I was missing context from the world and it wasn’t until I finished the book and saw the author’s note stating that this was a sequel that I realized why I was missing context.
Unfortunately, the blurb on Netgalley did not disclose to me that this was a sequel, so I did not have proper context on the characters or the situation. While the book did go back and clarify some situations from the past, it also thrust the reader into the story already because it assumes you’ve read the first book, which I hadn’t because it wasn’t clearly communicated to me that this wasn’t a standalone or the first book.
My other main gripe with the book is how unlikable the main character is, Kyarlin, and how he is not held accountable for his actions. He stands true to his primary goal and will do anything to get it at the cost of anything else, and there will be times when the other characters will confront him, but then the situation will quickly diffuse without consequence. It was incredibly frustrating to read, especially because he was constantly said to be this “pure, morally good” cleric and then all his actions were him being the most selfish person ever and not at all being pure or moral.
Overall, the writing in the book wasn’t bad, however I disliked Kyarlin so much that it impacted my ability to want to continue reading. I do still think We Were Men Once is a good book for someone who enjoys D&D, the idea of Dante’s Inferno, and Orpheus and Eurydice — or perhaps the idea of utter devotion from a partner.
My first thought when I started reading was that this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys playing D&D because the book uses the same magic system. I feel like I had a better grasp on the characters and their archetypes because of my experience playing D&D which other readers might be left out of if they don’t play, but of course that context isn’t necessary. My second impression was that I felt like I was immediately pushed into the world and the characters without introduction. I felt like I was missing context from the world and it wasn’t until I finished the book and saw the author’s note stating that this was a sequel that I realized why I was missing context.
Unfortunately, the blurb on Netgalley did not disclose to me that this was a sequel, so I did not have proper context on the characters or the situation. While the book did go back and clarify some situations from the past, it also thrust the reader into the story already because it assumes you’ve read the first book, which I hadn’t because it wasn’t clearly communicated to me that this wasn’t a standalone or the first book.
My other main gripe with the book is how unlikable the main character is, Kyarlin, and how he is not held accountable for his actions. He stands true to his primary goal and will do anything to get it at the cost of anything else, and there will be times when the other characters will confront him, but then the situation will quickly diffuse without consequence. It was incredibly frustrating to read, especially because he was constantly said to be this “pure, morally good” cleric and then all his actions were him being the most selfish person ever and not at all being pure or moral.
Overall, the writing in the book wasn’t bad, however I disliked Kyarlin so much that it impacted my ability to want to continue reading. I do still think We Were Men Once is a good book for someone who enjoys D&D, the idea of Dante’s Inferno, and Orpheus and Eurydice — or perhaps the idea of utter devotion from a partner.
July 19, 2025
I yelled at this book so many times. But let me not jump ahead and go back to the beginning first.
I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the DND aspects of this book. When the little party is doing little party things in town, I ate it up. The finer details that showed the author actually knew how the DND thing worked and didn't just throw that label in there, very much appreciated. The banter and flow between the party characters was awesome as well, it wasn't all smooth sailing but you could see the connections there. And once they got to Hell, the Dantes Inferno and Orpheus influences were there in a very notable way that didn't come off as just straight up copying. Overall the flow of the plot vs character development I found was done really really well and it was extremely easy to get lost in this story.
But the yelling?
Yes I know Xaraan/Suneelon was a devil and devils have their own motivations, desires, and emotions.
Yes I know Kyarlin was stupidly in love and love makes you do things.
But damn it all boys, the decisions made?! If I wasn't yelling at one for being dumb or blind I was yelling at the other for pulling dumb crap.
And that's what you want in a book, to have the characters so, 'alive,' that you find yourself shouting at them for things they are currently doing that they shouldn't be doing.
Hell itself was nicely fleshed out into an actual place. Very often in books it's almost let a set, where it's there but not really an actual place. In this case, which makes sense because so much of the book takes place in Hell, it was a real place. Political systems, weather, landscapes, society and culture. It had it all going on.
I am thankful for the gifted ARC and look forward to where the story goes in book two.
I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the DND aspects of this book. When the little party is doing little party things in town, I ate it up. The finer details that showed the author actually knew how the DND thing worked and didn't just throw that label in there, very much appreciated. The banter and flow between the party characters was awesome as well, it wasn't all smooth sailing but you could see the connections there. And once they got to Hell, the Dantes Inferno and Orpheus influences were there in a very notable way that didn't come off as just straight up copying. Overall the flow of the plot vs character development I found was done really really well and it was extremely easy to get lost in this story.
But the yelling?
Yes I know Xaraan/Suneelon was a devil and devils have their own motivations, desires, and emotions.
Yes I know Kyarlin was stupidly in love and love makes you do things.
But damn it all boys, the decisions made?! If I wasn't yelling at one for being dumb or blind I was yelling at the other for pulling dumb crap.
And that's what you want in a book, to have the characters so, 'alive,' that you find yourself shouting at them for things they are currently doing that they shouldn't be doing.
Hell itself was nicely fleshed out into an actual place. Very often in books it's almost let a set, where it's there but not really an actual place. In this case, which makes sense because so much of the book takes place in Hell, it was a real place. Political systems, weather, landscapes, society and culture. It had it all going on.
I am thankful for the gifted ARC and look forward to where the story goes in book two.
August 6, 2025
Oh, this one stings. As a massive DnD nerd who should have been the target audience for a dark romantasy inspired by Dante's Inferno with actual campaign mechanics, I'm genuinely disappointed this didn't work for me.
Let's address the elephant in the room that many other reviewers have mentioned: this was secretly a sequel. The fact that this crucial detail is buried at the very end of the book like some sort of literary gotcha feels disingenuous at best. While they have since updated everything to say Book 2, it still really left a bad taste in my mouth.
But even setting aside that particular publishing sleight-of-hand, what you get is a book that's technically competent but emotionally hollow. Morris clearly knows her DnD mechanics, and the hellscape worldbuilding is genuinely atmospheric when it leans into cosmic horror elements and easily the best part of the book. The writing itself is perfectly readable.
The problem? The plot reads like someone's campaign notes: go here, talk to this NPC, complete side quest, unlock new area, repeat. It's methodical in a way that makes you painfully aware you're reading a story rather than experiencing one. For something supposedly about transcendent love, I spent more time thinking about party logistics than emotional stakes.
The romance that should anchor this whole thing gets buried under exposition. I kept waiting to care about Kyarlin's desperate mission to save his transformed husband, but the emotional beats felt as mechanical as the plot progression. At the end of the day, this was a book that I was excited about and looked forward to reading and it just didn't hit.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let's address the elephant in the room that many other reviewers have mentioned: this was secretly a sequel. The fact that this crucial detail is buried at the very end of the book like some sort of literary gotcha feels disingenuous at best. While they have since updated everything to say Book 2, it still really left a bad taste in my mouth.
But even setting aside that particular publishing sleight-of-hand, what you get is a book that's technically competent but emotionally hollow. Morris clearly knows her DnD mechanics, and the hellscape worldbuilding is genuinely atmospheric when it leans into cosmic horror elements and easily the best part of the book. The writing itself is perfectly readable.
The problem? The plot reads like someone's campaign notes: go here, talk to this NPC, complete side quest, unlock new area, repeat. It's methodical in a way that makes you painfully aware you're reading a story rather than experiencing one. For something supposedly about transcendent love, I spent more time thinking about party logistics than emotional stakes.
The romance that should anchor this whole thing gets buried under exposition. I kept waiting to care about Kyarlin's desperate mission to save his transformed husband, but the emotional beats felt as mechanical as the plot progression. At the end of the day, this was a book that I was excited about and looked forward to reading and it just didn't hit.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Before diving into the review, I want to note that We Were Men Once is the second installment in a series. However, I read it as a standalone, so my impressions are based solely on this novel without prior knowledge of the established worldbuilding.
We Were Men Once is a dark and atmospheric blend of Dante’s Inferno and the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, with clear influences from Dungeons & Dragons. Morris crafts a haunting, tragic tale centered on Kyarlin’s desperate quest to find his husband, Xaraan — a man who sacrificed himself to defeat the archdevil Astaroth and whose soul has since been cast into Hell. A year after Xaraan’s death and rebirth as Suneelon, a memory wiped duke of Hell bound to Astaroth’s will, Kyarlin begins his journey into the underworld.
The writing is competent and immersive, effectively capturing the bleak tone and emotional weight of the story. That said, the first half of the novel feels heavily influenced by DnD-style questing — assembling a party, gathering items, facing mini-bosses — which, at times, made the pacing feel sluggish. There were moments I considered DNFing simply because the plot felt stuck in side-quest mode.
Fortunately, the narrative picks up significantly once the characters descend into Hell. From that point on, the story becomes an emotionally gripping exploration of love, memory, political intrigue, and sacrifice. The second half more than makes up for the earlier drag and delivers a powerful and resonant climax.
Despite the slow start, I ultimately found We Were Men Once to be a compelling and moving tale. If you can stick through the early pacing issues, there’s a beautifully dark payoff awaiting you.
Before diving into the review, I want to note that We Were Men Once is the second installment in a series. However, I read it as a standalone, so my impressions are based solely on this novel without prior knowledge of the established worldbuilding.
We Were Men Once is a dark and atmospheric blend of Dante’s Inferno and the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, with clear influences from Dungeons & Dragons. Morris crafts a haunting, tragic tale centered on Kyarlin’s desperate quest to find his husband, Xaraan — a man who sacrificed himself to defeat the archdevil Astaroth and whose soul has since been cast into Hell. A year after Xaraan’s death and rebirth as Suneelon, a memory wiped duke of Hell bound to Astaroth’s will, Kyarlin begins his journey into the underworld.
The writing is competent and immersive, effectively capturing the bleak tone and emotional weight of the story. That said, the first half of the novel feels heavily influenced by DnD-style questing — assembling a party, gathering items, facing mini-bosses — which, at times, made the pacing feel sluggish. There were moments I considered DNFing simply because the plot felt stuck in side-quest mode.
Fortunately, the narrative picks up significantly once the characters descend into Hell. From that point on, the story becomes an emotionally gripping exploration of love, memory, political intrigue, and sacrifice. The second half more than makes up for the earlier drag and delivers a powerful and resonant climax.
Despite the slow start, I ultimately found We Were Men Once to be a compelling and moving tale. If you can stick through the early pacing issues, there’s a beautifully dark payoff awaiting you.
October 1, 2025
While this book can be read as a standalone, if you are like me and want to go for peak emotional damage, I recommend first reading the prequel, Malediction's Embrace. It gives you some background, which allows you to grow very attached to the characters.
This book is definitely heavily influenced by D&D, with lots of action, the cast working together and going on quests, and a magic system based on the magic and game mechanics of the TTRPG.
Morris writes with such a lovely voice. I don't often notice or care about descriptive text, but this writing really stood out. The descriptions of the landscape, creatures, and influences of Hell drew on horror elements like body horror and never knowing what is safe or dangerous to eat, touch, or traverse. Unlike some books where the backdrop of Hell fades into the background, Hell felt like an active participant in the story. You never forget that the characters are in a truly terrible and corrupt place.
There are a lot of heavy themes in this book. The characters deal with themes of guilt, sacrifice, anxiety, depression, codependency, and betrayal. Morris does not shy away from shining a light on these themes, no matter how hard it can be to watch these themes impact and change the characters as they progress through the story.
If you are a fan of D&D, Dante's Inferno, elements of horror, all the yearning, and beautifully descriptive language, this book is for you.
I received an early copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is definitely heavily influenced by D&D, with lots of action, the cast working together and going on quests, and a magic system based on the magic and game mechanics of the TTRPG.
Morris writes with such a lovely voice. I don't often notice or care about descriptive text, but this writing really stood out. The descriptions of the landscape, creatures, and influences of Hell drew on horror elements like body horror and never knowing what is safe or dangerous to eat, touch, or traverse. Unlike some books where the backdrop of Hell fades into the background, Hell felt like an active participant in the story. You never forget that the characters are in a truly terrible and corrupt place.
There are a lot of heavy themes in this book. The characters deal with themes of guilt, sacrifice, anxiety, depression, codependency, and betrayal. Morris does not shy away from shining a light on these themes, no matter how hard it can be to watch these themes impact and change the characters as they progress through the story.
If you are a fan of D&D, Dante's Inferno, elements of horror, all the yearning, and beautifully descriptive language, this book is for you.
I received an early copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 29, 2025
Stain me, Use me, Swallow me whole. A dark fantasy with deep love.
So your husband decides to sacrifice himself to kill an archdevil, only to then get taken to hell and reborn a Duke of Hell with no memory of your life together. After a year, you then decide the only logical thing to do is end up in hell chasing after him to bring him back. It becomes an easier decision when you find out that archdevil is trying to take over your realm. The love of a soulmate holds no boundaries in this book. Grief takes his obsession to another level, Kyarlin will not give up on the Duke of hell still feeling his heart beat in the wedding bands they forged knowing there is still hope. With his friend’s help they navigate through the circles of hell fighting Devils, creatures and souls to find a way to convince Suneelon he can still be the lover he once was while also trying to save the world above. In the end it’s Suneelon who is fighting the same journey.
I wasn’t aware this was a sequel but I feel like there were enough memories and flashbacks that I was informed. I really enjoyed the mental struggles the characters went through while battling in hell. It shows how even when you are at your most desperate and depleted in life, love and compassion can give you strength to conquer the madness of loosing your reason to live.
This was given to me as an ARC read. My thoughts are my own.
So your husband decides to sacrifice himself to kill an archdevil, only to then get taken to hell and reborn a Duke of Hell with no memory of your life together. After a year, you then decide the only logical thing to do is end up in hell chasing after him to bring him back. It becomes an easier decision when you find out that archdevil is trying to take over your realm. The love of a soulmate holds no boundaries in this book. Grief takes his obsession to another level, Kyarlin will not give up on the Duke of hell still feeling his heart beat in the wedding bands they forged knowing there is still hope. With his friend’s help they navigate through the circles of hell fighting Devils, creatures and souls to find a way to convince Suneelon he can still be the lover he once was while also trying to save the world above. In the end it’s Suneelon who is fighting the same journey.
I wasn’t aware this was a sequel but I feel like there were enough memories and flashbacks that I was informed. I really enjoyed the mental struggles the characters went through while battling in hell. It shows how even when you are at your most desperate and depleted in life, love and compassion can give you strength to conquer the madness of loosing your reason to live.
This was given to me as an ARC read. My thoughts are my own.
September 7, 2025
Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. As someone who loves supporting indie authors, I always aim to share thoughtful, fair feedback. While I have personal reading preferences like a love for fantasy, horses, or specific tropes, I never let that impact my rating unless it is relevant to the book’s intent or audience. I review with the genre and readership in mind.
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: -
Darkness/Bloodiness: Dark topics, please check content warning, meant for adult readers!
Inspired by DnD the book definitely grabbed my attention with the LGBTQ+ representation. I am also a DnD fan so it was right up my alley. This book is the second book in the series, I unfortunately didn't have the chance to read book one and I can say reading as a standalone feels definitely wrong, I was missing details that were in book one, so make sure you read in order!
The world and the journey is exciting with a lot of action, interesting foes and the typical DnD crazyness. Little banter, little joking, friendship among different races and a common goal ties together the characters of the story, the setting and the interaction between them will feel very familiar for players.
I enjoyed the read but I was missing something extra to give that 5th star. I recommend this book to DnD enthusiast, I would say without knowledge of dnd the book lacks depth for readers who are not familiar with how the rules work with the characters, the world and other details.
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: -
Darkness/Bloodiness: Dark topics, please check content warning, meant for adult readers!
Inspired by DnD the book definitely grabbed my attention with the LGBTQ+ representation. I am also a DnD fan so it was right up my alley. This book is the second book in the series, I unfortunately didn't have the chance to read book one and I can say reading as a standalone feels definitely wrong, I was missing details that were in book one, so make sure you read in order!
The world and the journey is exciting with a lot of action, interesting foes and the typical DnD crazyness. Little banter, little joking, friendship among different races and a common goal ties together the characters of the story, the setting and the interaction between them will feel very familiar for players.
I enjoyed the read but I was missing something extra to give that 5th star. I recommend this book to DnD enthusiast, I would say without knowledge of dnd the book lacks depth for readers who are not familiar with how the rules work with the characters, the world and other details.
September 21, 2025
Thank you Netgalley, and Candice Morris for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I struggled with this one, and almost gave up several times.
It said it was a standalone, but you really need to read the first book to understand what is going on. It referenced a ton of stuff that happened in the first book, and I spent so much time being confused. I might try to re-read it in the future after reading the first book. This was really disappointing though. The blurb and marketing for it needs to be changed to reflect this. This is not a standalone novel at all, but a sequel instead.
There was so much info dumping at the beginning, and it moved along at a snails pace. There was way too much stuff for each character to keep track of. It was hard to keep everyone's backstory straight. Eventually the action picks up, and I sped through the rest of the book.
The worldbuilding was really good overall, and the writing was okay. The world was nicely fleshed out. I'm very familiar with D&D, and it did read like someone translated their campaign into a novel. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but not at all what I was expecting.
This one is hard to review, because it feels like I'm missing so much by not reading the first book.
I struggled with this one, and almost gave up several times.
It said it was a standalone, but you really need to read the first book to understand what is going on. It referenced a ton of stuff that happened in the first book, and I spent so much time being confused. I might try to re-read it in the future after reading the first book. This was really disappointing though. The blurb and marketing for it needs to be changed to reflect this. This is not a standalone novel at all, but a sequel instead.
There was so much info dumping at the beginning, and it moved along at a snails pace. There was way too much stuff for each character to keep track of. It was hard to keep everyone's backstory straight. Eventually the action picks up, and I sped through the rest of the book.
The worldbuilding was really good overall, and the writing was okay. The world was nicely fleshed out. I'm very familiar with D&D, and it did read like someone translated their campaign into a novel. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but not at all what I was expecting.
This one is hard to review, because it feels like I'm missing so much by not reading the first book.
August 24, 2025
I received We Were Men Once ARC for a honest review.
First off, you could read this as a standalone if you wish. But I would highly recommend read the first one like I should’ve done. It did get a little confusing because in the first one you get more in depth with the characters that are in this one now. And what kind of world this is what kind of relationships are there. This book does have a D&D feel with quest and the found family. Kyarlin will do anything to get his love back. Even if that means going to hell and making deals for him. But it comes with a big cost. Xaraan is now Suneelon serves one of the rulers of hell that he tried to kill when he was living. I like how Kyarlin would do anything for his love. And accepts all of him and whatever form he comes in. What I like about Suneelon he knew something was missing inside of him. When he became a demon. And he knew in his heart that he had a fight for that little feeling. The group that travels into hell to take down the leader. There are so many hardships to come, even death. What I like the most was the ending of the book because of what Kyarlin said was true.
First off, you could read this as a standalone if you wish. But I would highly recommend read the first one like I should’ve done. It did get a little confusing because in the first one you get more in depth with the characters that are in this one now. And what kind of world this is what kind of relationships are there. This book does have a D&D feel with quest and the found family. Kyarlin will do anything to get his love back. Even if that means going to hell and making deals for him. But it comes with a big cost. Xaraan is now Suneelon serves one of the rulers of hell that he tried to kill when he was living. I like how Kyarlin would do anything for his love. And accepts all of him and whatever form he comes in. What I like about Suneelon he knew something was missing inside of him. When he became a demon. And he knew in his heart that he had a fight for that little feeling. The group that travels into hell to take down the leader. There are so many hardships to come, even death. What I like the most was the ending of the book because of what Kyarlin said was true.
August 25, 2025
There Aren’t Enough Words To Explain How Much I ADORED THIS BOOK🤌🏾Diving Into This I Immediately Connected With The MMC . His Pain & His Anger But Most Of All His Hurting Heart & Internal Rage. I Really Connected With The MMC Overall Which I Feel Is The Main Reason This Book Is So Comforting To Me. His Feeling Were Described To A Tee , But The Wordplay In This Book Is Why You’re Gonna Be Able To Connect Everything Is Described Perfectly👏🏾
If You Not Ready To Sit Curled Up Reading This & Cry Then Just Turn Around Rn this Book Isn’t For You🫡. This Book Brought Literal Tears To My Eyes, The Devotion & The Love He Has For His Husband, We’ve All Wanted This Type Of Love Before So Come Experience It, This Is The Definition Of A TRUE Love Story & I PROMISE You Don’t Wanna Miss It👏🏾
This Book Will ABSOLUTELY Have You Hooked At Every Turn Because You’re Never Gonna Know What To Expect‼️This Book Shows You That If You Really Love Someone You’ll Do ANYTHING For Them. I Was EXTREMELY Invested In A Way I’ve Never Been Before & I’m Sure You Will Be Too🤭, Make Sure Ya Read This IM SERIOUS I LOVED THE SHIT OUT OF THIS 📖. It’s Comforting In A Way I Can’t Explain🫶🏾.
If You Not Ready To Sit Curled Up Reading This & Cry Then Just Turn Around Rn this Book Isn’t For You🫡. This Book Brought Literal Tears To My Eyes, The Devotion & The Love He Has For His Husband, We’ve All Wanted This Type Of Love Before So Come Experience It, This Is The Definition Of A TRUE Love Story & I PROMISE You Don’t Wanna Miss It👏🏾
This Book Will ABSOLUTELY Have You Hooked At Every Turn Because You’re Never Gonna Know What To Expect‼️This Book Shows You That If You Really Love Someone You’ll Do ANYTHING For Them. I Was EXTREMELY Invested In A Way I’ve Never Been Before & I’m Sure You Will Be Too🤭, Make Sure Ya Read This IM SERIOUS I LOVED THE SHIT OUT OF THIS 📖. It’s Comforting In A Way I Can’t Explain🫶🏾.
November 15, 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and @victoryediting for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.
What happens when your lover, soulmate, husband sacrifices himself just to be thrown into hell?
You refuse to let death be the end of it.
Kyarlin journeys through hell for the man he loves, only to find him transformed into a devil, bound to a archdevil.
In a war torn hell full of monstrosities, does he decide to save Xaraan or love who he has become.
Will it be Kyarlins salvation or damnation.
A dark romantic fantasy, this book had me lost in a atmospheric hellscape of the circles of hell. I didnt realise this is actually book 2 in a series, but can be read as a standalone like I did, though I now really need the first one and the third one that's coming out. Candice is a new author to me and I will be keeping a close eye on this series.
It was dark and bittersweet. I also heard it has a art book which I will also need to aquire. The plot and characters are very well done, which makes the reader more invested with this band of friends on their journey. The ending was perfect, I loved how it played out. I highly recommend to adventure, fantasy and romance readers.
What happens when your lover, soulmate, husband sacrifices himself just to be thrown into hell?
You refuse to let death be the end of it.
Kyarlin journeys through hell for the man he loves, only to find him transformed into a devil, bound to a archdevil.
In a war torn hell full of monstrosities, does he decide to save Xaraan or love who he has become.
Will it be Kyarlins salvation or damnation.
A dark romantic fantasy, this book had me lost in a atmospheric hellscape of the circles of hell. I didnt realise this is actually book 2 in a series, but can be read as a standalone like I did, though I now really need the first one and the third one that's coming out. Candice is a new author to me and I will be keeping a close eye on this series.
It was dark and bittersweet. I also heard it has a art book which I will also need to aquire. The plot and characters are very well done, which makes the reader more invested with this band of friends on their journey. The ending was perfect, I loved how it played out. I highly recommend to adventure, fantasy and romance readers.
July 28, 2025
This whole book was like one long, exciting D&D campaign. Very gory at times and there are a lot of side quests that sometimes drag on. The Dante’s Inferno vibes were strong.
Even though it’s a sequel, I was still able to follow along. Although after finishing the book, I went and read the summary for the first book, and I think it’s worth reading the first book before this book so you can understand Lynn’s complicated relationship with her brother a bit more. There’s some references to the family drama but only bits and pieces. I did like the trope inversion of Xaraan’s mother being the abusive parent, and his father being the more nurturing parent.
Don’t read this book if you’re scared of spiders and don’t like gore. Xaraan’s gory fever dream as he gets transformed into Suneelon was a lot. His repeated episodes of torture were a lot. Kyarlin’s repeated self harm was a lot.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to have read an advanced copy this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Even though it’s a sequel, I was still able to follow along. Although after finishing the book, I went and read the summary for the first book, and I think it’s worth reading the first book before this book so you can understand Lynn’s complicated relationship with her brother a bit more. There’s some references to the family drama but only bits and pieces. I did like the trope inversion of Xaraan’s mother being the abusive parent, and his father being the more nurturing parent.
Don’t read this book if you’re scared of spiders and don’t like gore. Xaraan’s gory fever dream as he gets transformed into Suneelon was a lot. His repeated episodes of torture were a lot. Kyarlin’s repeated self harm was a lot.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to have read an advanced copy this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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