What do you think?
Rate this book
Selfish Myths #3
Tempt
SECOND EDITION with spicy adult content including extended, new, and revised scenes.
WARNING: Reviews prior to July 2025 do NOT reflect the second edition or its adult content.
Their alliance is temporary. Their attraction is… not.
Hades is no brooding lord. He wields his devious tongue like a weapon—sharp, deadly, and sinful.
Persephone is no innocent goddess. Putting it mildly, she’d love to drive a blade through his black soul.
Making deals with this diabolical devil wasn’t the plan. Nor was getting abducted to an underworld of ancient books and dark magic. Yet she refuses to play captive or endure his twisted games.
In the great library of the Dark Gods, books hold forbidden secrets and lethal traps. Buried among these cursed shelves lies the key to winning a mythical war. Trapped together, they must locate these sacred pages and escape before the Fate Court finds them. Provided they don’t kill each other first.
Yet the line between hate and desire is razor-thin. And if this villain gets his possessive claws in her heart, he’s never letting go.
Full of heart-pounding fantasy romance, Dark Selfish Myths is an adult romantasy series featuring nefarious Eros, brooding Icarus, diabolical Hades, and snarky Narcissus reimagined.
Perfect for readers who villain gets the girl, forced proximity, and scorching enemies to lovers between mythology deities who can’t keep their hands off each other.
Explicit sexual content and language. For readers 18+
FOR Please check the author's website.
WARNING: Reviews prior to July 2025 do NOT reflect the second edition or its adult content.
Their alliance is temporary. Their attraction is… not.
Hades is no brooding lord. He wields his devious tongue like a weapon—sharp, deadly, and sinful.
Persephone is no innocent goddess. Putting it mildly, she’d love to drive a blade through his black soul.
Making deals with this diabolical devil wasn’t the plan. Nor was getting abducted to an underworld of ancient books and dark magic. Yet she refuses to play captive or endure his twisted games.
In the great library of the Dark Gods, books hold forbidden secrets and lethal traps. Buried among these cursed shelves lies the key to winning a mythical war. Trapped together, they must locate these sacred pages and escape before the Fate Court finds them. Provided they don’t kill each other first.
Yet the line between hate and desire is razor-thin. And if this villain gets his possessive claws in her heart, he’s never letting go.
Full of heart-pounding fantasy romance, Dark Selfish Myths is an adult romantasy series featuring nefarious Eros, brooding Icarus, diabolical Hades, and snarky Narcissus reimagined.
Perfect for readers who villain gets the girl, forced proximity, and scorching enemies to lovers between mythology deities who can’t keep their hands off each other.
Explicit sexual content and language. For readers 18+
FOR Please check the author's website.
472 pages, Paperback
Published July 22, 2025
44 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
Natalia Jaster
22 books1,545 followersNatalia Jaster is a romantasy author who routinely swoons for the villain.
She lives in a dark forest, where she writes spicy fantasy romance tales about rakish jesters, immortal deities, and vicious faeries. Wicked heroes are her weakness, and rebellious heroines are her best friends.
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Natalia-Jaster...
NEWSLETTER: www.nataliajaster.com/newsletter
TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@nataliajasterauthor
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/nataliajaster
She lives in a dark forest, where she writes spicy fantasy romance tales about rakish jesters, immortal deities, and vicious faeries. Wicked heroes are her weakness, and rebellious heroines are her best friends.
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Natalia-Jaster...
NEWSLETTER: www.nataliajaster.com/newsletter
TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@nataliajasterauthor
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/nataliajaster
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
April 11, 2022
12.04.2022: This is still one of my ultimate favs from Natalia, Wonder and Malice are just 🥰🥰🔥🔥
************
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
"...because if anything should be immortal, it’s books."
4.5 wayward stars!
After "Torn", which, in my opinion, was a bit of a clumsy return to Selfish Myths world, I was equally excited and wary for Wonder and Malice's story. Still, I could never resist the pull of those magical words - Hades and Persephone retelling.
While "Tempt" is at best only loosely based on that myth, it's definitely an unique take on it, subverting tropes and twisting tales until one cannot tell who is tempting whom, who is the darkness and who is the light as Malice and Wonder turn the pages and unravel the story of them together, with library as their underworld and their kingdom.
************
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
"...because if anything should be immortal, it’s books."
4.5 wayward stars!
After "Torn", which, in my opinion, was a bit of a clumsy return to Selfish Myths world, I was equally excited and wary for Wonder and Malice's story. Still, I could never resist the pull of those magical words - Hades and Persephone retelling.
While "Tempt" is at best only loosely based on that myth, it's definitely an unique take on it, subverting tropes and twisting tales until one cannot tell who is tempting whom, who is the darkness and who is the light as Malice and Wonder turn the pages and unravel the story of them together, with library as their underworld and their kingdom.
October 12, 2019
Natalia just does not write a bad book.
October 13, 2019
Malice and Wonder our immortal enemies to lovers who share an emotional past connection had caught my attention from the few scenes they shared in the previous book ‘torn’ so I couldn’t wait to read their story and I’m happy to report it went above and beyond my expectations.
My absolute favourite from this series so far. Natalia writes pure poetry. I’m in love with her writing style. You all need to read this series ASAP !!!
My absolute favourite from this series so far. Natalia writes pure poetry. I’m in love with her writing style. You all need to read this series ASAP !!!
July 6, 2020
I read this a few days ago (weeks ago actually) and I felt quite quesy while reading it because a little vulgar language would pop up and it threw me off. I was confused about a certain things too. I've pondered over the story and whether I liked it or not and I have to say it was actually very nice? It's sweet and touching and has elements that I know many people enjoy like the amnesia trope. It's a hades/persephone retelling but I didn't quite see that register.
The writing other than the cheap parts was actually good. Things could've been made more clearer and I found myself having to think hard to make sense of things (or it's because my mind has been off lately idk). The setting was beautiful. Imagine a grand EMPTY library made for gods. Not a specimen in sight. The cat-and-mouse chase parts oof
I read this book as a standalone without reading the first two parts because they didn't appeal to me. I wanted angst lol
The main characters were developed and not bland thank god. They had flaws that didn't make me fall for them immediately but they worked well together. The side characters weren't as compelling sadly.
In the start you want Wonder to get a grip and be harsh but later you find why she wasn't that hard on him. I'm generally not a fan of soft endings but I have to make an exception.
This is not a fluffy book. There are bits but not 100% per say. They both hate each other for entirely different reasons until they don't.
I didn't read the last few pages. The slump kicked in
The writing other than the cheap parts was actually good. Things could've been made more clearer and I found myself having to think hard to make sense of things (or it's because my mind has been off lately idk). The setting was beautiful. Imagine a grand EMPTY library made for gods. Not a specimen in sight. The cat-and-mouse chase parts oof
I read this book as a standalone without reading the first two parts because they didn't appeal to me. I wanted angst lol
The main characters were developed and not bland thank god. They had flaws that didn't make me fall for them immediately but they worked well together. The side characters weren't as compelling sadly.
In the start you want Wonder to get a grip and be harsh but later you find why she wasn't that hard on him. I'm generally not a fan of soft endings but I have to make an exception.
This is not a fluffy book. There are bits but not 100% per say. They both hate each other for entirely different reasons until they don't.
I didn't read the last few pages. The slump kicked in
February 7, 2021
1) Touch ★★★☆☆
2) Torn ★★★☆☆
"If anything should be immortal, it's books."
Tempt is the third book in the Selfish Myths series, and (as I mentioned in my reviews of Touch and Torn) while those novels can be read as standalones, they make much more sense if you read them in order as they're all connected to each other. Our two main characters here are Malice and Wonder, who appeared before in the series, and Natalia Jaster gives us an interesting, sexy retelling of Hades and Persephone with her own style. This book was the one in the Selfish Myths series I was the most excited for, so I'm really glad it didn't disappoint and is my favorite so far!
The few scenes Malice and Wonder shared in the previous novel were already intriguing, and while it's presented as enemies to lovers, this isn't quite that trop either. This is told from Wonder's POV, which I was disappointed in at first as I thought Malice's POV would be interesting too, but in the end I had to admit it was a good choice from the author, because it really works. Those two characters were interesting on their own, but their connection is by far my favorite in the series so far. Wonder is a great female MC and Malice goes through a lot of character's development. As for the setting, the author transports us in a magical library which is obviously bound to mark great points.
I'm excited about the last book in this series as it seems to me they get better each time!
2) Torn ★★★☆☆
"If anything should be immortal, it's books."
Tempt is the third book in the Selfish Myths series, and (as I mentioned in my reviews of Touch and Torn) while those novels can be read as standalones, they make much more sense if you read them in order as they're all connected to each other. Our two main characters here are Malice and Wonder, who appeared before in the series, and Natalia Jaster gives us an interesting, sexy retelling of Hades and Persephone with her own style. This book was the one in the Selfish Myths series I was the most excited for, so I'm really glad it didn't disappoint and is my favorite so far!
The few scenes Malice and Wonder shared in the previous novel were already intriguing, and while it's presented as enemies to lovers, this isn't quite that trop either. This is told from Wonder's POV, which I was disappointed in at first as I thought Malice's POV would be interesting too, but in the end I had to admit it was a good choice from the author, because it really works. Those two characters were interesting on their own, but their connection is by far my favorite in the series so far. Wonder is a great female MC and Malice goes through a lot of character's development. As for the setting, the author transports us in a magical library which is obviously bound to mark great points.
I'm excited about the last book in this series as it seems to me they get better each time!
July 23, 2025
Tempt
4.5
Devilish and darkly delicious! This book certainly tempts you to the dark side!
The story is loosely inspired by Hades and Persephone myth. I loved the originality of it and how it twisted the myth into something that was never done before.
Malice and Wonder were complete opposites and so much fun to read. The enemies to lovers, the hate/love, the banter… so good!!
Wonder was a complex woman. I loved her strength, her fierceness, love, and wonder. I enjoyed how she didn’t back down and wasn’t afraid to go to the dark side so to speak.
Malice on the other hand was unapologetically himself. He was dark, ruthless, and maybe a tad unhinged. He was madness and hell.
As I mentioned above the two of them were a wild storm together. They challenged and completed each other.
Be prepared for a lot of emotions wrapped in this one and steam! Tons of spice in here.
I did enjoy the overall story with their pasts and how things tied together. I also loved how the overall story is progressing!! Don’t want to give away details but trust me it’s a must read!
If you love enemies to lovers, forced proximity, hades/persephone, captive/captor, banter, spice, hurt/comfort, touch her/him and xx vibes, morally grey unhinged MMC, fierce clever FMC, and so much more be sure to check this one out!
4.5
Devilish and darkly delicious! This book certainly tempts you to the dark side!
The story is loosely inspired by Hades and Persephone myth. I loved the originality of it and how it twisted the myth into something that was never done before.
Malice and Wonder were complete opposites and so much fun to read. The enemies to lovers, the hate/love, the banter… so good!!
Wonder was a complex woman. I loved her strength, her fierceness, love, and wonder. I enjoyed how she didn’t back down and wasn’t afraid to go to the dark side so to speak.
Malice on the other hand was unapologetically himself. He was dark, ruthless, and maybe a tad unhinged. He was madness and hell.
As I mentioned above the two of them were a wild storm together. They challenged and completed each other.
Be prepared for a lot of emotions wrapped in this one and steam! Tons of spice in here.
I did enjoy the overall story with their pasts and how things tied together. I also loved how the overall story is progressing!! Don’t want to give away details but trust me it’s a must read!
If you love enemies to lovers, forced proximity, hades/persephone, captive/captor, banter, spice, hurt/comfort, touch her/him and xx vibes, morally grey unhinged MMC, fierce clever FMC, and so much more be sure to check this one out!
June 13, 2020
Tempt is the third book in Natalie Jaster’s Selfish Myths series, and I was super eager for this one. I’ve been curious about our female lead from the start and became extremely eager for more about the male lead during book two. I went in with extremely high hopes, and I was happy to devour this one.
As much as I adored the romance between the two leads in this one, I will say the story wasn’t quite everything I had hoped it would be. It was a great read, one that had me powering through it at a rapid pace, but I had been hoping for a wee bit more from the overarching storyline.
You see, even though this one moved the story forward well, I had been hoping things would be a bit more explosive. These details seemed to slip into the background a bit, and then felt rushed when they came together. The way things moved forward certain has me desperate to read the next book, but I do feel they were a bit too easy in this one.
Although not quite everything I had hoped it would be, this was another wonderful addition to the series.
As much as I adored the romance between the two leads in this one, I will say the story wasn’t quite everything I had hoped it would be. It was a great read, one that had me powering through it at a rapid pace, but I had been hoping for a wee bit more from the overarching storyline.
You see, even though this one moved the story forward well, I had been hoping things would be a bit more explosive. These details seemed to slip into the background a bit, and then felt rushed when they came together. The way things moved forward certain has me desperate to read the next book, but I do feel they were a bit too easy in this one.
Although not quite everything I had hoped it would be, this was another wonderful addition to the series.
March 15, 2020
Jaster's lyrical prose are woven into every fiber of this series, this book being no exception, startlingly honest, beautifully intense.
Wonder and Malice, the ghost of a past haunting each character. This novel presents as a fairly usual enemies to lovers novel. It is a pretense. A falsehood. I wasn't prepared for how entirely penetrating this book was, examining love and hate and the chance at freewill. Wonder is scarred, Malice is tormented, everything in their celestial lives have led them to this point in time, fighting for the right to choose.
I was slightly skeptical about reading Jaster's novels because the covers, highly digital, in some ways I found childlike. I am glad I did not listen to the instinct to ignore, as the emotional depth inherent. It reeks of an understanding of the deep and the oftentimes intangible. This series is reminiscent of a ballad, or a sonnet, a yearning.
Wonder and Malice, the ghost of a past haunting each character. This novel presents as a fairly usual enemies to lovers novel. It is a pretense. A falsehood. I wasn't prepared for how entirely penetrating this book was, examining love and hate and the chance at freewill. Wonder is scarred, Malice is tormented, everything in their celestial lives have led them to this point in time, fighting for the right to choose.
I was slightly skeptical about reading Jaster's novels because the covers, highly digital, in some ways I found childlike. I am glad I did not listen to the instinct to ignore, as the emotional depth inherent. It reeks of an understanding of the deep and the oftentimes intangible. This series is reminiscent of a ballad, or a sonnet, a yearning.
July 20, 2025
I had the opportunity to be chosen to be part of the ARC team for the best author in the world, Natalia Jaster. Tempt, I read both the previous and new versions, and both are perfect. The world the author creates is incredible, not to mention the construction of the magical library. The spicy scenes that emerge there are insane. You fall in love with every interaction between Malicia and Wonder. When you read Malicia, she's an almost identical version of the Trick Poet, the same novel by the author, and it makes you obsess over him even more.
His past is profound, how she remembers the letters they wrote to each other, their trust in each other. How love slowly develops. Plus, as an added bonus, I love that she's older than him and that he's inexperienced.
Let yourself fall into Malicia's inexperienced hands, because believe me, this god knows what he's doing.
His past is profound, how she remembers the letters they wrote to each other, their trust in each other. How love slowly develops. Plus, as an added bonus, I love that she's older than him and that he's inexperienced.
Let yourself fall into Malicia's inexperienced hands, because believe me, this god knows what he's doing.
August 25, 2020
Well this was totally yummy 💚🖤
January 6, 2024
THE POTENTIAL 😭
January 21, 2020
I was hovering between a 3.5 and four star, but then I remembered I cried so hard while reading, (more on those later) that I literally lost my page. So, yeah, I think this warrants an "it was amazing" sentiment. This will be long and it will be rambley. It actually took me a bit to get into this one, given a lot of the beginning was simply rehashing who was a couple, their stories, the war of Fates vs. free will. And be warned: the author claims this was inspired by Hades and Persephone, but the only examples I could find were Malice's ripping into Hades and Persephone mortal retellings littered with "self-aware-wiser-than her-age maiden taming her dumb ass-but-muscular abductor" (um... Goddess Test, is that you?), pomegranates, but not for the mythical reason (apparently it's the year of the pomegranate for me), and he wants them to "abduct each other"-AKA flee the Celestial City and use each other's skills to comb the Archives in the Fates realm for personal answers/how to defeat them. Honestly, I think it's better billed as its own story of love, loss and unimaginable sacrifice. Unlike the other couples in the series, Wonder and Malice have met before, centuries before. Wonder fell in love with Malice while he was human during what I'm assuming was the 1800's (also he went by Quill). So infatuated was she, that she wrote him letters, detailing that while he couldn't see her, know she sees him. And she longed to discuss literature (he was a librarian and she guardian of the Archives), and if he could but write her back, she would be satisfied. This is a big no-no and it set into motion a chain of horrific events: Malice (Quill) did hear her/researched her existence, and begin calling out for her in town. This prompted doctors to take him to an asylum, where he died and was reincarnated/stripped of his kindness/memories, thus fashioning him into a trickster demon. Wonder's panic at seeing him taken gave away her role. And her punishment was carried out by her friends (Love, Anger, Envy, Sorrow) as ordered by the Fates. The four of them tied her down and lashed her hands to bloody pulps. The scars are mentioned as being quite prominent, and I can only imagine how it pains her friends to look upon them, knowing they were powerless to her screams. That was my first breaking point: reading Wonder cry out for mercy, lashed for falling in love. Malice's memories come in flashes of nightmare, and he is interested in Wonder's scars/feels connected, but can't think of why. The pain of having someone so close, but so far away comes across in the writing; it's not as lyrical as the first two; gone are the shimmering stars studding the Celestial City skies, and hello to the broken dreams and bitterness of watching/helping everyone else fall in love. When he finally asks about the scars and she says "I loved him", but he retorts, was he worth it, it's only after she's told the whole story that she gives her answer: "you asked me before and the answer is yes. You were worth the scars". And here come the waterworks... Again. This was hard to get through, for the fact that even when she was punished and he was mistreated in the asylum, and even though they caused each other's pain, it was worth every blood soaked minute. To hell and back indeed...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2019
I am a huge fan of retellings, and I have to say, I have not read many Hades and Persephone retellings. I was so intrigued, and the glimpses we got of Malice and Wonder in Torn made me feel so excited to read their story. Unlike Torn, which sees the perspective swap between Merry and Anger, Tempt is told solely from Wonder's point of view, which works so well for this story. I won't say too much as I don't want to spoil anything.
We get to see more of the Peaks in Tempt, which was have had tantalising glimpses of in the earlier books. The majority of Tempt is set in a magical, underground library - yes it is just an incredible as it sounds! I cannot tell you how much I loved the setting for this book... hiding in a magical library trying to discover secrets... it does not get any better than that!
Wonder is just the most amazing character, I felt such a connection with her. I love that she loves books, and get so caught up in mysteries.She tries to do what is right and she leaves herself so open to others - for better or for worse. She is so aware of the world around her and feels so deeply because of this. I loved Merry from Torn so much and I honestly felt like it would be impossible for me to love Wonder any more, but I was so wrong. I love Wonder - I honestly think she might be my all time favourite female character. I hope that we get to see some more of her in the next book.
Natalia writes the best banter, Trick is a perfect example of that, as are all of her other books - but Tempt takes that to a whole new level, my goodness Malice... he was every bit as demonic and twisted as he seemed in Torn and yet, there was something so complex about his character. Both Malice and Wonder were so well written, they came alive whenever I picked up my kindle to read. I love the character development for Malice, over the course of the book we really see him grow.
Towards the end of the book I was so sad that I could see I was about to reach the end. And I have to say at about the 80% mark my heart broke. I felt sorrow and grief whilst reading like I have never felt before - the last time I cried this much reading a book was the scene with the girl in the unicorn pjs in Pestilence by Laura Thalassa. I had to stop reading because I couldn't see through the tears!
So, if you want a book that is so magical it makes your heart soar.... and then shreds it into a thousand tiny pieces... Tempt is most definitely for you. Everything about this book is pure perfection, the pacing, the worldbuilding and most of all the characters. I would give Tempt all of the stars in the sky!
We get to see more of the Peaks in Tempt, which was have had tantalising glimpses of in the earlier books. The majority of Tempt is set in a magical, underground library - yes it is just an incredible as it sounds! I cannot tell you how much I loved the setting for this book... hiding in a magical library trying to discover secrets... it does not get any better than that!
Wonder is just the most amazing character, I felt such a connection with her. I love that she loves books, and get so caught up in mysteries.She tries to do what is right and she leaves herself so open to others - for better or for worse. She is so aware of the world around her and feels so deeply because of this. I loved Merry from Torn so much and I honestly felt like it would be impossible for me to love Wonder any more, but I was so wrong. I love Wonder - I honestly think she might be my all time favourite female character. I hope that we get to see some more of her in the next book.
Natalia writes the best banter, Trick is a perfect example of that, as are all of her other books - but Tempt takes that to a whole new level, my goodness Malice... he was every bit as demonic and twisted as he seemed in Torn and yet, there was something so complex about his character. Both Malice and Wonder were so well written, they came alive whenever I picked up my kindle to read. I love the character development for Malice, over the course of the book we really see him grow.
Towards the end of the book I was so sad that I could see I was about to reach the end. And I have to say at about the 80% mark my heart broke. I felt sorrow and grief whilst reading like I have never felt before - the last time I cried this much reading a book was the scene with the girl in the unicorn pjs in Pestilence by Laura Thalassa. I had to stop reading because I couldn't see through the tears!
So, if you want a book that is so magical it makes your heart soar.... and then shreds it into a thousand tiny pieces... Tempt is most definitely for you. Everything about this book is pure perfection, the pacing, the worldbuilding and most of all the characters. I would give Tempt all of the stars in the sky!
December 9, 2019
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Like the other Selfish Myths stories, it took me a while to get into the characters and to settle back into the world in which they live. I enjoyed the extra world building we got - this time of the Peaks - and I loved that the two main characters are bibliophiles. I did find it hard to really like Malice. And I get that he's not supposed to be a lovable character, but it was difficult to see him in any positive way even after he confessed to Wonder about his inner turmoil. The fact that this book was really only told from Wonder's perspective was helpful for me, because I did find jumping between Merry and Anger to be a bit of a challenge. (And maybe that's why I struggled more with the Merry and Anger story.) While I think Malice's perspective would have helped me to relate to him more, I'm still happy to stay firmly grounded with one character. Because of all the world building and description that Jaster puts into her stories. It's a lot to visualize as you read, so having to do that and figure out the switching POVs can be a challenge for a tired old brain like mine (i.e. mom with kids).
Jaster has, as always, an interesting way of writing and creating pictures in your mind with words. Poetic in many ways. This book was no exception. In fact, of the two series, I think the Selfish Myths really shows off her writing chops. I've told my aspiring writer daughter to read these books because she never puts in enough description when she's writing, and I think Jaster does a good job of painting pictures to help the reader understand everything around them.
I do feel that you have to read this series more in order and that the books, while they could stand alone, are closely intertwined in a way that you would lose a lot if you didn't actually read them all. I even think they are best if read back-to-back ....
Like the other Selfish Myths stories, it took me a while to get into the characters and to settle back into the world in which they live. I enjoyed the extra world building we got - this time of the Peaks - and I loved that the two main characters are bibliophiles. I did find it hard to really like Malice. And I get that he's not supposed to be a lovable character, but it was difficult to see him in any positive way even after he confessed to Wonder about his inner turmoil. The fact that this book was really only told from Wonder's perspective was helpful for me, because I did find jumping between Merry and Anger to be a bit of a challenge. (And maybe that's why I struggled more with the Merry and Anger story.) While I think Malice's perspective would have helped me to relate to him more, I'm still happy to stay firmly grounded with one character. Because of all the world building and description that Jaster puts into her stories. It's a lot to visualize as you read, so having to do that and figure out the switching POVs can be a challenge for a tired old brain like mine (i.e. mom with kids).
Jaster has, as always, an interesting way of writing and creating pictures in your mind with words. Poetic in many ways. This book was no exception. In fact, of the two series, I think the Selfish Myths really shows off her writing chops. I've told my aspiring writer daughter to read these books because she never puts in enough description when she's writing, and I think Jaster does a good job of painting pictures to help the reader understand everything around them.
I do feel that you have to read this series more in order and that the books, while they could stand alone, are closely intertwined in a way that you would lose a lot if you didn't actually read them all. I even think they are best if read back-to-back ....
October 11, 2019
Natalia has done it again. This is another masterpiece that has become my instant favorite along with Trick and Dream.
I think that out of all the male characters she has written, I love Malice the most. I love his schemes, his "pornographic lexicon," his bluffing, and his boyish innocence at times. I love that beneath the demon God misfit, he's so naive who stands in awe whenever Wonder shows him affections like no one ever has. It's sad to think that for nearly two centuries, he has been deprived of such feelings which we consider basic necessities.
I really love Malice and Wonder's love story, and I don't think there is anyone more perfect for them than each other. After reading countless of the typical YA "love at first sight" trope which I grew sick of, I am glad that I read a story whereby two people fell in love because of their personalities and back stories. Usually being handsome and pretty will is enough reason to love each other, so I'm really glad that this isn't the case here. They even have a back story! One that dates back centuries ago. It's lovely.
*Slight spoiler ahead*
Anyway, as a writer, I've always loved making readers cry. But being a reader who's now on the receiving end, and ended up crying (at my workplace) I think I'll be more merciful with my readers. I was really panicked and was ready to send you a personal message begging to revert it in the final book, but luckily I won't have to.
I'm also very very very excited for the final book. I'm usually not a big fan of rebellion stories because it is also overdone, but when done well, I really can't wait. And this is an example of a rebellion story that is done extremely well. I love the progress and how far it has come ever since the first book.
Thank you so much for gifting us with this story. You re awesome and I absolutely adore you, Natalia! <3
I think that out of all the male characters she has written, I love Malice the most. I love his schemes, his "pornographic lexicon," his bluffing, and his boyish innocence at times. I love that beneath the demon God misfit, he's so naive who stands in awe whenever Wonder shows him affections like no one ever has. It's sad to think that for nearly two centuries, he has been deprived of such feelings which we consider basic necessities.
I really love Malice and Wonder's love story, and I don't think there is anyone more perfect for them than each other. After reading countless of the typical YA "love at first sight" trope which I grew sick of, I am glad that I read a story whereby two people fell in love because of their personalities and back stories. Usually being handsome and pretty will is enough reason to love each other, so I'm really glad that this isn't the case here. They even have a back story! One that dates back centuries ago. It's lovely.
*Slight spoiler ahead*
Anyway, as a writer, I've always loved making readers cry. But being a reader who's now on the receiving end, and ended up crying (at my workplace) I think I'll be more merciful with my readers. I was really panicked and was ready to send you a personal message begging to revert it in the final book, but luckily I won't have to.
I'm also very very very excited for the final book. I'm usually not a big fan of rebellion stories because it is also overdone, but when done well, I really can't wait. And this is an example of a rebellion story that is done extremely well. I love the progress and how far it has come ever since the first book.
Thank you so much for gifting us with this story. You re awesome and I absolutely adore you, Natalia! <3
July 25, 2025
✨Tempt✨
Author: Natalia Jaster
Release: out now!
Back in the wonderful world of Natalia’s cozy dark Romantasy series The Dark Gods, Tempt is Selfish Myths book 3 and in it we get to finally follow the goddess Wonder who has been a pivotal figure in the earlier books. While this book could be read on its own, with the found family and overarching theme, I HIGHLY recommend starting from the beginning. Plus, each Greek retelling is just soooo 👩🍳💋.
We begin right where we ended after book two, where Wonder is now looking after the prisoner and demon god, Malice, who has information they may need to obtain the humans and gods free will. But there’s more to just Malice than being useful. No, it’s goes much deeper and further back in the past than that. In a way that connects Wonder and Malice across lifetimes.
This Hades Persephone retelling is a true enemies to lovers romance. The tension and frustration is so palpable. Malice is UNHINGED in a delightful and uncouth way that makes you fall in love with him and his sassy mouth. There’s so much banter- hilarious, angsty, venomous, and sensual. We get mega forced proximity vibes as they abduct each other and sneak into the gods’ forbidden library. And I LOVE LOVE LOVED watching them fall in love. Y’all, if you want a Romantasy that ticks the dark romance and cozy fantasy vibes all in one, this is it! And it is SERIOUSLY spicy!!
Books 1-3 are out now and I cannot wait for book 4! Thank you, Natalia, for once again letting me be an arc reader for you!
Tropes you may find in Tempt are Greek mythology twists, Hades & Persephone retelling, nightmare/trauma comfort, forced proximity in a library, healing and redemption, second chance, HIGH spice with light BDSM, filthy mouthed blond mmc, found family, and a HEA.
Author: Natalia Jaster
Release: out now!
Back in the wonderful world of Natalia’s cozy dark Romantasy series The Dark Gods, Tempt is Selfish Myths book 3 and in it we get to finally follow the goddess Wonder who has been a pivotal figure in the earlier books. While this book could be read on its own, with the found family and overarching theme, I HIGHLY recommend starting from the beginning. Plus, each Greek retelling is just soooo 👩🍳💋.
We begin right where we ended after book two, where Wonder is now looking after the prisoner and demon god, Malice, who has information they may need to obtain the humans and gods free will. But there’s more to just Malice than being useful. No, it’s goes much deeper and further back in the past than that. In a way that connects Wonder and Malice across lifetimes.
This Hades Persephone retelling is a true enemies to lovers romance. The tension and frustration is so palpable. Malice is UNHINGED in a delightful and uncouth way that makes you fall in love with him and his sassy mouth. There’s so much banter- hilarious, angsty, venomous, and sensual. We get mega forced proximity vibes as they abduct each other and sneak into the gods’ forbidden library. And I LOVE LOVE LOVED watching them fall in love. Y’all, if you want a Romantasy that ticks the dark romance and cozy fantasy vibes all in one, this is it! And it is SERIOUSLY spicy!!
Books 1-3 are out now and I cannot wait for book 4! Thank you, Natalia, for once again letting me be an arc reader for you!
Tropes you may find in Tempt are Greek mythology twists, Hades & Persephone retelling, nightmare/trauma comfort, forced proximity in a library, healing and redemption, second chance, HIGH spice with light BDSM, filthy mouthed blond mmc, found family, and a HEA.
July 28, 2025
The crew is all back in Tempt, the third book in Natalia Jaster's Dark Gods: Selfish Myths series. This book mostly focuses on Wonder and Malice, who very much have a Hades and Persephone vibe going on. I enjoyed spotting the parallels; even the characters mention them from time to time.
Wonder has been a favorite since she helped Love and Andrew in the first book. At first glance, she's sweet, but Malice seems to bring out her feisty side. When it comes to Malice, she gives as good as she gets. I loved their banter. Malice is perceived as a villain in the previous book, but he isn't really. I will admit he's a jerk, but truthfully, Ma just has a lot of baggage. He's also equally as smart and craves knowledge just as much as Wonder. They have a lot in common, but the pair definitely have an enemies-to-lovers thing going on. They spar verbally, physically, and eventually sexually. There is a lot of hate-flirting going on, that is, until it turns into flirting-flirting. Either way, they were on fire.
We finally make it to the home of the gods. The Dark Fates was everything I thought it would be. This story was a book nerd's dream. A gigantic library full of secrets, alcoves, and magical books was Wonder and Malice's playground. I was beyond jealous. Plus, it was just the two of them. Everything was a challenge, a deal, or a competition. They teased and played games, so it was very surprising for hate to turn into something else altogether. It was sweet and spicy. Then the next legend was found, and secrets, hard truths, and more were revealed. The twist was fantastic, but the romance made my heart ache.
Tempt was a stunning read! I loved Wonder and Malice. I can't wait for the next book.
Wonder has been a favorite since she helped Love and Andrew in the first book. At first glance, she's sweet, but Malice seems to bring out her feisty side. When it comes to Malice, she gives as good as she gets. I loved their banter. Malice is perceived as a villain in the previous book, but he isn't really. I will admit he's a jerk, but truthfully, Ma just has a lot of baggage. He's also equally as smart and craves knowledge just as much as Wonder. They have a lot in common, but the pair definitely have an enemies-to-lovers thing going on. They spar verbally, physically, and eventually sexually. There is a lot of hate-flirting going on, that is, until it turns into flirting-flirting. Either way, they were on fire.
We finally make it to the home of the gods. The Dark Fates was everything I thought it would be. This story was a book nerd's dream. A gigantic library full of secrets, alcoves, and magical books was Wonder and Malice's playground. I was beyond jealous. Plus, it was just the two of them. Everything was a challenge, a deal, or a competition. They teased and played games, so it was very surprising for hate to turn into something else altogether. It was sweet and spicy. Then the next legend was found, and secrets, hard truths, and more were revealed. The twist was fantastic, but the romance made my heart ache.
Tempt was a stunning read! I loved Wonder and Malice. I can't wait for the next book.
July 21, 2025
“His choice obsession. His most potent drug. His favourite violation. His toughest critic. All. Fucking. His.”
Natalia Jaster you killed it once again! Or Malice killed it rather 🤭
I knew this one was going to be good, with the lead up from Malice I knew he was going to have me squealing! But boy, it was better than I imagined.
This book had me giggling then crying to swooning.
Wonder, I loved her. I loved how strong she was and how smart she was and how much she also lived up to her name. I loved how she was an academic goddess that would rather focus peace and books than war and harm. Even though she’d been through so much she still stood tall and knew what she wanted. I loved the way she loved and cared for everyone even someone who was her sworn enemy.
Now Malice? Malice was a wild rollercoaster like I knew he would be, and then so much more. He was fun, witty, smart and full of chaos. I loved how he didn’t know who he was but he knew what he wanted and it was her and everything she is. His mouth was filthy, flirty and foul, always having you on the edge of your seat. What he goes through is possibly the worst of the deities yet, yet he doesn’t care as long as he has her and I don’t know how such a villainous character can be so sweet and perfect but he was.
“Don’t give those hypocrites the power to condemn your history. Don’t deny your past. Own it.”
The hatred between them started as just that, but when it fell away to banter and love, god it’s perfect.
I loved the way their lives had always been intertwined, but they was they tangle themselves together is what makes this book so insanely good.
Of course I loved all the side characters and the characters we’ve had in stories before and to come. I loved the crew. And I love what’s about to come next even if I know it’s going to rip my heart out.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“This connection has burgeoned without warning. Yet it’s been brewing for ages, taking centuries to manifest.”
Natalia Jaster you killed it once again! Or Malice killed it rather 🤭
I knew this one was going to be good, with the lead up from Malice I knew he was going to have me squealing! But boy, it was better than I imagined.
This book had me giggling then crying to swooning.
Wonder, I loved her. I loved how strong she was and how smart she was and how much she also lived up to her name. I loved how she was an academic goddess that would rather focus peace and books than war and harm. Even though she’d been through so much she still stood tall and knew what she wanted. I loved the way she loved and cared for everyone even someone who was her sworn enemy.
Now Malice? Malice was a wild rollercoaster like I knew he would be, and then so much more. He was fun, witty, smart and full of chaos. I loved how he didn’t know who he was but he knew what he wanted and it was her and everything she is. His mouth was filthy, flirty and foul, always having you on the edge of your seat. What he goes through is possibly the worst of the deities yet, yet he doesn’t care as long as he has her and I don’t know how such a villainous character can be so sweet and perfect but he was.
“Don’t give those hypocrites the power to condemn your history. Don’t deny your past. Own it.”
The hatred between them started as just that, but when it fell away to banter and love, god it’s perfect.
I loved the way their lives had always been intertwined, but they was they tangle themselves together is what makes this book so insanely good.
Of course I loved all the side characters and the characters we’ve had in stories before and to come. I loved the crew. And I love what’s about to come next even if I know it’s going to rip my heart out.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“This connection has burgeoned without warning. Yet it’s been brewing for ages, taking centuries to manifest.”
July 21, 2025
✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: Tempt (Dark Gods: Selfish Myths Book 3)
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦. 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
Wonder is an exiled goddess who brutally fell from grace for loving a mortal. Thousands of years pass and the painful memory of him remains.
Malice is a cunning and villainous adversary who is motivated to get his way, no matter the cost.
Tropes:
🏛️Greek mythology retelling
🏹Enemies (and bookish rivals) to lovers
🙋🏼♀️She falls first, he falls harder (& rougher)
🚫Touch her / him & 💀
🗣️Immortal banter
🏺Hades x Persephone
🔥Slow burn 🌶️
Ever since Malice was first introduced in the series, I was immediately intrigued by this unhinged Hades!
Tempt brings Malice and Wonder together, forging an intense enemies/rivals and captor/captive to reluctant allies to lovers dynamic.
In Tempt, the author explores the painful pasts that shaped them and examines themes of free will, death, and rebirth. This iteration of Hades and Persephone is teeming with temptation and tantalizing tension. Between their traded barbs, sordid pasts, and reluctant mutual pining, this journey to the Underworld and back was an emotional and titillating ride. I am eager for what the final installment holds for our Dark Gods!
So grateful to the author for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
📖: Tempt (Dark Gods: Selfish Myths Book 3)
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦. 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
Wonder is an exiled goddess who brutally fell from grace for loving a mortal. Thousands of years pass and the painful memory of him remains.
Malice is a cunning and villainous adversary who is motivated to get his way, no matter the cost.
Tropes:
🏛️Greek mythology retelling
🏹Enemies (and bookish rivals) to lovers
🙋🏼♀️She falls first, he falls harder (& rougher)
🚫Touch her / him & 💀
🗣️Immortal banter
🏺Hades x Persephone
🔥Slow burn 🌶️
Ever since Malice was first introduced in the series, I was immediately intrigued by this unhinged Hades!
Tempt brings Malice and Wonder together, forging an intense enemies/rivals and captor/captive to reluctant allies to lovers dynamic.
In Tempt, the author explores the painful pasts that shaped them and examines themes of free will, death, and rebirth. This iteration of Hades and Persephone is teeming with temptation and tantalizing tension. Between their traded barbs, sordid pasts, and reluctant mutual pining, this journey to the Underworld and back was an emotional and titillating ride. I am eager for what the final installment holds for our Dark Gods!
So grateful to the author for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 10, 2019
With the rebellion taking shape against the powers in the Peaks, Wonder is tasked with guarding the nefarious and slightly insane Malice after the events of TORN (book #2). They both require information from the corners of the library in the Peaks, begrudgingly creating an alliance to help each other seek the secrets they need. As they trudge into a conflict of push and pull, Wonder and Malice must face the past, present, and future to ensure the success of their merry band of rebels. A loose retelling of Hades/Persephone, TEMPT is a fantastic enemies-to-lovers story set in a mythical library with Natalia Jaster's quintessential emotionally charged writing. It's a wonderful addition to the Selfish Myths series and my personal favorite.
I found TEMPT a more emotional and character-driven tale compared to the other books in this series. Wonder and Malice's relationship seems more mature and realistic, with both parties struggling with their own identities rather than just falling in love with each other. One of my main criticisms of the other books was that we really don't get a good understanding of the world, but I'm starting to realize that's not the main focus of this story. It's built upon emotion and connection, a completely character-centric narrative that has story take a backseat to relationships. I feel TOUCH (book 1) and TORN (book 2) didn't have the characters or the substance to carry the story, but TEMPT blew me away.
Smart, sexy, and emotional, TEMPT introduces the concept of identity within a relationship built on mutual respect and admiration (with just a little bit of rivalry). Wonder is a phenomenal character and is only complimented further by the dark yet vulnerable Malice. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to see the story conclude in book 4 with Sorrow and Envy.
ARC provided by the author. This in no way influenced my honest review.
I found TEMPT a more emotional and character-driven tale compared to the other books in this series. Wonder and Malice's relationship seems more mature and realistic, with both parties struggling with their own identities rather than just falling in love with each other. One of my main criticisms of the other books was that we really don't get a good understanding of the world, but I'm starting to realize that's not the main focus of this story. It's built upon emotion and connection, a completely character-centric narrative that has story take a backseat to relationships. I feel TOUCH (book 1) and TORN (book 2) didn't have the characters or the substance to carry the story, but TEMPT blew me away.
Smart, sexy, and emotional, TEMPT introduces the concept of identity within a relationship built on mutual respect and admiration (with just a little bit of rivalry). Wonder is a phenomenal character and is only complimented further by the dark yet vulnerable Malice. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to see the story conclude in book 4 with Sorrow and Envy.
ARC provided by the author. This in no way influenced my honest review.
July 23, 2025
Where do I even being for my love of Wonder and Malice and the way that Natalia’s writing brought all the emotions out of me in this one! Tempt is Book 3 in the Dark Gods: Selfish Myths series
If you are a fan of Fantasy Romance with an Unhinged Hades and Bookish Persephone, Loads of Razor Sharp Banter, Touch Him/Her and 💀, Slow Burn, Tension and so much more this one is for you!
Tempt picks up right on the heels of Torn and we are left with Wonder keeping a close eye on Malice but when Malice forces Wonder’s hand they venture to find answers to questions their hearts desire.
They fight each other both physically and mentally every step but somewhere along the way Malice can’t deny the way she gets under his skin for better and for worse. Though Wonder is keeping a secret from Malice and can’t help but see a ghost when she looks at him but yearns for him all the same.
Their fiery banter ignites the tension and when they finally erupt it is scorching. Though it is not an easy journey for them, I found myself laughing throughout and sobbing near the end. I absolutely adorned their story and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
If you are a fan of Fantasy Romance with an Unhinged Hades and Bookish Persephone, Loads of Razor Sharp Banter, Touch Him/Her and 💀, Slow Burn, Tension and so much more this one is for you!
Tempt picks up right on the heels of Torn and we are left with Wonder keeping a close eye on Malice but when Malice forces Wonder’s hand they venture to find answers to questions their hearts desire.
They fight each other both physically and mentally every step but somewhere along the way Malice can’t deny the way she gets under his skin for better and for worse. Though Wonder is keeping a secret from Malice and can’t help but see a ghost when she looks at him but yearns for him all the same.
Their fiery banter ignites the tension and when they finally erupt it is scorching. Though it is not an easy journey for them, I found myself laughing throughout and sobbing near the end. I absolutely adorned their story and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
October 11, 2019
For my full review, click here
The angry flirting was all kinds of adorable. It was also one of the hottest books I’ve ever read. And this is coming from the girl who has read a whole bunch of Menage a Trois books. Like repeatedly.
Don’t Judge. I was bored and had no internet connection to download anything else. My kindle was running out of space so I had started “deleting” the books off of it unless I was going to read it. I had been reading that series and then my internet went out. During a blizzard. It was hell.
Malice was an aphrodisiac incarnate and Wonder was the goddess they were named after. Tempt was very much a New Adult Fantasy Retelling in its totality.
The best part of both of them: they were legit booknerds. Their homes, away from home, away from home were legit libraries. Like what the hell, Natalia! Why you gotta do me like this? The booknerdiness only endeared both characters to me even more. They were perfectly imperfect. I loved them so much.
The angry flirting was all kinds of adorable. It was also one of the hottest books I’ve ever read. And this is coming from the girl who has read a whole bunch of Menage a Trois books. Like repeatedly.
Don’t Judge. I was bored and had no internet connection to download anything else. My kindle was running out of space so I had started “deleting” the books off of it unless I was going to read it. I had been reading that series and then my internet went out. During a blizzard. It was hell.
Malice was an aphrodisiac incarnate and Wonder was the goddess they were named after. Tempt was very much a New Adult Fantasy Retelling in its totality.
The best part of both of them: they were legit booknerds. Their homes, away from home, away from home were legit libraries. Like what the hell, Natalia! Why you gotta do me like this? The booknerdiness only endeared both characters to me even more. They were perfectly imperfect. I loved them so much.
July 22, 2025
✩ ✩ Arc Review - Tempt by Natalia Jaster ✩ ✩
5/5✨ 4/5🌶️
Natalia you have once again, done it again, this was 😮💨👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
this follows Wonder & Malice🖤
throughout this whole book, it was like they both were flames and no matter what they did their heat wouldn’t cool around each other, if you think the buldak spicy chicken carbonara is hot and tingly, this beats that by a long shot. it was HOT🔥🔥🔥
their backstory really connects everything together, i started tearing up with the three dogs (iykyk) 🥹 but also the backstory is so sad and it makes my heart ache for them, it’s like long lost love that you never actually got to spend time with😭 but i’m so happy they found each other, even tho it was quite some time🥺
and the last 80% 😩😩 whirlwind galore !! especially chapter 40 - 45 😭👹(w/🔥) oh and chapter 47👀
To my Wayward Star and my Wandering Star, I see your story and I loved every bit of it🖤
thank you Natalia for the Arc and letting me go down this wonderful journey with this series, I cannot believe there is only one more left after this 😭😭
as always check TW/CW
5/5✨ 4/5🌶️
Natalia you have once again, done it again, this was 😮💨👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
this follows Wonder & Malice🖤
throughout this whole book, it was like they both were flames and no matter what they did their heat wouldn’t cool around each other, if you think the buldak spicy chicken carbonara is hot and tingly, this beats that by a long shot. it was HOT🔥🔥🔥
their backstory really connects everything together, i started tearing up with the three dogs (iykyk) 🥹 but also the backstory is so sad and it makes my heart ache for them, it’s like long lost love that you never actually got to spend time with😭 but i’m so happy they found each other, even tho it was quite some time🥺
and the last 80% 😩😩 whirlwind galore !! especially chapter 40 - 45 😭👹(w/🔥) oh and chapter 47👀
To my Wayward Star and my Wandering Star, I see your story and I loved every bit of it🖤
thank you Natalia for the Arc and letting me go down this wonderful journey with this series, I cannot believe there is only one more left after this 😭😭
as always check TW/CW
July 31, 2021
I didn’t think it possible to love a couple as much as Poet and Briar from Trick, yet here I am screaming my love for Wonder and Malice from the rooftops!!
I knew their story was going to break my heart the minute I got that glimpse of Wonder’s backstory in Touch. Without a doubt, this book is my favorite out of the Selfish Myths series. Hands down. The bridled tension and spice between these two is about as potent as Briar and Poet’s. It was absolutely delicious!!
Also, this book is a rollercoaster of feels, I cried and sobbed so much. Especially during those last few chapters near the end. :*) Always count on Natalia Jaster’s characters to have a happy ever after, but you will suffer on the journey there.
Bonus points for the Hades and Persephone vibes!!!
I knew their story was going to break my heart the minute I got that glimpse of Wonder’s backstory in Touch. Without a doubt, this book is my favorite out of the Selfish Myths series. Hands down. The bridled tension and spice between these two is about as potent as Briar and Poet’s. It was absolutely delicious!!
Also, this book is a rollercoaster of feels, I cried and sobbed so much. Especially during those last few chapters near the end. :*) Always count on Natalia Jaster’s characters to have a happy ever after, but you will suffer on the journey there.
Bonus points for the Hades and Persephone vibes!!!
July 30, 2025
love Malice and Wonders story!
Why, hello Malice.
If you have read Natalia’s book before then you know that she has lyrical writing and the spiciest of spice! Tempt is no different!
In Tempt we are thrown back into the Dark Gods World with our attention on Malice and Wonder whose characters play off the Hades and Persephone vibes. What starts as top notch banters turns into sizzling tension. Once that tension snaps, let’s just say you should bring a fan to your reading sessions.
I loved the character building we get for Malice and Wonder and how this was really able to bring them closer together.
Although each story in the Dark Gods World focuses on a different couple, there is an over arching storyline that i cant not wait to dive back into!
Why, hello Malice.
If you have read Natalia’s book before then you know that she has lyrical writing and the spiciest of spice! Tempt is no different!
In Tempt we are thrown back into the Dark Gods World with our attention on Malice and Wonder whose characters play off the Hades and Persephone vibes. What starts as top notch banters turns into sizzling tension. Once that tension snaps, let’s just say you should bring a fan to your reading sessions.
I loved the character building we get for Malice and Wonder and how this was really able to bring them closer together.
Although each story in the Dark Gods World focuses on a different couple, there is an over arching storyline that i cant not wait to dive back into!
October 27, 2019
It's finally time for Malice and Wonder's story!
WOW! Another breathtaking story from Natalia. This series has me completely captivated. Jaster's near lyrical style will enchant you. The vivid character and world building drag you in deep with no desire for escape.
The story focuses on Wonder and Malice, with a nod towards the Hades and Persephone myths. This installment makes you crave the smell old books and wildflowers, the feel of warm sunlight from stained glass windows, the taste of pomegranates and ripe peaches. We get to visit with the previous main characters of past books, as they are all rallied together in the city filled with Celestial castoffs trying to gather information and additional exiled gods to their cause.
This is the penultimate book in the series, and the overall arc is leading towards some major revelations as we gear up for the last book in the series, Transcend. There is quite a bit of action and SO MUCH intensity; honestly some of the most romantic and angst-ridden scenes I've ever had the joy to read, which seems appropriate in telling the tale of the god of Malice and goddess of Wonder.
WOW! Another breathtaking story from Natalia. This series has me completely captivated. Jaster's near lyrical style will enchant you. The vivid character and world building drag you in deep with no desire for escape.
The story focuses on Wonder and Malice, with a nod towards the Hades and Persephone myths. This installment makes you crave the smell old books and wildflowers, the feel of warm sunlight from stained glass windows, the taste of pomegranates and ripe peaches. We get to visit with the previous main characters of past books, as they are all rallied together in the city filled with Celestial castoffs trying to gather information and additional exiled gods to their cause.
This is the penultimate book in the series, and the overall arc is leading towards some major revelations as we gear up for the last book in the series, Transcend. There is quite a bit of action and SO MUCH intensity; honestly some of the most romantic and angst-ridden scenes I've ever had the joy to read, which seems appropriate in telling the tale of the god of Malice and goddess of Wonder.
July 20, 2025
What a joy it is to be back in The Dark Fates. The tether pulling Malice and Wonder is palpable throughout the entire book, and the amount of tension and loathing between them is unreal. Yes, they do get their happily ever after, but it takes a lot of growth, acceptance, and LOVE to get there. Natalia, thank you for the ARC, it’s always a pleasure to be transported to your worlds.
December 2, 2025
This was a fantastic entry in a series of interconnected standalones. This is a Hades and Persephone retelling (which I am always a sucker for) following Wonder and Malice, a fallen goddess and a reject god.
The story unfolds as the two get trapped in a library - and who wouldn't want to be with a hot god like Malice - and they have to navigate their own personal agendas along with reconciling their shared history as it comes to light.
It is heart wrenching in places, sweet in others, and 'I need a cold shower' scenes of spice. Wonder is an intelligent FMC with a broken heart, and Malice is an ultra-crispy cinnamon roll who is unhinged in the most fun ways.
This book was a fun and quick read that I absolutely loved.
I was given an advanced copy of this book and I appreciate Natalia for giving me the opportunity.
The story unfolds as the two get trapped in a library - and who wouldn't want to be with a hot god like Malice - and they have to navigate their own personal agendas along with reconciling their shared history as it comes to light.
It is heart wrenching in places, sweet in others, and 'I need a cold shower' scenes of spice. Wonder is an intelligent FMC with a broken heart, and Malice is an ultra-crispy cinnamon roll who is unhinged in the most fun ways.
This book was a fun and quick read that I absolutely loved.
I was given an advanced copy of this book and I appreciate Natalia for giving me the opportunity.
August 22, 2020
I am on the fence with this book. While I liked Tempt better than Torn I recognized a lot of the same issues that I had with the previous book in this one. It still was an enjoyable read, but it took until almost halfway through the book for me to get fully hooked.
Tempt, I was told, is supposed to be a ... retelling? A play on? Something along those lines of the myth of Hades and Persephone. Now, I am by no means an expert on that specific story so maybe I missed something, but from what I do know of it I just can’t see where in Tempt that myth took place. Sure, Malice read a book about it in the beginning and there were an abduction. However, not really though, because Wonder went with him by complete free will and was never a prisoner to him. However much I looked I just could not see any connection to Hades and Persephone’s story more than the nicknames “Demon” and “Wildflower”. Going into the story thinking and being excited that that was what it was going to be about I am a bit disappointed that the plot did not reflect it.
The plot in itself wasn’t bad though, just not what I was expecting. I liked the start point of Malice and Wonder being enemies, but still this tension and attraction between them. I really enjoyed the bickering and the competitiveness and of course I really loved Malice and his charming but devious side. Most of all I liked the mystery of the past, if Malice was who he might be and how he came to be Malice. It built up to be dramatic, or rather it should have but to me it didn’t quite reach what I was hoping for. This is where the issue from previous book came in. There was a lot of recapping instead of their interactions being written out and some skipping to make the time in the book move faster. There was also those tangents and detailed thoughts as filler pieces that, for me anyways, dulled the story a bit. Thankfully, none of this was as bad or as apparent as it was in Torn. Still, it made the story feel a bit stuck until halfway through.
As soon as the mystery began to unravel and the story took time to write out the developing relationship I finally got fully hooked. There were complex romance, lust, drama, action, everything to keep me glued to the pages. Then the most heartbreaking and beautiful moments when tragedy hit. You know a story has succeeded when you cannot do anything else but bawl your eyes out while you read. And then that sweet relief of a HEA ending that made all that heartbreak worth it in the end. Relationshipwise Tempt had a stellar ending and a beautiful middle. Just a little bit more focus on the depth in the beginning with the tension and arguments and it would have had a great romance all throughout.
The romance wasn’t all the story had though and here it’s were I have the biggest issue. Behind and between the romance is the battle for humans right to free will. It’s a beautiful idea, but sadly I do not feel that it was handled as great as it could have been. Only in the first book, Touch, do we actually see it have a realistic impact on a deity and her actions having consequences on free will. This being because that plot was immersed in the human world and with human characters. Torn and Tempt only takes place around deities and outside of humans so this big battle for free will and how every deity has grown a conscience about it feels out of place. After all, how can it be so important if these characters are outside of human civilization and only interact with each other? If you are going to have it be the main obstacle in the story then it also needs to be an immersed issue in the actual plot.
The plot was much more focused on building a romance while doing research in the archives. Them trying to find a solution to the big battle was therefore of very little interest to me and seemingly not much interest to the characters either since they where more into finding out about the past and their destiny. The solution to win the battle was just something they happened to stumble upon amongst all that and the solution in the end was very vague and felt a bit childish on a fairytale level. It made this battle feel even more forced, especially with a bunch of new deities joining them when all they had in their advantage was that vague answer to winning the battle. Oh, and the more focused research about their destiny was just as vague and having finished the book I still don’t know why Malice became Malice or why he was resurrected. The only maybe-answer I got was because the stars wanted it so.
I am always behind the enemies to lovers theme. I just wanted a bit more explanations and depth to it and the romance would have been perfect. Removing the whole free will obstacle out of the story, both in Torn and Tempt would also give it another plus since the romance being the sole focus is more than enough. I also gotta point out that I appreciate that the author tries different relationships in every book, as is even written in the story; “Strangers to lovers, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, allies to lovers.” I don’t know if this was planned by her, but as a side note with no impact whatsoever of my opinions to the series, I have also noticed that she switches sexual experience in every book; both virgins, only female virgin, only male virgin and next will be zero virgins. I am excited to read about Envy and Sorrow next and I am hoping that the big battle will actually be a bit more connected to the plot this time since it is the last book.
Tempt, I was told, is supposed to be a ... retelling? A play on? Something along those lines of the myth of Hades and Persephone. Now, I am by no means an expert on that specific story so maybe I missed something, but from what I do know of it I just can’t see where in Tempt that myth took place. Sure, Malice read a book about it in the beginning and there were an abduction. However, not really though, because Wonder went with him by complete free will and was never a prisoner to him. However much I looked I just could not see any connection to Hades and Persephone’s story more than the nicknames “Demon” and “Wildflower”. Going into the story thinking and being excited that that was what it was going to be about I am a bit disappointed that the plot did not reflect it.
The plot in itself wasn’t bad though, just not what I was expecting. I liked the start point of Malice and Wonder being enemies, but still this tension and attraction between them. I really enjoyed the bickering and the competitiveness and of course I really loved Malice and his charming but devious side. Most of all I liked the mystery of the past, if Malice was who he might be and how he came to be Malice. It built up to be dramatic, or rather it should have but to me it didn’t quite reach what I was hoping for. This is where the issue from previous book came in. There was a lot of recapping instead of their interactions being written out and some skipping to make the time in the book move faster. There was also those tangents and detailed thoughts as filler pieces that, for me anyways, dulled the story a bit. Thankfully, none of this was as bad or as apparent as it was in Torn. Still, it made the story feel a bit stuck until halfway through.
As soon as the mystery began to unravel and the story took time to write out the developing relationship I finally got fully hooked. There were complex romance, lust, drama, action, everything to keep me glued to the pages. Then the most heartbreaking and beautiful moments when tragedy hit. You know a story has succeeded when you cannot do anything else but bawl your eyes out while you read. And then that sweet relief of a HEA ending that made all that heartbreak worth it in the end. Relationshipwise Tempt had a stellar ending and a beautiful middle. Just a little bit more focus on the depth in the beginning with the tension and arguments and it would have had a great romance all throughout.
The romance wasn’t all the story had though and here it’s were I have the biggest issue. Behind and between the romance is the battle for humans right to free will. It’s a beautiful idea, but sadly I do not feel that it was handled as great as it could have been. Only in the first book, Touch, do we actually see it have a realistic impact on a deity and her actions having consequences on free will. This being because that plot was immersed in the human world and with human characters. Torn and Tempt only takes place around deities and outside of humans so this big battle for free will and how every deity has grown a conscience about it feels out of place. After all, how can it be so important if these characters are outside of human civilization and only interact with each other? If you are going to have it be the main obstacle in the story then it also needs to be an immersed issue in the actual plot.
The plot was much more focused on building a romance while doing research in the archives. Them trying to find a solution to the big battle was therefore of very little interest to me and seemingly not much interest to the characters either since they where more into finding out about the past and their destiny. The solution to win the battle was just something they happened to stumble upon amongst all that and the solution in the end was very vague and felt a bit childish on a fairytale level. It made this battle feel even more forced, especially with a bunch of new deities joining them when all they had in their advantage was that vague answer to winning the battle. Oh, and the more focused research about their destiny was just as vague and having finished the book I still don’t know why Malice became Malice or why he was resurrected. The only maybe-answer I got was because the stars wanted it so.
I am always behind the enemies to lovers theme. I just wanted a bit more explanations and depth to it and the romance would have been perfect. Removing the whole free will obstacle out of the story, both in Torn and Tempt would also give it another plus since the romance being the sole focus is more than enough. I also gotta point out that I appreciate that the author tries different relationships in every book, as is even written in the story; “Strangers to lovers, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, allies to lovers.” I don’t know if this was planned by her, but as a side note with no impact whatsoever of my opinions to the series, I have also noticed that she switches sexual experience in every book; both virgins, only female virgin, only male virgin and next will be zero virgins. I am excited to read about Envy and Sorrow next and I am hoping that the big battle will actually be a bit more connected to the plot this time since it is the last book.
June 27, 2025
esse foi bem mais intenso do que os dois primeiros eu amei
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews