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In The Dark
Isa has spent her entire life serving the Veiled Brotherhood, and the last thing she wants is to fail her mission as an elite assassin. Trained to be silent, swift, and unseen, failure isn't just disgrace––it's punishable. Only now, death hovers in the air as she secretly searches for her parents behind King Elion's back.
But when she's sent to eliminate her newest target, she comes face-to-face with Alec, a Fae male who remembers everything she's lost, unraveling a past that was stolen from her.
Now, Isa begins to have more questions about the Fae who evaded death by her blade, a past she can't remember, and the strange auburn birthmark in her hair.
As secrets of her stolen past continue to unravel, Isa is thrust into a world of her own growing magic, royal bloodlines, and a love she never expected to find in a Fae who refuses to let her go.
To survive, Isa must embrace the power she was never meant to have, even if it costs her everything.
In The Dark will appeal to fans who love stories with a slow-burn romance, found identities, love triangles, political intrigue, and memory-twisted truths.
But when she's sent to eliminate her newest target, she comes face-to-face with Alec, a Fae male who remembers everything she's lost, unraveling a past that was stolen from her.
Now, Isa begins to have more questions about the Fae who evaded death by her blade, a past she can't remember, and the strange auburn birthmark in her hair.
As secrets of her stolen past continue to unravel, Isa is thrust into a world of her own growing magic, royal bloodlines, and a love she never expected to find in a Fae who refuses to let her go.
To survive, Isa must embrace the power she was never meant to have, even if it costs her everything.
In The Dark will appeal to fans who love stories with a slow-burn romance, found identities, love triangles, political intrigue, and memory-twisted truths.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
17 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
September 20, 2025
Hi, I'm the author. Since I've read this book about a million times and cried during editing–considered not publishing at all–I figured I'd rate it. :)
Do I hope readers love it as much as me? Yes.
Do I hope readers also lose their minds in epilogue and spiral into theories? Also yes.
Could it potentially be a tragic love story? Maybe, we'll have to wait until book 2 to find out.
And to make you spiral more... I foreshadowed a lot and sprinkled hints throughout the entire book hehe Good luck and happy reading!
Do I hope readers love it as much as me? Yes.
Do I hope readers also lose their minds in epilogue and spiral into theories? Also yes.
Could it potentially be a tragic love story? Maybe, we'll have to wait until book 2 to find out.
And to make you spiral more... I foreshadowed a lot and sprinkled hints throughout the entire book hehe Good luck and happy reading!
September 3, 2025
⭐ ~ARC Review~ ⭐
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
My Thoughts:
First of all, the cliffhanger?! I NEED book two immediately. That ending, that epilogue… I actually gasped.
In the Dark follows Isa, an orphan taken in by the king who now serves as a highly skilled assassin in the Brotherhood, carrying out his most dangerous tasks. But when she discovers hidden truths about her life, she sets out to find answers that could change everything.
This book simply had me in a chokehold. I was finding excuses to read it during breaks at work, completely hooked. The pacing felt seamless! I never once checked how many pages were left! By the time I hit the ending, I was sad that it had ended, desperate for more.
What impressed me most was how much this story brought to the table. It has all the right ingredients to become a standout in the fantasy genre. One of my favorite aspects was how conflict was handled. I personally dislike when conflict feels too intense, to the point of secondhand embarrassment, but that never happened here. Every moment felt authentic and natural, like I was working through it alongside the characters.
If you love a slow-burn romance, immersive fantasy worlds with magic, and lovable characters, this book is absolutely for you.
Final Thoughts:
A gripping, addictive fantasy debut that left me wanting more. I’ll be first in line for book two!!
✨ ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to C.J. Blaire for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
My Thoughts:
First of all, the cliffhanger?! I NEED book two immediately. That ending, that epilogue… I actually gasped.
In the Dark follows Isa, an orphan taken in by the king who now serves as a highly skilled assassin in the Brotherhood, carrying out his most dangerous tasks. But when she discovers hidden truths about her life, she sets out to find answers that could change everything.
This book simply had me in a chokehold. I was finding excuses to read it during breaks at work, completely hooked. The pacing felt seamless! I never once checked how many pages were left! By the time I hit the ending, I was sad that it had ended, desperate for more.
What impressed me most was how much this story brought to the table. It has all the right ingredients to become a standout in the fantasy genre. One of my favorite aspects was how conflict was handled. I personally dislike when conflict feels too intense, to the point of secondhand embarrassment, but that never happened here. Every moment felt authentic and natural, like I was working through it alongside the characters.
If you love a slow-burn romance, immersive fantasy worlds with magic, and lovable characters, this book is absolutely for you.
Final Thoughts:
A gripping, addictive fantasy debut that left me wanting more. I’ll be first in line for book two!!
✨ ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to C.J. Blaire for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2025
Thank you so much C.J. Blaire for an ARC copy of this book!
THIS WAS SO FUN!
4.25⭐️
I absolutely loved this book! From the beginning, story pulls you in and keeps you hooked. Every chapter leaves you needing to know more, and the suspense and angst building with every page. The book has themes of betrayal, secrets, and found family, and my favorite part was never quite knowing who I could trust or even who I should be rooting for!!!!! Of course, the book ends with a cliffhanger that makes me desperate for the next book in the series. The writing was amazing and so compelling. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. Can’t wait for book 2 🖤🗝️♣️🕷️
THIS WAS SO FUN!
4.25⭐️
I absolutely loved this book! From the beginning, story pulls you in and keeps you hooked. Every chapter leaves you needing to know more, and the suspense and angst building with every page. The book has themes of betrayal, secrets, and found family, and my favorite part was never quite knowing who I could trust or even who I should be rooting for!!!!! Of course, the book ends with a cliffhanger that makes me desperate for the next book in the series. The writing was amazing and so compelling. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. Can’t wait for book 2 🖤🗝️♣️🕷️
October 12, 2025
ARC review! Thank you so much for sending me an arc copy of this book. I read reviews before I started so I knew this book was gonna be amazing but nothing prepared me for how much I absolutely loved this book! The writing style is amazing and the character development was on point. I can’t wait for this to be released for everyone can experience this story. I already can’t wait until her next book is released!
September 7, 2025
ARC review
🌶 🌶
Wow, you can tell this author loves to create stories because the storyline, plot, characters, and world were fantastic!
overall quick review: badass fmc that finds loving people hard and has so many questions about her past. An mmc who is willing to build the world down for her(he falls first). I think this is a fantastic start to a series! I definitely think that if your a fan of fantasy romance you should check this one out!
Our fmc grew up as a trained assassin for the king when she was 5 and taken from the orphanage.
She wants to figure out who her parents are and where she comes from. Well, nothing is as simple as that, and the question of who she can trust and who her parents are leads her down an interesting path.
She is broken. You can tell that her childhood shaped who she is, and she doesn't easily trust or connect with others. She keeps her feelings bottled up but always searches for that family.
We follow her down the path of figuring out who she truly is and finding her memories.
Our mmc is dominat, controlling, badass, and powerful! He has the charisma we all look for in our mmc. he is definitely willing ingredients to burn the world down for her, and he leaves all his responsibilities to bring her home.
For fans of
-fated mates
-found identity
-mystery
-strong fmc
-twisted memories
-He falls first
🌶 🌶
Wow, you can tell this author loves to create stories because the storyline, plot, characters, and world were fantastic!
overall quick review: badass fmc that finds loving people hard and has so many questions about her past. An mmc who is willing to build the world down for her(he falls first). I think this is a fantastic start to a series! I definitely think that if your a fan of fantasy romance you should check this one out!
Our fmc grew up as a trained assassin for the king when she was 5 and taken from the orphanage.
She wants to figure out who her parents are and where she comes from. Well, nothing is as simple as that, and the question of who she can trust and who her parents are leads her down an interesting path.
She is broken. You can tell that her childhood shaped who she is, and she doesn't easily trust or connect with others. She keeps her feelings bottled up but always searches for that family.
We follow her down the path of figuring out who she truly is and finding her memories.
Our mmc is dominat, controlling, badass, and powerful! He has the charisma we all look for in our mmc. he is definitely willing ingredients to burn the world down for her, and he leaves all his responsibilities to bring her home.
For fans of
-fated mates
-found identity
-mystery
-strong fmc
-twisted memories
-He falls first
September 21, 2025
C.J. Blaire is a mastermind and definitely caused me to have a book hangover 😭❤️
Isa is the FMC, adopted from an orphanage to be trained in King Elion's Veiled Brotherhood of assassins, and becomes a true badass. However, she is conflicted and wants to learn of her true parents and live a life of freedom.
During a mission, Isa is tasked with handling a man named Alec Thorne. To our surprise, this man is our MMC, and you will be SHOCKED at who he actually is 😏 he is everything you'd want in a MMC and gives all the good vibes 🤤
Let me just say... this book had me HOOKED from the very beginning. I was flipping pages faster than the Roadrunner being chased by Wile E. Coyote. The secrets unraveling, the slow burn perfection, and the twists and turns were so well written that I couldn't tear my eyes from the pages. AND THE SPICE!!! Ughhhh. So worth the wait! Ms. Blaire, queen of romantasy, I need the second book already! That cliffhanger definitely has my head spinning. I am shocked that this is her first book, and I am so thankful she took the leap because the romance readers will fall in love with this story! Don't hesitate, dive in face first, and have your mind blown 😏
*Make sure to read the trigger warnings. I had no issues with the listed trigger, but every reader is different!*
🩶enemies to lovers
🩶fated mates
🩶strong FMC
🩶found family
🩶secret identities
🩶slow burn
🩶magic and supernatural beings
🩶intricate worldbuilding
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Isa is the FMC, adopted from an orphanage to be trained in King Elion's Veiled Brotherhood of assassins, and becomes a true badass. However, she is conflicted and wants to learn of her true parents and live a life of freedom.
During a mission, Isa is tasked with handling a man named Alec Thorne. To our surprise, this man is our MMC, and you will be SHOCKED at who he actually is 😏 he is everything you'd want in a MMC and gives all the good vibes 🤤
Let me just say... this book had me HOOKED from the very beginning. I was flipping pages faster than the Roadrunner being chased by Wile E. Coyote. The secrets unraveling, the slow burn perfection, and the twists and turns were so well written that I couldn't tear my eyes from the pages. AND THE SPICE!!! Ughhhh. So worth the wait! Ms. Blaire, queen of romantasy, I need the second book already! That cliffhanger definitely has my head spinning. I am shocked that this is her first book, and I am so thankful she took the leap because the romance readers will fall in love with this story! Don't hesitate, dive in face first, and have your mind blown 😏
*Make sure to read the trigger warnings. I had no issues with the listed trigger, but every reader is different!*
🩶enemies to lovers
🩶fated mates
🩶strong FMC
🩶found family
🩶secret identities
🩶slow burn
🩶magic and supernatural beings
🩶intricate worldbuilding
🌶️🌶️🌶️
November 2, 2025
5 stars is not enough. I need 7 stars to be an option. I loved this book. The physical is on my holiday wishlist and if no one gifts it to me, I will be gifting it to myself. I loved this book. The twists and the chemistry was amazing. This was a top read for me this year!
Isa is a bada$$ assassin who has been trained to be part of the Brotherhood since she was 5 years old. Rydain is someone she is ordered to k1ll. I could tell you the whole thing, but honestly just read it. It won't disappoint.
Unfortunately, there is a cliffhanger and I don't know when the next one will be here.
✨️Strong FMC
✨️Fae MMC
✨️Slow Burn
✨️Found Family
✨️He Falls First
✨️🌶🌶🌶
✨️Cliffhanger
Isa is a bada$$ assassin who has been trained to be part of the Brotherhood since she was 5 years old. Rydain is someone she is ordered to k1ll. I could tell you the whole thing, but honestly just read it. It won't disappoint.
Unfortunately, there is a cliffhanger and I don't know when the next one will be here.
✨️Strong FMC
✨️Fae MMC
✨️Slow Burn
✨️Found Family
✨️He Falls First
✨️🌶🌶🌶
✨️Cliffhanger
November 18, 2025
Ohmygosh this was just the BEST
September 8, 2025
Amazing first arc read! 100% recommend. One of my top reads this year and I liked it more than acotar and that’s saying a lot cuz I love acotar lol get it and read it Nov1 you won’t be disappointed!
September 4, 2025
The absolute chokehold this book had on me! It hasn’t even been released yet, and I’m desperately CRAVING the next!!!
Epic world building! Fantastically written characters! Witty banter and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout!
Can’t recommend this one enough!
Thank you so much to C.J Blaire for allowing me to be on the ARC team. I feel so fortunate I got to read this one early!
Epic world building! Fantastically written characters! Witty banter and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout!
Can’t recommend this one enough!
Thank you so much to C.J Blaire for allowing me to be on the ARC team. I feel so fortunate I got to read this one early!
September 4, 2025
4.5⭐️. What an ending!! This was an easy and enjoyable read. You cannot go wrong with a badass FMC. She’s in the Brotherhood as an assassin. 2 kings, found family, a unique magic system…. All the things I love in a book. This was paced well and what a story for a debut!!
Thanks so much for the ARC. This comes out November 1st. I already need the second book. Our girl is gonna have some decisions to make. I just know it.
Thanks so much for the ARC. This comes out November 1st. I already need the second book. Our girl is gonna have some decisions to make. I just know it.
August 25, 2025
ARC Review ✨
Thank you C.J. Blaire for allowing me to do this.
This book, you guys, wow. I loved every minute of it and honestly had a hard time putting it down to step back into reality 😂
I love that the characters are aged up, 25-30 years old. While I’m open to read just about anything, it’s always nice to see characters closer to my own age vs teens.
I fell in love with three characters in particular (I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say it was two males and a female, iykyk) and that ending, whew. I cannot wait for the next book.
It’s rare that I give 5 star book reviews but this is definitely worthy and one of my favorite reads this year.
Fated Mates
Assassin FMC
Aged Up
3/5 🌶️
Slow Burn
Found Identity
Thank you C.J. Blaire for allowing me to do this.
This book, you guys, wow. I loved every minute of it and honestly had a hard time putting it down to step back into reality 😂
I love that the characters are aged up, 25-30 years old. While I’m open to read just about anything, it’s always nice to see characters closer to my own age vs teens.
I fell in love with three characters in particular (I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say it was two males and a female, iykyk) and that ending, whew. I cannot wait for the next book.
It’s rare that I give 5 star book reviews but this is definitely worthy and one of my favorite reads this year.
Fated Mates
Assassin FMC
Aged Up
3/5 🌶️
Slow Burn
Found Identity
October 8, 2025
ARC REVIEW
I just finished In the Dark by C. J. Blaire and I am SCREAMING!!! Girl, how could you do this to us?!
Blaire is absolutely an author to watch—her writing stands shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Maas and Yarros. If you’re a fan of Throne of Glass, this book is going to be your new obsession.
We’ve got a stabby, badass assassin FMC who somehow has her life more together than most people I know, yet still feels so relatable in the best ways. Then there’s the love interest (or two 👀)—the kind of characters who would kill for her… and honestly? I’d die for them too. 😍
The worldbuilding is rich, layered, and some of the best I’ve read in a long time. Every character, whether they’re front and center or just passing through, feels real, lovable, and worth knowing everything about.
In the Dark hooked me from the very first page and refused to let go. I devoured it in one sitting, and now I’m left absolutely desperate for the next book. With an ending like THAT… Blaire, how am I supposed to survive the wait?!
I just finished In the Dark by C. J. Blaire and I am SCREAMING!!! Girl, how could you do this to us?!
Blaire is absolutely an author to watch—her writing stands shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Maas and Yarros. If you’re a fan of Throne of Glass, this book is going to be your new obsession.
We’ve got a stabby, badass assassin FMC who somehow has her life more together than most people I know, yet still feels so relatable in the best ways. Then there’s the love interest (or two 👀)—the kind of characters who would kill for her… and honestly? I’d die for them too. 😍
The worldbuilding is rich, layered, and some of the best I’ve read in a long time. Every character, whether they’re front and center or just passing through, feels real, lovable, and worth knowing everything about.
In the Dark hooked me from the very first page and refused to let go. I devoured it in one sitting, and now I’m left absolutely desperate for the next book. With an ending like THAT… Blaire, how am I supposed to survive the wait?!
November 3, 2025
Thank you C. J. Blaine for an ARC copy of this book! I enjoyed this immensely & CANNOT wait for book two! THAT CLIFFHANGER!? You’re joking- I had so many internal thoughts and pieces and you still leave me wanting more to put together. So excited for my physical copy to arrive, it’s made it from my kindle to my bookshelf ⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️
October 12, 2025
✨ ARC Review | In The Dark (Unbound Fate #1) ✨
by CJ Blaire
In The Dark pulls you into a slow burn fantasy world filled with betrayal, found family, and deep-rooted secrets. It’s the perfect mix of tension, heart, and fate — and yes, he definitely falls first for his fated mate 😍
The female main character is an absolute badass, strong in every sense of the word, and so easy to root for. Just when I thought I could breathe, that cliffhanger ending left me gasping for air!
I need book two immediately!! The wait will be complete torture!!!
🔥 In The Dark releases November 1st on Amazon — pre-order now!!!
by CJ Blaire
In The Dark pulls you into a slow burn fantasy world filled with betrayal, found family, and deep-rooted secrets. It’s the perfect mix of tension, heart, and fate — and yes, he definitely falls first for his fated mate 😍
The female main character is an absolute badass, strong in every sense of the word, and so easy to root for. Just when I thought I could breathe, that cliffhanger ending left me gasping for air!
I need book two immediately!! The wait will be complete torture!!!
🔥 In The Dark releases November 1st on Amazon — pre-order now!!!
September 16, 2025
ARC REVIEW
This book is written well and the story flows without losing any detail that will take away from the main plot as well as any subplots along the way. It shows the author was a true passion of writing fantasy with well built worlds, well rounded characters, plots with twists & turns, and that slow burn romance that has your toes curling (in a good way).
Let's talk about our FMC that's a strong woman who's a highly trained assassin in the Veiled Brotherhood led by the King. This all sounds familiar right? But what I like the most of this story is that the characters are all older which makes more sense than having little 18 year olds trying to save the world with their horrible decision making skills. Isa is tough, doesn't trust easily, and is an orphan which she doesn't believe. So whenever she goes on these assignments for the King, she detours to find out where her parents are and/or who they were. On one of these assignments, she meets our MMC who goes by one name but is another with a big secret.
Alec aka Rydian is our MMC with secrets hidden from Isa until later in the book. His story is a whirlwind of so many events coming to a head which is meeting Isa that night. Rydian is charismatic, powerful, controlling, and mysterious. Isa and Rydian have amazing banter that had me cackling. I really like their love hate relationship towards each other. It made for their chemistry to be explosive at times and so mellow it had me screaming at them to do something! Also can we talk about Ren? He is definitely a second interest to Isa but we don't really know if he's a love interest or just a mystery to be solved. I did have more of an interest in him mainly because he was the grumpy, quiet type.
The story is a few plots from different characters that ends with such a twist that if you were not paying super close attention, you could have been blindsided. With fated mates, twisted truths about the past, hidden memories, betrayal, slow burn romance, this story had me full invested and I couldn't put it down. The cliffhanger had me hurting and in agony but in the best possible way. It has be craving the second book like NOW!!
This book is written well and the story flows without losing any detail that will take away from the main plot as well as any subplots along the way. It shows the author was a true passion of writing fantasy with well built worlds, well rounded characters, plots with twists & turns, and that slow burn romance that has your toes curling (in a good way).
Let's talk about our FMC that's a strong woman who's a highly trained assassin in the Veiled Brotherhood led by the King. This all sounds familiar right? But what I like the most of this story is that the characters are all older which makes more sense than having little 18 year olds trying to save the world with their horrible decision making skills. Isa is tough, doesn't trust easily, and is an orphan which she doesn't believe. So whenever she goes on these assignments for the King, she detours to find out where her parents are and/or who they were. On one of these assignments, she meets our MMC who goes by one name but is another with a big secret.
Alec aka Rydian is our MMC with secrets hidden from Isa until later in the book. His story is a whirlwind of so many events coming to a head which is meeting Isa that night. Rydian is charismatic, powerful, controlling, and mysterious. Isa and Rydian have amazing banter that had me cackling. I really like their love hate relationship towards each other. It made for their chemistry to be explosive at times and so mellow it had me screaming at them to do something! Also can we talk about Ren? He is definitely a second interest to Isa but we don't really know if he's a love interest or just a mystery to be solved. I did have more of an interest in him mainly because he was the grumpy, quiet type.
The story is a few plots from different characters that ends with such a twist that if you were not paying super close attention, you could have been blindsided. With fated mates, twisted truths about the past, hidden memories, betrayal, slow burn romance, this story had me full invested and I couldn't put it down. The cliffhanger had me hurting and in agony but in the best possible way. It has be craving the second book like NOW!!
December 7, 2025
I really enjoyed In the Dark — it’s the kind of fantasy-romance that grabs you early and doesn’t let go. The heroine, Isa, is a badass assassin with a tangled past, and I found her internal conflict and drive to uncover the truth compelling. The slow-burn romance between her and the male lead is deliciously tension-filled, and the chemistry, banter, and mystery simmer perfectly without becoming overwhelming. The worldbuilding has a richness and magic system that feels fresh — I appreciated the layers of intrigue, secrets, and shifting loyalties.
That said, I’m giving it four stars instead of five because there were a few moments where the pacing stumbled: all of the twists felt predictable, and some of the character-relationship developments (especially toward the end) could’ve used a bit more depth. Also, the cliffhanger, while exciting, left a fair amount unresolved, which made me nervous for book two.
Bottom line: In the Dark is a strong, page-turning start to what promises to be an addictive series. If you love moral ambiguity, slow-burn romance, secret identities, and magical intrigue, go for it. Just be prepared to want book two immediately.
I can’t wait to see what CJ Blaire does next though, for a debut novel and author this was pretty good. I’m excited for her career and to continue reading her works!
That said, I’m giving it four stars instead of five because there were a few moments where the pacing stumbled: all of the twists felt predictable, and some of the character-relationship developments (especially toward the end) could’ve used a bit more depth. Also, the cliffhanger, while exciting, left a fair amount unresolved, which made me nervous for book two.
Bottom line: In the Dark is a strong, page-turning start to what promises to be an addictive series. If you love moral ambiguity, slow-burn romance, secret identities, and magical intrigue, go for it. Just be prepared to want book two immediately.
I can’t wait to see what CJ Blaire does next though, for a debut novel and author this was pretty good. I’m excited for her career and to continue reading her works!
September 7, 2025
ARC Review - This book releases November 1st ~run do not walk to pick it up!!!!
The book has TOG vibes but more grown up. We have fated mates, memory & twisted truth, found identity, unique magic, and an assassin heroine that is NOT 18 years old! The slow burn is immaculate and you will be more than 60% of the way through the book before there is some relief in the tension. She is not meek and mild and definitely wears her sassy pants daily creating great banter. There are plot twists and the cliffhanger is appropriate in the story, deliciously evil and I am screaming right now as I know I have to wait!!!! Its a true love-hate relationship I have with cliffhangers. I rate this as 3.5 chili peppers out of 5. The romance is in the right place and does not override the plot, it is steamy, explicit, and open door. Definitely an 18+ book.
The characters and this world are in my brain even when I am not reading. I have a new book boyfriend in my top 5!!! Burn the world~eyes on me~deliciously flirty.
The book has TOG vibes but more grown up. We have fated mates, memory & twisted truth, found identity, unique magic, and an assassin heroine that is NOT 18 years old! The slow burn is immaculate and you will be more than 60% of the way through the book before there is some relief in the tension. She is not meek and mild and definitely wears her sassy pants daily creating great banter. There are plot twists and the cliffhanger is appropriate in the story, deliciously evil and I am screaming right now as I know I have to wait!!!! Its a true love-hate relationship I have with cliffhangers. I rate this as 3.5 chili peppers out of 5. The romance is in the right place and does not override the plot, it is steamy, explicit, and open door. Definitely an 18+ book.
The characters and this world are in my brain even when I am not reading. I have a new book boyfriend in my top 5!!! Burn the world~eyes on me~deliciously flirty.
September 21, 2025
Honored to receive an e-ARC of this book!
This book immediately grabbed me and kept me in a tight grip! Putting it down was incredibly difficult and I ended up excessively binging 😅
5 STARS ALL THE WAY
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
In depth review:
The plot continued to hold my attention throughout and the author does an excellent job of explaining everything so it feels like high fantasy without the confusing complexity we sometimes see.
Isa, the MFC, is actually super relatable and feisty. I really enjoyed connecting with her character and seeing the world through her POV. Love the MMC as well, it's cool to see a MMC that is obviously important but not the main attraction - he can disappear from the MFCs life for a little bit and she's still takin care of business 💪
The cliff hanger is ROUGH. I want the next book immediately! There are so many themes and characters left to explore, and I'm here for it!
Overall, this was a wonderful read and I would highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy and is okay with spice, as there are numerous spicy scenes.
This book immediately grabbed me and kept me in a tight grip! Putting it down was incredibly difficult and I ended up excessively binging 😅
5 STARS ALL THE WAY
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
In depth review:
The plot continued to hold my attention throughout and the author does an excellent job of explaining everything so it feels like high fantasy without the confusing complexity we sometimes see.
Isa, the MFC, is actually super relatable and feisty. I really enjoyed connecting with her character and seeing the world through her POV. Love the MMC as well, it's cool to see a MMC that is obviously important but not the main attraction - he can disappear from the MFCs life for a little bit and she's still takin care of business 💪
The cliff hanger is ROUGH. I want the next book immediately! There are so many themes and characters left to explore, and I'm here for it!
Overall, this was a wonderful read and I would highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy and is okay with spice, as there are numerous spicy scenes.
October 15, 2025
I loved every second of this book. I cannot wait for book 2 in this series! ( Also, would you look at the cover! It's gorgeous! )
I loved seeing the progression of Isa and Ryidian's relationship. I'm so excited to see where this romantasy world goes! If you're looking for a new fantasy book to be obsessed with, then you've come to the right place. In The Dark left me stunned!
I loved seeing Isa as the FMC. She was strong, resilient, and honestly just a badass. But don't get me started on the MMC, Ryidian is the new fae male to obsess over! He's so charming and just perfect! Oh, and did I say he was king?
Please just read In The Dark by C. J. Blaire, you won't be disappointed. The world-building, the storytelling, and the character development, all of it is just exquisite! I am so happy to have been an ARC reader for the start of the series, and I am so excited to follow along on this author's journey!
I loved seeing the progression of Isa and Ryidian's relationship. I'm so excited to see where this romantasy world goes! If you're looking for a new fantasy book to be obsessed with, then you've come to the right place. In The Dark left me stunned!
I loved seeing Isa as the FMC. She was strong, resilient, and honestly just a badass. But don't get me started on the MMC, Ryidian is the new fae male to obsess over! He's so charming and just perfect! Oh, and did I say he was king?
Please just read In The Dark by C. J. Blaire, you won't be disappointed. The world-building, the storytelling, and the character development, all of it is just exquisite! I am so happy to have been an ARC reader for the start of the series, and I am so excited to follow along on this author's journey!
September 1, 2025
I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
NOTE: Please read any and all trigger warnings.
Personally, this is a 4.5 star read, but I would never round down, hence the 5 stars.
Spice is a 3, only because while it's there, it's only sprinkled into the story. It's still hot🔥. Trust me when I say it's a SLOWBURN.
Ok, on to the actual review:
I loved both female and male main characters, Isa and Rydian. With everything that Isa has been through, she remains strong, level-headed, and calculating. She's brave and quite literally deadly.
Rydian is mysterious, charming, and obviously handsome. But does he have his own agenda?
You have Ezra <-- I had a feeling about him, and I was right. I'm not giving that away, though, as I keep my reviews spoiler free.
And then you have the secretive and also deadly, Ren. <--- This guy right here!? There is definitely more than meets the eye with this one.
I struggled so much to put this book down, but since I haven't won the lottery yet, I have to keep working. Now, was this book in my hand during my two 15 min breaks? Yes. Was it in my hands during lunch? Yes. Cooking? Also, YES! Where am I going with this? Simple.
GET. THE. BOOK! Thank me later, and as always...
Happy Reading.
Note to author:
I want to thank everyone who motivated you to release this book. You're so selfish for wanting to keep it to yourself, LOL, just kidding, but seriously. Now tell them to motivate you for an early release of book 2. (I really need to know if Im right about Ren.)
NOTE: Please read any and all trigger warnings.
Personally, this is a 4.5 star read, but I would never round down, hence the 5 stars.
Spice is a 3, only because while it's there, it's only sprinkled into the story. It's still hot🔥. Trust me when I say it's a SLOWBURN.
Ok, on to the actual review:
I loved both female and male main characters, Isa and Rydian. With everything that Isa has been through, she remains strong, level-headed, and calculating. She's brave and quite literally deadly.
Rydian is mysterious, charming, and obviously handsome. But does he have his own agenda?
You have Ezra <-- I had a feeling about him, and I was right. I'm not giving that away, though, as I keep my reviews spoiler free.
And then you have the secretive and also deadly, Ren. <--- This guy right here!? There is definitely more than meets the eye with this one.
I struggled so much to put this book down, but since I haven't won the lottery yet, I have to keep working. Now, was this book in my hand during my two 15 min breaks? Yes. Was it in my hands during lunch? Yes. Cooking? Also, YES! Where am I going with this? Simple.
GET. THE. BOOK! Thank me later, and as always...
Happy Reading.
Note to author:
I want to thank everyone who motivated you to release this book. You're so selfish for wanting to keep it to yourself, LOL, just kidding, but seriously. Now tell them to motivate you for an early release of book 2. (I really need to know if Im right about Ren.)
September 22, 2025
My official review!
I honestly have no clue how to start this! This is one of my top reads for 2025! If you love a book with fae, complex but understandable magic system, mates, forced proximity, enemies to lovers this is the book for you.
We have a few main characters in this story, all of them are well written and expressed. Our FMC is a strong powerhouse who can handle her own. We have our cinnamon roll/golden retriever MMC’s, as well as some refreshing side characters.
This book has gotten me out of my book slump and I will be recommending it to everyone!! I don’t want to give an any spoilers but I want to leave you with a snip of a quote!
“… I don’t think you understand how insane you make me-you quite literally set my world on fire.”
Please please please give this book a read once it’s released you won’t regret it at all!
I honestly have no clue how to start this! This is one of my top reads for 2025! If you love a book with fae, complex but understandable magic system, mates, forced proximity, enemies to lovers this is the book for you.
We have a few main characters in this story, all of them are well written and expressed. Our FMC is a strong powerhouse who can handle her own. We have our cinnamon roll/golden retriever MMC’s, as well as some refreshing side characters.
This book has gotten me out of my book slump and I will be recommending it to everyone!! I don’t want to give an any spoilers but I want to leave you with a snip of a quote!
“… I don’t think you understand how insane you make me-you quite literally set my world on fire.”
Please please please give this book a read once it’s released you won’t regret it at all!
September 9, 2025
I read a lot of dark “Romantasy” so some elements will inevitably be predictable. Yet this book still managed to capture my attention and develop a storyline unlike many I’ve read. I loved this book and didn’t want to put it down. And then the last line of the epilogue blew my mind! I’m still reeling and processing… I’m fully invested and ready for the sequel. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but will say the slow burn is well done, although the spice felt a bit rushed. I also think there was some character relationship development that was skimmed over (even though the relationship was predictable), that would make for a better flowing read. I honestly wish a lot of the story lines and characters were more developed, but it makes for a concise read and still gets the point across. This is a definite recommend for me.
November 8, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
OH MY GOSH AM I SPIRALLING AT THAT ENDING?!?! 🤯 I had thoughts and theories throughout the book and wasn’t sure if I was correct in them. And let me just say, I called some of it, but the other bits. The ending left me questioning even more, and now I don’t know who is who and who I can actually trust! Between assassins, lost royalty, enemies hiding in plain sight, to secrets you would never have guessed, made this book such a fun read. I will say, the only thing that bothered me a bit, was some of the time jumps between chapters. The flow of them sometimes wasn’t the greatest. Like after the ending of a chapter, I was expecting to learn more in the next chapter, but it time jumps by a few days sometimes. It’s in these moments I would have liked to see more detail, in order to learn more about some things that were taking place. Instead we mainly saw the aftermath. This didn’t happen after every chapter, but a few here and there. Minus this bit, I thoroughly did enjoy this book and I’m dying for book 2, because I need to know if my questions and theories are correct. 🫣
OH MY GOSH AM I SPIRALLING AT THAT ENDING?!?! 🤯 I had thoughts and theories throughout the book and wasn’t sure if I was correct in them. And let me just say, I called some of it, but the other bits. The ending left me questioning even more, and now I don’t know who is who and who I can actually trust! Between assassins, lost royalty, enemies hiding in plain sight, to secrets you would never have guessed, made this book such a fun read. I will say, the only thing that bothered me a bit, was some of the time jumps between chapters. The flow of them sometimes wasn’t the greatest. Like after the ending of a chapter, I was expecting to learn more in the next chapter, but it time jumps by a few days sometimes. It’s in these moments I would have liked to see more detail, in order to learn more about some things that were taking place. Instead we mainly saw the aftermath. This didn’t happen after every chapter, but a few here and there. Minus this bit, I thoroughly did enjoy this book and I’m dying for book 2, because I need to know if my questions and theories are correct. 🫣
September 15, 2025
5⭐️ In the Dark (ARC read)
This was an incredible read! The story, the characters, the tension, yearning, plot twists I didn’t see coming! Highly highly recommended this as soon as it releases Nov 1st! You will devour it just like I did! Yep stayed up until 1am reading it!
This book is witty and clever and you will fall for the characters. The romance was delicious! I also loved the witty animal conversations they had me laughing!
🥀magic
🥀fae
🥀slow burn
🥀found family
🥀memories erased
🥀stabby FMC
🥀fated mates
🥀he falls first and harder
This was an incredible read! The story, the characters, the tension, yearning, plot twists I didn’t see coming! Highly highly recommended this as soon as it releases Nov 1st! You will devour it just like I did! Yep stayed up until 1am reading it!
This book is witty and clever and you will fall for the characters. The romance was delicious! I also loved the witty animal conversations they had me laughing!
🥀magic
🥀fae
🥀slow burn
🥀found family
🥀memories erased
🥀stabby FMC
🥀fated mates
🥀he falls first and harder
October 22, 2025
I’ve been left standing with my jaw dropped and my mind filled with thoughts. First off, I love a good enemies to lovers book. My all time favorite trope. She’s an assassin for the king and he’s a mysterious shadow daddy from another kingdom. Turns out they're more connected than she knows. The writing was amazing. It made me want to keep reading to find out what happens next. The tension and spice was so good. The ending left me with so many questions. I desperately need book two so bad. This book comes out Nov, 1st. 100% go read it.
November 19, 2025
“𝑨𝒔𝒌 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑨𝒔𝒌 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆—𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆.”
Okay wow, In the Dark was such a wild, twisty, slow-burning ride.
We follow Isa, an assassin loyal to the King and raised in the Brotherhood since she was young. She’s lethal, focused, and has no memories of who she was before this life… until a mission leads her to someone who forces everything she knows into question. From there, it’s political secrets, unraveling identity, and that slow burn tension that fuels my soul.
I did have a slower start getting into the book as there’s a bit of worldbuilding and lore loading up front, and I personally would’ve loved a little more gradual reveal of some of the big story info. But once I got in, It was over for me. I was in. Fully strapped into the ride of fate, knives, and yearning.
From there it’s
🗡️ Assassin FMC
💫 hidden identity
👑 political intrigue
🗡️ found family threads
🔥 yearning that actually burns
🖤 and a twist that made me sit up like “CJ BLAIRE??? GIRL???”
The worldbuilding is super intriguing, the banter was so good, and I’m obsessed with the characters we did get time with (looking at you, Ren. I want more of you). I’m hoping book two gives us even more depth and more of the magic system, because you KNOW that ending is setting up for something BIG.
And yes… back to that cliffhanger? I will be feral until book two is in my hands.
Huge thank you to C.J. Blaire for the eARC — I had such a fun time with this one!
Okay wow, In the Dark was such a wild, twisty, slow-burning ride.
We follow Isa, an assassin loyal to the King and raised in the Brotherhood since she was young. She’s lethal, focused, and has no memories of who she was before this life… until a mission leads her to someone who forces everything she knows into question. From there, it’s political secrets, unraveling identity, and that slow burn tension that fuels my soul.
I did have a slower start getting into the book as there’s a bit of worldbuilding and lore loading up front, and I personally would’ve loved a little more gradual reveal of some of the big story info. But once I got in, It was over for me. I was in. Fully strapped into the ride of fate, knives, and yearning.
From there it’s
🗡️ Assassin FMC
💫 hidden identity
👑 political intrigue
🗡️ found family threads
🔥 yearning that actually burns
🖤 and a twist that made me sit up like “CJ BLAIRE??? GIRL???”
The worldbuilding is super intriguing, the banter was so good, and I’m obsessed with the characters we did get time with (looking at you, Ren. I want more of you). I’m hoping book two gives us even more depth and more of the magic system, because you KNOW that ending is setting up for something BIG.
And yes… back to that cliffhanger? I will be feral until book two is in my hands.
Huge thank you to C.J. Blaire for the eARC — I had such a fun time with this one!
November 3, 2025
Super fun fantasy story. I really liked the dynamic between Isa and Rydian. There is a lot of discovering things as you go along to the story like puzzle pieces fitting into place. I really enjoyed that and then the ending really surprised me and has me invested enough to read the next book. Add this to your TBR!!
September 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first ever ARC read. In the Dark pulled me right into its fantasy world with smooth, engaging writing. The character banter was fun and entertaining, and the spice added an extra kick I loved. The ending left me wanting more.
My first ever ARC read. In the Dark pulled me right into its fantasy world with smooth, engaging writing. The character banter was fun and entertaining, and the spice added an extra kick I loved. The ending left me wanting more.
October 14, 2025
If you read ACOTAR or ToG then this book is right up your alley! I love love loved then book! It has hidden past, assassin heroine🤭, fated mates,found identity, found family! Then ending had be SHOCKED! It has some amazing plot twist! I can’t wait to read book 2!!
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