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Illusions of Lust
Calliope: I never asked to be a savior. This island has become my prison and my penance. It has rotted my soul and hollowed me into something unrecognizable. Redemption slipped through my fingers long ago, and now all I dream of is escape. Death waits for me at every turn, whispering promises of peace. Then he arrives. My Nightmare is tall, dark, and vengeful—vowing to bury me. Perhaps I’ll let him. I suppose real freedom only comes when your last breath has been stolen.
Aztyn: Calliope Veritas took everything from me. My brother’s blood stains her hands, and I’ve sworn to balance the scales with her soul. I’ve hunted monsters, and delivered justice wrapped in agony to many but she is different. There is something in her silence that sings, something in her gaze that drags me under. My obsession grows like a thorned vine, strangling reason. I think I’ll keep her close—my Little Muse—until I carve the truth from her bones.
Aztyn: Calliope Veritas took everything from me. My brother’s blood stains her hands, and I’ve sworn to balance the scales with her soul. I’ve hunted monsters, and delivered justice wrapped in agony to many but she is different. There is something in her silence that sings, something in her gaze that drags me under. My obsession grows like a thorned vine, strangling reason. I think I’ll keep her close—my Little Muse—until I carve the truth from her bones.
354 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2025
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 30, 2025
This book is DARK. Populated by inky black MCs and a side cast of fully realized characters that add another layer to the story. The writing is descriptive and flowy. Downright poetic in places. I loved the descriptions of the scenery and rooms. It really gave you a sense of the spaces within the story. There is something graphic violence that is depicted within the book. The way it was all written had it playing out like a movie in ny head!
Calliope is the epitome of feminine rage and power. In a dark and twisted way. I love a female villian and Calliope is that in spades. But she is tired... tired of being the villian, tired of being the goddess of darkness. Aztyn is her darkness come alive. He is poetic in the most melty way but he is also unhinged. His purpose on the island quickly morphs as his obsession with Calliope increases.
I absolutely devoured this book! I couldn't put it down. There are parts of this book that I know are going to stick with me for awhile!
Calliope is the epitome of feminine rage and power. In a dark and twisted way. I love a female villian and Calliope is that in spades. But she is tired... tired of being the villian, tired of being the goddess of darkness. Aztyn is her darkness come alive. He is poetic in the most melty way but he is also unhinged. His purpose on the island quickly morphs as his obsession with Calliope increases.
I absolutely devoured this book! I couldn't put it down. There are parts of this book that I know are going to stick with me for awhile!
August 7, 2025
4.5 rounded up
Calliope is a god. Or at least she is among her cult followers. She initially created an island haven meant to heal, and in a twist of fate formed a cult set to destroy. She's spinning achingly closer to ending it all, until the man meant to destroy her and everything she's created instead sets her heart ablaze.
*****
Calliope may be one of my favourite dark romance leads. She's so utterly narcissistic in a shameless and genuine way that you can't help but just accept it. Seeing her creations through her eyes is almost poetic, and you can feel her boredom stemming from how intelligent she is, and how easily she manipulates others.
Aztyn being the one who pursues her, with the intent to end her life, adds the exact excitement that pulls her out of her depression and lacklustre existence. Her thoughts behind existing as a cult leader, her community, and her co-conspirators was honestly riveting and had me burning through this novel so fast. I loved the tension that their mutual obsession brought, especially when it shifted into adoration.
Overall this is a fast-paced read, with dark themes and twisted characters that had me absolutely hooked.
*****
Thank you to the author for the Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Calliope is a god. Or at least she is among her cult followers. She initially created an island haven meant to heal, and in a twist of fate formed a cult set to destroy. She's spinning achingly closer to ending it all, until the man meant to destroy her and everything she's created instead sets her heart ablaze.
*****
Calliope may be one of my favourite dark romance leads. She's so utterly narcissistic in a shameless and genuine way that you can't help but just accept it. Seeing her creations through her eyes is almost poetic, and you can feel her boredom stemming from how intelligent she is, and how easily she manipulates others.
Aztyn being the one who pursues her, with the intent to end her life, adds the exact excitement that pulls her out of her depression and lacklustre existence. Her thoughts behind existing as a cult leader, her community, and her co-conspirators was honestly riveting and had me burning through this novel so fast. I loved the tension that their mutual obsession brought, especially when it shifted into adoration.
Overall this is a fast-paced read, with dark themes and twisted characters that had me absolutely hooked.
*****
Thank you to the author for the Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 8, 2025
Wow, wow..I just finished Illusions of Lust by Kylie Doyle and dark romance girls this book is for you!!
This book was so good and so different from many of the dark romance books I have read. I want to say the last 40% of the book was my favorite and with saying that it is not to say the start isn't good it is to say the spice be spicen at that point 🌶
“You can never escape me Calliope. I will always find you because I was always meant to find you. You could run forever, and I would be but steps behind you to hunt you into the afterlife. You run through my veins now. You’re a part of me just like I am a part of you. I’ll never let you out of my sight again.” -A
The relationship between Calliope and Aztyn is something else, she is his muse and he is her nightmare... but somehow it all works. She is the definition of female rage and he is a stubborn male. But in the end, they both end up bowing to each other.
If you like dark romance, give this one a read. Check your triggers though because there may be a few in this book... okay more than a few just check your triggers.
This book was so good and so different from many of the dark romance books I have read. I want to say the last 40% of the book was my favorite and with saying that it is not to say the start isn't good it is to say the spice be spicen at that point 🌶
“You can never escape me Calliope. I will always find you because I was always meant to find you. You could run forever, and I would be but steps behind you to hunt you into the afterlife. You run through my veins now. You’re a part of me just like I am a part of you. I’ll never let you out of my sight again.” -A
The relationship between Calliope and Aztyn is something else, she is his muse and he is her nightmare... but somehow it all works. She is the definition of female rage and he is a stubborn male. But in the end, they both end up bowing to each other.
If you like dark romance, give this one a read. Check your triggers though because there may be a few in this book... okay more than a few just check your triggers.
August 11, 2025
Illusions of Lust by Kylie Doyle is dark, twisted, and completely addictive. The writing is rich without ever dragging, painting the island and its shadows so vividly I could see every corner of it in my head. It’s violent in places, beautiful in others, and always has that edge that keeps you just a little off balance.
Calliope is everything I love in a female lead—powerful, sharp, and unapologetic, but with this quiet exhaustion underneath. She’s built herself into a goddess in her followers’ eyes, even if she’s tired of the crown. Then Azytn shows up—meant to destroy her—and instead gets tangled in her web. He’s dangerous, obsessive, poetic in a way that makes you melt, and completely unhinged. Their connection is messy, magnetic, and impossible to look away from.
This isn’t a light read. It’s bloody, it’s obsessive, and it hits on some heavy triggers, but that’s exactly what makes it work. I burned through it and I’m still thinking about certain scenes days later. It’s the kind of story that gets under your skin and refuses to leave.
Calliope is everything I love in a female lead—powerful, sharp, and unapologetic, but with this quiet exhaustion underneath. She’s built herself into a goddess in her followers’ eyes, even if she’s tired of the crown. Then Azytn shows up—meant to destroy her—and instead gets tangled in her web. He’s dangerous, obsessive, poetic in a way that makes you melt, and completely unhinged. Their connection is messy, magnetic, and impossible to look away from.
This isn’t a light read. It’s bloody, it’s obsessive, and it hits on some heavy triggers, but that’s exactly what makes it work. I burned through it and I’m still thinking about certain scenes days later. It’s the kind of story that gets under your skin and refuses to leave.
August 8, 2025
Dark romance girlies, this one’s for you!!
If you like morally gray (okay, morally black) characters, obsession, power, and unhinged spicy scenes then you’ve come to the right place. The writing is flowy and well paced. I was especially hooked by the last 30% (chapter 27 I’m looking at you) and it felt really well wrapped up which I love! If you are a dark romance fan and want something different and twisted, I definitely recommend picking this up!
“If a handsome murderous god from the underworld is to be my grim reaper, then so be it.”
Calliope is the face of a wellness retreat turned cult. She is power personified and she wants justice, but she’s also growing tired of the power she holds and the slippery slope of leading a cult. Aztyn has come to exact his revenge, but his obsession with Cali has set him off course. Can things ever really be different for them?
Thank you so much Kylie for sending me your book!!
If you like morally gray (okay, morally black) characters, obsession, power, and unhinged spicy scenes then you’ve come to the right place. The writing is flowy and well paced. I was especially hooked by the last 30% (chapter 27 I’m looking at you) and it felt really well wrapped up which I love! If you are a dark romance fan and want something different and twisted, I definitely recommend picking this up!
“If a handsome murderous god from the underworld is to be my grim reaper, then so be it.”
Calliope is the face of a wellness retreat turned cult. She is power personified and she wants justice, but she’s also growing tired of the power she holds and the slippery slope of leading a cult. Aztyn has come to exact his revenge, but his obsession with Cali has set him off course. Can things ever really be different for them?
Thank you so much Kylie for sending me your book!!
August 6, 2025
This book is different. The storyline, the writing, all of it is different. In such a good way.
When Kylie Doyle said Dark Romance she meant DARK DARK. I did not expect how the storyline went and this book kept me guessing.
After every chapter, I just needed more and needed to know what secrets were going to come out.
The chemistry between the characters is intense and interesting. It's hard to give a review without really saying a lot about this book.
I don't want to give any spoilers. I will just say, again, it's so different and well done.
I can't wait for other books Kylie will write.
When Kylie Doyle said Dark Romance she meant DARK DARK. I did not expect how the storyline went and this book kept me guessing.
After every chapter, I just needed more and needed to know what secrets were going to come out.
The chemistry between the characters is intense and interesting. It's hard to give a review without really saying a lot about this book.
I don't want to give any spoilers. I will just say, again, it's so different and well done.
I can't wait for other books Kylie will write.
August 8, 2025
I was allowed to read this as an ARC reader. I have read a lot of dark romance and Kylie is an incredible author. Her descriptions and writing actually makes you feel like you are there and even though the romance in itself is dark, and if you were to see it in real life you would be concerned and it would definitely be the relationship you warned your friends about..... but with this it flows... I had to read it in bits and pieces to savor it like a box of chocolates because sometimes it left me too hot for sleep and if you have a lot of triggers, you definitely will want to read the trigger warnings.
August 2, 2025
Make sure you read the trigger warnings. This is a very dark book.
Kylie's writing is so descriptive that it makes you feel as if you are there at that moment in time.
Calliope is the type of female that all of us can be. Our anger makes us powerful. But you can just become tired—tired of it all, tired of being angry, mad at having to do it all, and tired of being the bad person.
Aztyn is the personification of her darkness. And darkness tries to take over. GREAT BOOK!
I received an advance review copy at no cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kylie's writing is so descriptive that it makes you feel as if you are there at that moment in time.
Calliope is the type of female that all of us can be. Our anger makes us powerful. But you can just become tired—tired of it all, tired of being angry, mad at having to do it all, and tired of being the bad person.
Aztyn is the personification of her darkness. And darkness tries to take over. GREAT BOOK!
I received an advance review copy at no cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 11, 2025
2.25 stars
The concept was very interesting but imo not well executed.
I just love the idea of a woman starting a cult but there is no background information or set up for the FMC whatsoever. The FMC and MMC are both very flat characters and one-dimensional.
Unfortunately the only good things about this are the concept and intrigue factor for the first half.
DNF @64% but started skimming before this point.
The concept was very interesting but imo not well executed.
I just love the idea of a woman starting a cult but there is no background information or set up for the FMC whatsoever. The FMC and MMC are both very flat characters and one-dimensional.
Unfortunately the only good things about this are the concept and intrigue factor for the first half.
DNF @64% but started skimming before this point.
November 11, 2025
Not as dark as I thought it would be but definitely gothy comforts. My anxious teenage self is satisfied.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews