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Executing Malice
A JEFFERSON PITCH BLACK HALLOWEEN ROMANCE
No one ever tells you that safety is an illusion.
For example, Leila thinks she’s safe.
She thinks she left her demons buried in the past.
She thinks she got away. Abandoned me after everything I did, everything I became for her.
Was it the blood on my hands? The monster in my veins?
I would change it if I could. But I can’t. And now I don’t want to.
She's going to learn that evil doesn't die.
It waits and plots.
Twelve days until Halloween.
Twelve days to remind her.
Of me. Of us. Of the promises she broke.
By the time I’m done, she’s going to learn what it means to be mine. Even if I have to break her to make it happen. And this time, there is no escape.
Not from our past.
Definitely not from me.
But I'm not the only one looking for her. Not the only one who wants her back. Too bad for them. I don't share.
And I've already killed once to keep her.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥🖤♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
TW List available at AirickaPhoenix.com
No one ever tells you that safety is an illusion.
For example, Leila thinks she’s safe.
She thinks she left her demons buried in the past.
She thinks she got away. Abandoned me after everything I did, everything I became for her.
Was it the blood on my hands? The monster in my veins?
I would change it if I could. But I can’t. And now I don’t want to.
She's going to learn that evil doesn't die.
It waits and plots.
Twelve days until Halloween.
Twelve days to remind her.
Of me. Of us. Of the promises she broke.
By the time I’m done, she’s going to learn what it means to be mine. Even if I have to break her to make it happen. And this time, there is no escape.
Not from our past.
Definitely not from me.
But I'm not the only one looking for her. Not the only one who wants her back. Too bad for them. I don't share.
And I've already killed once to keep her.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥🖤♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
TW List available at AirickaPhoenix.com
518 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2025
107 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Airicka Phoenix
63 books1,803 followersAiricka Phoenix is a multi genre author of dark contemporary & dangerous paranormal romance starring sassy female leads and sexy alpha heroes.
For more on Airicka visit: www.airickaphoenix.com
For more on Airicka visit: www.airickaphoenix.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
September 22, 2025
I'm not quite sure how to begin with this, but I'll attempt to keep it straightforward..... First and foremost, this is a very dark romance……… Don’t forget that when you’re reading my review…..
You see, Leila has been living with amnesia for the past 8 years in a quaint little town called Jefferson... and sure, this town might not be everyone's cup of tea. It’s a community deeply rooted in tradition and simplicity, with customs that seem too outdated to work anywhere else. Nevertheless, it welcomed Leila when she emerged from the woods eight years ago, bloody and thirsty, without even a recollection of her own name.
The townspeople came together to assist her in healing and finding her place in their community. For Leila, Jefferson is a place she feels grateful for, and although she may not agree with all the rules, she does her best to adhere to them... even if she often finds herself at odds with them half the time..
. Leila is about to discover that safety is merely an illusion, and that her amnesia may have protected her from her troubling past. However, after eight long years, her past has finally caught up with her.
Oh, my goodness, Dante is totally unhinged and out of control. When he discovered Leila, he felt a mix of triumph and anger, realizing that she had begun a life without him—a life they were meant to share. For weeks, Dante devised a scheme to make Leila regret her decision to leave him... The things I could share about what this man did that Leila has no idea about... You'd probably think, what the heck?......At first, you might think, what on earth is wrong with this guy? He seems like a total psychopath…… Always go with your instincts…. Lol …But then, as he begins to share their backstories with Leila, you start to understand. Your initial reaction shifts to, okay, I see it now.
Okay, let’s chat a bit about the heated moments. Actually, let’s move past that and just say you really ought to check your trigger warnings, because as I pointed out, this narrative is dark in every sense. But don’t worry, it has a happy ending! So, there’s a light shining at the end of a very gloomy tunnel...... Happy reading my fellow book lovers see you on the other side
September 22, 2025
She forgot the pain. He came back to make her feel it.
Leila lives a quiet life in Jefferson, trying to outrun a past she can’t remember. But when Dante shows up, masked and unrelenting, her world turns into a storm of obsession, memory, and control. He says they were everything once. Now he wants her back, and he won’t leave without her.
As pieces of her past start to resurface, so do the shadows she tried to escape. Foster homes. Vanished time. A night that changed her forever. Dante digs into her fear and desire, forcing her to choose between who she is and what she once was. He’s not just watching her. He owns her.
What begins as a dark reunion spirals into a brutal, obsessive bond built on dominance, secrets, and a love that scars. When the past claws its way back, blood spills and loyalty is pushed to the edge. Leila has to decide if she’s running, or finally coming home.
It isn’t about healing. It’s about surrender. She doesn’t want saving. She wants him. And the darkness.
Leila transforms from numb and disconnected to someone who claims her darkness without apology. Dante shifts from a violent, relentless figure to a partner who breaks and rebuilds her through memory, power, and control. Together, they leave behind the idea of right or wrong. Their bond is twisted, obsessive, and all-consuming.
A dark, obsessive, masked stalker, captor and captive, morally black erotic romance. It’s twisted, NSFW, and deeply consuming. Features dubcon, CNC, amnesia, primal obsession, forced proximity, rough sex, noncon roleplay, breeding kink, and heavy psychological control. Explores power dynamics, emotional dependence, buried memories, and transformation through a lens of twisted love and brutal intimacy. It explores trauma, dominance, submission, memory, identity, revenge, and the fire-forged bond between two broken people who never wanted to be saved.
Leila lives a quiet life in Jefferson, trying to outrun a past she can’t remember. But when Dante shows up, masked and unrelenting, her world turns into a storm of obsession, memory, and control. He says they were everything once. Now he wants her back, and he won’t leave without her.
As pieces of her past start to resurface, so do the shadows she tried to escape. Foster homes. Vanished time. A night that changed her forever. Dante digs into her fear and desire, forcing her to choose between who she is and what she once was. He’s not just watching her. He owns her.
What begins as a dark reunion spirals into a brutal, obsessive bond built on dominance, secrets, and a love that scars. When the past claws its way back, blood spills and loyalty is pushed to the edge. Leila has to decide if she’s running, or finally coming home.
It isn’t about healing. It’s about surrender. She doesn’t want saving. She wants him. And the darkness.
Leila transforms from numb and disconnected to someone who claims her darkness without apology. Dante shifts from a violent, relentless figure to a partner who breaks and rebuilds her through memory, power, and control. Together, they leave behind the idea of right or wrong. Their bond is twisted, obsessive, and all-consuming.
A dark, obsessive, masked stalker, captor and captive, morally black erotic romance. It’s twisted, NSFW, and deeply consuming. Features dubcon, CNC, amnesia, primal obsession, forced proximity, rough sex, noncon roleplay, breeding kink, and heavy psychological control. Explores power dynamics, emotional dependence, buried memories, and transformation through a lens of twisted love and brutal intimacy. It explores trauma, dominance, submission, memory, identity, revenge, and the fire-forged bond between two broken people who never wanted to be saved.
September 16, 2025
Sass, Spice, and Psych0 Vibes—Yes Please!
Okay besties, let me spill the tea because "Executing Malice" by Airicka Phoenix had me hooked from page one! Leila’s been living with amnesia for 8 years, and Dante—her oh-so-obs€ssiv€ man/foster brother—had no clue. He’s been searching, and when he finally finds her? Oh honey, he’s not exactly bringing flowers. More like… twisted “gifts” that scream psych0 boyfriend vibes. And yet, I could not look away.
Dante is unhing€d, j€alous, and so OTT poss€ssiv€ that I was like 👀 the entire time. But plot twist—Leila gives it right back! The way she got jealous and territorial over him had me giggling. Their banter? Chef’s kiss hilarious.
And can we talk about the spice?? HOT. AF. Like, clear-your-schedule-and-grab-some-water level scorching.
But it’s not just the spice—the suspense hit just as hard. Especially when Leila’s evil foster brother shows up in Jefferson, making things dark and gritty real quick.
If you’re into unhing€d anti-heroes, sizzling chemistry, and dark suspense—read those trigger warnings and then dive in!
Fave Quote(s):
“You think I’m the only psych0path in this relationship? You just don’t remember what a little demon you are. We don’t run, baby. We burn sh•t to the f••king ground.”
~Dante
"I want every filthy thing he whispers to me at night while he pins me down and takes me like he owns me."
~Leila
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 5/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
Okay besties, let me spill the tea because "Executing Malice" by Airicka Phoenix had me hooked from page one! Leila’s been living with amnesia for 8 years, and Dante—her oh-so-obs€ssiv€ man/foster brother—had no clue. He’s been searching, and when he finally finds her? Oh honey, he’s not exactly bringing flowers. More like… twisted “gifts” that scream psych0 boyfriend vibes. And yet, I could not look away.
Dante is unhing€d, j€alous, and so OTT poss€ssiv€ that I was like 👀 the entire time. But plot twist—Leila gives it right back! The way she got jealous and territorial over him had me giggling. Their banter? Chef’s kiss hilarious.
And can we talk about the spice?? HOT. AF. Like, clear-your-schedule-and-grab-some-water level scorching.
But it’s not just the spice—the suspense hit just as hard. Especially when Leila’s evil foster brother shows up in Jefferson, making things dark and gritty real quick.
If you’re into unhing€d anti-heroes, sizzling chemistry, and dark suspense—read those trigger warnings and then dive in!
Fave Quote(s):
“You think I’m the only psych0path in this relationship? You just don’t remember what a little demon you are. We don’t run, baby. We burn sh•t to the f••king ground.”
~Dante
"I want every filthy thing he whispers to me at night while he pins me down and takes me like he owns me."
~Leila
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 5/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
September 23, 2025
This is a naughty, dirty book. It makes you blush and feel depraved and demented for even thinking how much you like it. Definitely not for the prim & proper, although it's their loss. Being dirty never looked so good! Feast your eyes if you dare.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 1, 2025
"You think I'm the only psychopath in this relationship? You just don't remember what a little demon you are. We don't run baby. We burn s#*t to the f×¢€ing ground."~Dante💀
"I'm your monster."~Dante💀 ((He really was!))
Let me begin with this: 🚩🚩🚩 Read those TWs. Look them over b/c this book goes there with some serious dark trauma. It made it bleed, almost to d3ath, picked at it some more, then blew it up!😳💥 This book has issues that might be, ((will be?)) triggering.🚩🚩🚩
Where do I begin? I've read dark romances before, but for me, this was trying to amp up every encounter with Leila and Dante for shock value. It succeeded with a trashy, unhinged, psychotic: I'm going to hurt you b/c you deserve it and YOU want it mentality. The synopsis laid the seed in the ground and what grew was a bloody, intrusive, repulsive homecoming of 2 badly damaged individuals obsessed and chocking each other along the way. There's no sugarcoating. No softness. These characters stayed in that vicious cycle. I don't know what kind of poisonous love this was supposed to be but before making babies, y'all need some serious therapy.😖🤯 This was very cringe and nasty. It was too much.
Was it written well. Sure, up to an extent, the dark humor lightened the read somewhat but the OTT situations left me rolling my eyes. The bank situation and what happened there would never have occurred. Even in a small town. Nobody let's some guy be there with a motorcycle helmet, which he wears as a disguise ((half of the story)) as he stalks. Only 1 approached him. Not even Leila's 'brother' who was the sheriff; till much much later. There's no town life of other people, they were scattered in the story. Sometimes Leila would fight back but it was short lived, apologizing, bending always to Dante. Begging him. Always begging for him.🙄 Sheesh. I knew the triggers but I didn't like the constant degradation. Or normalizing sa as being something done with love. Eww. Nooo. If you want insane cruel smut it's here.🧰🔦🔪🩸 How many cargo shorts/pants did Dante own?😆😆
If you like pain with your dark, craziness that never stops, this might be for you. It's definitely about the malice. I'm a fan of Halloween, ((original movie)) but not in this context. HEA? Uh. Yeah. Happy reading.*•>§<•*🖤🧡🖤🧡
☠️⚰️Thank you to Ms Phoenix and Booksprout. The honest opinions shared here are my own.⚰️☠️
"I'm your monster."~Dante💀 ((He really was!))
Let me begin with this: 🚩🚩🚩 Read those TWs. Look them over b/c this book goes there with some serious dark trauma. It made it bleed, almost to d3ath, picked at it some more, then blew it up!😳💥 This book has issues that might be, ((will be?)) triggering.🚩🚩🚩
Where do I begin? I've read dark romances before, but for me, this was trying to amp up every encounter with Leila and Dante for shock value. It succeeded with a trashy, unhinged, psychotic: I'm going to hurt you b/c you deserve it and YOU want it mentality. The synopsis laid the seed in the ground and what grew was a bloody, intrusive, repulsive homecoming of 2 badly damaged individuals obsessed and chocking each other along the way. There's no sugarcoating. No softness. These characters stayed in that vicious cycle. I don't know what kind of poisonous love this was supposed to be but before making babies, y'all need some serious therapy.😖🤯 This was very cringe and nasty. It was too much.
Was it written well. Sure, up to an extent, the dark humor lightened the read somewhat but the OTT situations left me rolling my eyes. The bank situation and what happened there would never have occurred. Even in a small town. Nobody let's some guy be there with a motorcycle helmet, which he wears as a disguise ((half of the story)) as he stalks. Only 1 approached him. Not even Leila's 'brother' who was the sheriff; till much much later. There's no town life of other people, they were scattered in the story. Sometimes Leila would fight back but it was short lived, apologizing, bending always to Dante. Begging him. Always begging for him.🙄 Sheesh. I knew the triggers but I didn't like the constant degradation. Or normalizing sa as being something done with love. Eww. Nooo. If you want insane cruel smut it's here.🧰🔦🔪🩸 How many cargo shorts/pants did Dante own?😆😆
If you like pain with your dark, craziness that never stops, this might be for you. It's definitely about the malice. I'm a fan of Halloween, ((original movie)) but not in this context. HEA? Uh. Yeah. Happy reading.*•>§<•*🖤🧡🖤🧡
☠️⚰️Thank you to Ms Phoenix and Booksprout. The honest opinions shared here are my own.⚰️☠️
September 18, 2025
Well, another great dark and twistwd story from the town of Jefferson.
Leila doesn’t know how she got to Jefferson. She can't remember anything before then. But over the past 8 years, she has learnt to fit in. Dante has been looking for her since she left him, and now he has her in her sights.
Loved these two, Dante is a special type of obsseive and unhinged, but so is Leila once she stops trying to fit into the Jefferson mould. His Halloween suprise was fantastic. The way their relationship develops was just perfect, sweet, and completely psycho.
I did love this book, but I did get more impatient for something to happen with Leilas' unwelcome admirer. I just love this series, Jefferson definitely has a special dark place in my heart.
Leila doesn’t know how she got to Jefferson. She can't remember anything before then. But over the past 8 years, she has learnt to fit in. Dante has been looking for her since she left him, and now he has her in her sights.
Loved these two, Dante is a special type of obsseive and unhinged, but so is Leila once she stops trying to fit into the Jefferson mould. His Halloween suprise was fantastic. The way their relationship develops was just perfect, sweet, and completely psycho.
I did love this book, but I did get more impatient for something to happen with Leilas' unwelcome admirer. I just love this series, Jefferson definitely has a special dark place in my heart.
November 12, 2025
ARC REVIEW🖤
Okay…. Where to even begin with this one. Spice, sass, darkness, and a whole lot of stalker vibes in this one. Dante grew on me in ways I can’t even explain, I love the depth of his character and glimpses into himself that are nestled into the obvious romance.
Leila is the quiet woman living in a small town with a very interesting past- I won’t give anything away. Dante is a seriously hot, aggressive, lover who stalks her down and scorches the earth to find her. He comes bearing some unique gifts, startling quotes and downright spicy scenes that will 100% have you rereading them again and again.
Okay…. Where to even begin with this one. Spice, sass, darkness, and a whole lot of stalker vibes in this one. Dante grew on me in ways I can’t even explain, I love the depth of his character and glimpses into himself that are nestled into the obvious romance.
Leila is the quiet woman living in a small town with a very interesting past- I won’t give anything away. Dante is a seriously hot, aggressive, lover who stalks her down and scorches the earth to find her. He comes bearing some unique gifts, startling quotes and downright spicy scenes that will 100% have you rereading them again and again.
October 16, 2025
Leila lives a quiet life, running from a past she can’t remember, that is until Dante returns. Masked, obsessive, and unrelenting, he claims they once belonged to each other. Now he wants her back, and he won’t stop until she remembers. As lost memories surface, fear turns to obsession, and what he awakens in her is darker than she ever imagined. This isn’t about healing. It’s about surrender. She doesn’t want saving. She wants him. And the darkness. A dark, obsessive, morally black erotic romance exploring trauma, control, memory, and the consuming bond between two broken souls.
October 26, 2025
This book caught me off guard. I mean I was ready for dark romance but this takes it to a whole new level! Leila has no idea what she's in fire. She doesn't even know about Dante.
This book was dark and seriously twisted. But in a wickedly good way.
I was so engrossed in this book. Just when I thought there couldn't be more, oh how wrong I was. This is a definite must read if you really like things dark.
This book was dark and seriously twisted. But in a wickedly good way.
I was so engrossed in this book. Just when I thought there couldn't be more, oh how wrong I was. This is a definite must read if you really like things dark.
September 14, 2025
I have to say this book is so good. Be sure to mind your triggers because it is dark. Dante and Leila's story is a stalker story. Dante has been sitting on his motorcycle and watches things go on with his helmet on but mostly he is watching Leila.
Leila doesn't remember who she is or her past. she was found as a teenager by a couple in Jefferson and she didn't know who she was then and doesn't now either. The couple took her in and Jefferson is where she stayed. She notices the stranger on the bike and confronts him.
So many things happen after this. Things Leila isn’t sure she should enjoy but does. Will Leila find out who this mystery man is? Who she really is? And who else is trying to grab her attention too? Read this book!
Leila doesn't remember who she is or her past. she was found as a teenager by a couple in Jefferson and she didn't know who she was then and doesn't now either. The couple took her in and Jefferson is where she stayed. She notices the stranger on the bike and confronts him.
So many things happen after this. Things Leila isn’t sure she should enjoy but does. Will Leila find out who this mystery man is? Who she really is? And who else is trying to grab her attention too? Read this book!
September 19, 2025
Arc review. First time reading anything by this author! And I can say I will be reading more of her books! This was an easy 5 star for me, if you liked little strangers you’ll love this book. With a hint of carvings for Cara. Prefect way to start your Halloween reads!
October 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a simple story, well written and has a loooot of spicy 🌶️ For people who like Halloween you will love this book, Dante and Leila are perfect together and the adventures between them are so good and so spice. While reading the book I just wanted to be Leila 🥵
September 16, 2025
Dante's level of love, possession, and obsession he has for Leila is perfection. Finding out she's a bit psychotic as well, the two are perfect for each other.
Leila can't remember her past, and Dante just found her again, thinking she had left him 8 years ago. Now he has 12 "gifts" for her until Halloween.
Is this dark? Yes. Did I read it in one day? Also yes. Enjoyed the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Leila can't remember her past, and Dante just found her again, thinking she had left him 8 years ago. Now he has 12 "gifts" for her until Halloween.
Is this dark? Yes. Did I read it in one day? Also yes. Enjoyed the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2025
Airicka Phoenix has done it again! I devoured this book. It’s super spicy and the story is so good! Fair warning though it is definitely a dark romance book.
September 22, 2025
I love it when a FMC is perfectly matched with her totally psycho stalker MMC love and this book is the queen of that! Great combo of spice and plot. This author has quickly become one of my favorites
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
Check your trigger warnings...
Executing Malice is deliciously dark. This is by far the darkest book in the Jefferson Rejects series (imo) but I absolutely loved it!
The unapologetic obsession that Dante and Leila has for each other is drool worthy. This is definitely another must read by Airicka Pheonix.
Executing Malice is deliciously dark. This is by far the darkest book in the Jefferson Rejects series (imo) but I absolutely loved it!
The unapologetic obsession that Dante and Leila has for each other is drool worthy. This is definitely another must read by Airicka Pheonix.
October 3, 2025
If author Airicka Phoenix was a spirit animal, she would be MY spirit animal 🖤 I’m telling you, she hits the TW checklist every time. She must hold a Master’s in Wordsmith, because her word choice, placement, and flow—it’s sublime.
Speaking of sublime, Dante and Leila … yeah.
With Leila’s amnesia it’s a bit of a rough reunion for Dante. It is a fortunate turn of events for Leila that Dante loves Leila way past any point of obsession. She is inexplicably drawn to him, and is bizarrely not put out by his ‘unique’ gifts. They are perfect for each other. Their HEA is hard fought for and well won—So freaking good!
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Dante
FMC:
✨Leila
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉dark forbidden romance
👉enemies to lovers
👉corrupt town folks/officials
👉forced proximity
👉morally pitch MMC
👉morally gray FMC
👉OTT obsessive MCs - both
👉dysfunctional family
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
* oral, vag felching, toys, con-non-con, non-con, dub-con, exhibitionism, voyeurism, praise kink, anal, dbl pen, breeding, birth control tampering, edging, somnophilia, bondage, branding, biting, dirty talk, branding
* play/role play
* rough, r ape fantasy, public, breath, degradation, masks, primal, blood, fluid
💥violence
* Blood, gore, gun, bullying, abuse, parental abuse, child abuse, stalking
* forced
* consent, tattoos, piercing, orgasms, breeding
💥murder
💥mental health
* PTSD, self-harm, anxiety, coercion, memory loss, amnesia, institutional failure, religious fanaticism
💥kidnapping
💥immuring
💥drugging
Burn Speed:
✨fast
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2
✨MF
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Speaking of sublime, Dante and Leila … yeah.
With Leila’s amnesia it’s a bit of a rough reunion for Dante. It is a fortunate turn of events for Leila that Dante loves Leila way past any point of obsession. She is inexplicably drawn to him, and is bizarrely not put out by his ‘unique’ gifts. They are perfect for each other. Their HEA is hard fought for and well won—So freaking good!
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Dante
FMC:
✨Leila
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉dark forbidden romance
👉enemies to lovers
👉corrupt town folks/officials
👉forced proximity
👉morally pitch MMC
👉morally gray FMC
👉OTT obsessive MCs - both
👉dysfunctional family
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
* oral, vag felching, toys, con-non-con, non-con, dub-con, exhibitionism, voyeurism, praise kink, anal, dbl pen, breeding, birth control tampering, edging, somnophilia, bondage, branding, biting, dirty talk, branding
* play/role play
* rough, r ape fantasy, public, breath, degradation, masks, primal, blood, fluid
💥violence
* Blood, gore, gun, bullying, abuse, parental abuse, child abuse, stalking
* forced
* consent, tattoos, piercing, orgasms, breeding
💥murder
💥mental health
* PTSD, self-harm, anxiety, coercion, memory loss, amnesia, institutional failure, religious fanaticism
💥kidnapping
💥immuring
💥drugging
Burn Speed:
✨fast
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2
✨MF
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 2, 2025
Executing Malice by Airicka Phoenix.
Please check the content warnings. This is a dark stalker romance. Full list available at AirickaPhoenix.com
This is easily my favourite novel by Airicka. Dante has knocked Christian (Read Unwrapping Deviance and thank me later) down a notch on my book boyfriend list.
From the first chapter, I was drawn in. Dante had already gotten under my skin and continued to weave his way into my heart. I mean, what girl doesn’t love a broken man?
Why is Dante broken? So many reasons. The most important being, his lost love, Leila. Eight years Dante had searched for her and when he finally found her in Jefferson, his anger and sorrow at losing her comes to an erotic climax.
We’ve got a biker boy stalker with scars, tattoos and piercings and one heck of a feisty, curvelicious woman with a sharp mind and repressed rage. What an explosive combo! I just loved these two so much. Their character development was exciting to read.
I can always count on Airicka to make me laugh out loud and squirm in my seat during the spicy scenes. Of which, there are many 🤤
The journey Dante and Leila travel to get back to each other and their love for one another was a lovely and deviant ride. I am so happy to have tagged along.
I received an advanced readers copy and this is my honest review. I highly recommend Executing Malice 🖤
Please check the content warnings. This is a dark stalker romance. Full list available at AirickaPhoenix.com
This is easily my favourite novel by Airicka. Dante has knocked Christian (Read Unwrapping Deviance and thank me later) down a notch on my book boyfriend list.
From the first chapter, I was drawn in. Dante had already gotten under my skin and continued to weave his way into my heart. I mean, what girl doesn’t love a broken man?
Why is Dante broken? So many reasons. The most important being, his lost love, Leila. Eight years Dante had searched for her and when he finally found her in Jefferson, his anger and sorrow at losing her comes to an erotic climax.
We’ve got a biker boy stalker with scars, tattoos and piercings and one heck of a feisty, curvelicious woman with a sharp mind and repressed rage. What an explosive combo! I just loved these two so much. Their character development was exciting to read.
I can always count on Airicka to make me laugh out loud and squirm in my seat during the spicy scenes. Of which, there are many 🤤
The journey Dante and Leila travel to get back to each other and their love for one another was a lovely and deviant ride. I am so happy to have tagged along.
I received an advanced readers copy and this is my honest review. I highly recommend Executing Malice 🖤
October 30, 2025
🎃😈I need to carve my grief into her skin so she never forgets me again. Never runs 🎃😈
"She peeled me off like a scab and left the wound to fester. To rot and spread. To consume what was left of my humanity."
"She stole...she stole everything. Walked out of my world like I hadn't bled for her. Starved for her. Like I hadn't shattered ribs against steel toed boots to keep the monsters away from her."
"I will always protect her because I love her with a madness.... that I would rip my own heart out. I would carve it from my chest and place it still beating at her feet if she asked."
"She was my person. The light that chased away the demons in my head. Her every breath was my religion."
"Dead or not, you will never use another man's name while you're naked for me. I am the only man who will live and die for your sins, Leila."
"Because, my little deviant, that's who we are. It's who we always have been. You're as sick and twisted as I am and we complete each other."
This author has become one of my favorite authors period. This is probably my favorite book by her now. It's hard to choose when I love everything she writes. This was such a dark, delicious, and kinky read. She knocked the spice in this out of the park 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. The kink in this was so damn hot 🥵🥵. This author really knows how to write dark traumatic stories with high spice and an engaging plot that's filled with emotion. The words she uses to describe her stories really impact the emotional flow like poetry. I could of quoted this whole book in the beginning 🤣🤣. I love all these Jefferson stories and would read 100 more. This author created a mysterious town that really draws you in. I love all the hidden gems you keep discovering about this town in these books.
This story follows Lelia and Dante. Lelia has lived in Jefferson for 8 years. She was found there in the woods and she doesn't remember who she is or her past. She ends up getting a stalker aka Dante. He leaves her creepy gifts and stalks her at work. Dante is someone from her past and he wants to hurt her for her leaving him. So he thinks 🤔. These two develop a relationship as he will never let her leave him again. Let's just say Dante is obsessed and will do anything for his woman. Is most of what he does questionable? Yes. Is it hot af? Also yes 😅😅. With Jefferson and their eyes on this new couple, what will happen next? What happens when old demons resurface to break this couple up?
Dante is the most unhinged, obessesive, possessive, psycho MMC I have read. And I'm here for it! This man is nuts and I love him with my little black heart 🖤😈. Lelia you think is innocent at first. Oh no. She's just as crazy as he is. It just took her a while to get back to her old self. I love how unhinged and deranged they are together. The connection and chemistry between them is off the charts 🥵🥵. I love how sweet yet toxic they both are to each other 🤪. The dirty mouth on Dante had me 💦🤭😏. My heart breaks for their shared traumatic past 😭😭. Dante did so much to protect her. Seeing what this couple had to endure was heartbreaking. This is by far one of my favorite power couples. As strong and protective Dante is, Leila is the same tenfold for him. I highly recommend this book and all of her catalog 🥰.
"She peeled me off like a scab and left the wound to fester. To rot and spread. To consume what was left of my humanity."
"She stole...she stole everything. Walked out of my world like I hadn't bled for her. Starved for her. Like I hadn't shattered ribs against steel toed boots to keep the monsters away from her."
"I will always protect her because I love her with a madness.... that I would rip my own heart out. I would carve it from my chest and place it still beating at her feet if she asked."
"She was my person. The light that chased away the demons in my head. Her every breath was my religion."
"Dead or not, you will never use another man's name while you're naked for me. I am the only man who will live and die for your sins, Leila."
"Because, my little deviant, that's who we are. It's who we always have been. You're as sick and twisted as I am and we complete each other."
This author has become one of my favorite authors period. This is probably my favorite book by her now. It's hard to choose when I love everything she writes. This was such a dark, delicious, and kinky read. She knocked the spice in this out of the park 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. The kink in this was so damn hot 🥵🥵. This author really knows how to write dark traumatic stories with high spice and an engaging plot that's filled with emotion. The words she uses to describe her stories really impact the emotional flow like poetry. I could of quoted this whole book in the beginning 🤣🤣. I love all these Jefferson stories and would read 100 more. This author created a mysterious town that really draws you in. I love all the hidden gems you keep discovering about this town in these books.
This story follows Lelia and Dante. Lelia has lived in Jefferson for 8 years. She was found there in the woods and she doesn't remember who she is or her past. She ends up getting a stalker aka Dante. He leaves her creepy gifts and stalks her at work. Dante is someone from her past and he wants to hurt her for her leaving him. So he thinks 🤔. These two develop a relationship as he will never let her leave him again. Let's just say Dante is obsessed and will do anything for his woman. Is most of what he does questionable? Yes. Is it hot af? Also yes 😅😅. With Jefferson and their eyes on this new couple, what will happen next? What happens when old demons resurface to break this couple up?
Dante is the most unhinged, obessesive, possessive, psycho MMC I have read. And I'm here for it! This man is nuts and I love him with my little black heart 🖤😈. Lelia you think is innocent at first. Oh no. She's just as crazy as he is. It just took her a while to get back to her old self. I love how unhinged and deranged they are together. The connection and chemistry between them is off the charts 🥵🥵. I love how sweet yet toxic they both are to each other 🤪. The dirty mouth on Dante had me 💦🤭😏. My heart breaks for their shared traumatic past 😭😭. Dante did so much to protect her. Seeing what this couple had to endure was heartbreaking. This is by far one of my favorite power couples. As strong and protective Dante is, Leila is the same tenfold for him. I highly recommend this book and all of her catalog 🥰.
October 17, 2025
Eight years ago, Leila arrived in Jefferson with no memory. No name, no past, no clue who she was or what she’d survived. With the help of a kind local family, she’s rebuilt herself piece by piece, learning to live quietly in the small town. But peace is a fragile thing, and it shatters the moment a man on a motorcycle starts showing up across the street from the bank where she works. Helmet always on. Eyes always on her. Watching. Waiting. Dante has found her at last and he has no intention of letting her get away again. In his mind, Leila abandoned him, and now he’s going to make her remember what they once had… one twisted “gift” at a time. With twelve days to Halloween (Leila’s favorite holiday), he has a plan that’s equal parts devotion and destruction. Forget flowers and chocolates, Dante’s tokens of affection come wrapped in pain and humiliation. What follows is a dark, obsessive game of control and surrender. Dante may hold the power, but Leila doesn’t want saving, she just wants him. Even without seeing his face (which she wouldn’t recognize even if she did), Dante makes her body pulse with heat and always a desire for more. Their connection is toxic, magnetic, and impossible to look away from. Yes, Dante’s love borders on madness. He’s jealous, violent, and frighteningly possessive. But there are glimmers, even early on, that Leila’s not the innocent victim she seems. The scene in the butcher’s cellar had me squirming, and I’m not talking about the unconventionally served meal. This isn’t a romance for the faint of heart. It’s love stripped of its sweetness and dipped in blood and unexpected longing. You’ll cringe, you’ll gasp, and somehow… you’ll find yourself rooting for a man who’s every red flag rolled into one. And just when you think you’ve seen the worst, another predator steps out of the shadows, ready to claim his prize. Is it dark? Undoubtedly. Disturbing? Completely. But it’s also haunting, addictive, and impossible to shake. Leila and Dante will get under your skin—and they won’t let go.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 15, 2025
Imagine if Edward Cullen had unresolved daddy issues, a restraining order, and a trauma-bonded moral compass that finally snapped. Welcome to Executing Malice, where the obsession is thicker than the plot and the villain doesn’t just get the girl—he fingerprints her toothbrush with more than just intent.
This book is an unholy cocktail of vengeance, emotional rot, and erotic monologues so intense they could curl your edges into a crispy cinnamon twist. Dante is not your average tortured antihero. No, he’s a certified “hold your panties hostage” type of monster with just enough humanity to make you second-guess your therapy progress.
Meanwhile, Leila, our perpetually
🔥 Spice Rating:
4.5 / 5 “You did what in the lotion?!”
Graphic. Intense. Uncomfortably hot. There’s a scene with body lotion that had me side-eyeing my entire hygiene routine. If you’re into morally unhinged men marking their territory like emotionally repressed wolves with a piercing kink, congratulations—you’ve found your next obsession.
🚨 Trigger Warnings:
✔️ Graphic mental illness & emotional trauma
✔️ Stalking
✔️ Dubious consent
✔️ PTSD
✔️ Self-harm
✔️ Incestuous abuse (off-page)
✔️ Graphic violence
✔️ Body horror-lite
✔️ Obsession-as-love trope taken to the extreme
✔️ Emotional manipulation
✔️ Non-consensual intimacy while asleep
✔️ Grooming undertones
(TW list is extensive. Full list on the author’s site)
What Worked:
• Dante is deeply messed up and deeply committed. You hate yourself for wanting him to win.
• Banter that cuts like a straight razor dipped in flirt.
• Phoenix’s prose is vivid, lyrical, and wildly unhinged in the best way.
• You’re either disturbed, aroused, or both. There is no middle ground.
What Didn’t:
• Some readers might find Dante’s level of obsession too much. (He’s not just red flag; he’s a walking crime scene.)
• There’s a razor-bladed caramel apple. You’ve been warned.
• Leila’s amnesia subplot felt a little like narrative foreplay—slow build, high stakes, delayed satisfaction.
⚖️ Final Verdict:
Rating: 4.7 / 5
This is You by Caroline Kepnes meets Twilight meets a bottle of lube and a restraining order. It’s unhinged, delicious, morally gray romance at its darkest, most perverse, and dare I say… addictive.
So light a candle, double-check your locks, and dive in. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself rooting for the monster—and checking your body wash twice.
This book is an unholy cocktail of vengeance, emotional rot, and erotic monologues so intense they could curl your edges into a crispy cinnamon twist. Dante is not your average tortured antihero. No, he’s a certified “hold your panties hostage” type of monster with just enough humanity to make you second-guess your therapy progress.
Meanwhile, Leila, our perpetually
🔥 Spice Rating:
4.5 / 5 “You did what in the lotion?!”
Graphic. Intense. Uncomfortably hot. There’s a scene with body lotion that had me side-eyeing my entire hygiene routine. If you’re into morally unhinged men marking their territory like emotionally repressed wolves with a piercing kink, congratulations—you’ve found your next obsession.
🚨 Trigger Warnings:
✔️ Graphic mental illness & emotional trauma
✔️ Stalking
✔️ Dubious consent
✔️ PTSD
✔️ Self-harm
✔️ Incestuous abuse (off-page)
✔️ Graphic violence
✔️ Body horror-lite
✔️ Obsession-as-love trope taken to the extreme
✔️ Emotional manipulation
✔️ Non-consensual intimacy while asleep
✔️ Grooming undertones
(TW list is extensive. Full list on the author’s site)
What Worked:
• Dante is deeply messed up and deeply committed. You hate yourself for wanting him to win.
• Banter that cuts like a straight razor dipped in flirt.
• Phoenix’s prose is vivid, lyrical, and wildly unhinged in the best way.
• You’re either disturbed, aroused, or both. There is no middle ground.
What Didn’t:
• Some readers might find Dante’s level of obsession too much. (He’s not just red flag; he’s a walking crime scene.)
• There’s a razor-bladed caramel apple. You’ve been warned.
• Leila’s amnesia subplot felt a little like narrative foreplay—slow build, high stakes, delayed satisfaction.
⚖️ Final Verdict:
Rating: 4.7 / 5
This is You by Caroline Kepnes meets Twilight meets a bottle of lube and a restraining order. It’s unhinged, delicious, morally gray romance at its darkest, most perverse, and dare I say… addictive.
So light a candle, double-check your locks, and dive in. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself rooting for the monster—and checking your body wash twice.
September 22, 2025
🖤💀🔪From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Dante is the kind of character who crawls under your skin and refuses to leave—broken, dangerous, and yet completely captivating. And Leila? Fierce, curvy, sharp-tongued, and more than a match for him. Together, they are an explosive combination that kept me glued to the pages.🔪💀🖤
🖤The setup is deliciously dark, and the result? A romance that’s equal parts intoxicating and terrifying—in the best way possible.🖤
💀What I loved most was the push-and-pull between them. Dante is unhinged, jealous, and so outrageously possessive that I was side-eyeing my Kindle more than once. But Leila gives as good as she gets, and their banter had me laughing even while the tension sizzled off the page.💀
🔪And the spice? Holy. Frickin. Shitballs. This wasn’t just hot—it was “clear your schedule, grab some water, and maybe a cigarette afterward” kind of hot. Scorching, raw, and toe-curling. Yet, it never felt hollow because the intensity of their love made the heat even more powerful.🔪
🖤The suspense added another layer of thrill, especially when Leila’s sinister foster brother showed up in Jefferson, dragging the story into even darker territory. Every page kept me guessing, heart racing, and—let’s be real—blushing.🖤
💀Dante’s love is intense, strong, protective, obsessive, and absolutely unhinged, and I loved every single second of it. This book was chaos and passion wrapped together in the best way.💀
🖤💀🔪Favorite Quote:
“You think I’m the only psychopath in this relationship? You just don’t remember what a little demon you are. We don’t run, baby. We burn sh*t to the f••king ground.” 🔪💀🖤
💀If you’re into broken anti-heroes, obsessive love, feisty heroines, and romance tangled with danger—Executing Malice will consume you. Just don’t forget to check those trigger warnings.💀
🖤The setup is deliciously dark, and the result? A romance that’s equal parts intoxicating and terrifying—in the best way possible.🖤
💀What I loved most was the push-and-pull between them. Dante is unhinged, jealous, and so outrageously possessive that I was side-eyeing my Kindle more than once. But Leila gives as good as she gets, and their banter had me laughing even while the tension sizzled off the page.💀
🔪And the spice? Holy. Frickin. Shitballs. This wasn’t just hot—it was “clear your schedule, grab some water, and maybe a cigarette afterward” kind of hot. Scorching, raw, and toe-curling. Yet, it never felt hollow because the intensity of their love made the heat even more powerful.🔪
🖤The suspense added another layer of thrill, especially when Leila’s sinister foster brother showed up in Jefferson, dragging the story into even darker territory. Every page kept me guessing, heart racing, and—let’s be real—blushing.🖤
💀Dante’s love is intense, strong, protective, obsessive, and absolutely unhinged, and I loved every single second of it. This book was chaos and passion wrapped together in the best way.💀
🖤💀🔪Favorite Quote:
“You think I’m the only psychopath in this relationship? You just don’t remember what a little demon you are. We don’t run, baby. We burn sh*t to the f••king ground.” 🔪💀🖤
💀If you’re into broken anti-heroes, obsessive love, feisty heroines, and romance tangled with danger—Executing Malice will consume you. Just don’t forget to check those trigger warnings.💀
October 7, 2025
This book is so so dark and delicious.
While I know not everyone is into all the TW noted for the book, I absofuckinglutely am. It was a rollercoaster because all the vibes kept bouncing around and ticking all my check boxes.
That being said, It has TW for CSA, but but but, it's not actually discussed at length and the MCs didn't suffer that fate. It's just a contextual input regarding some side characters history.
I normally bloody hate SA scenes, of any variety but this book promised me a whole lot of fun with the slightly noncon scenes. It's kind of like it was wrong, but secretly the character loved it, after the fact.
So that makes it okay right?!
I don't even know man, but I was hooked from the start, and would happily devour more by this author for the vibes.
I don't usually like my romance this black, but I completely love this. All the things that are dark and twisty to read, but something I would never tolerate in the real world.
Give me more.
The pace moves rapidly, but also feels like it's being dragged out tortuously slow, jam packed with tension, heat and absolutely morally black, not gray, MCs.
Threw a couple of curve balls, which had me guessing and doubting my own thoughts, it was a HEA, I guess, but not quite as much as I hoped for, I need closure for the FMC.
It feels like so much more could be written about the quirky town of Jefferson, possibly another story, maybe even a back story for the shunned folk/criminals for the judgy as fuck town.
This book is an intense heavy read, I do not recommend for most of my book girlies, but all the weirdo SmutSisters know what's good for them. This is perfect for anyone who likes a deep pulse pounding book that will consume them whole.
The Halloween scene absolutely had me dying. 💀🎃
Totally deserves my 5 shiny stars, I'd read again for sure.
It's the perfect spicy Halloween read!
While I know not everyone is into all the TW noted for the book, I absofuckinglutely am. It was a rollercoaster because all the vibes kept bouncing around and ticking all my check boxes.
That being said, It has TW for CSA, but but but, it's not actually discussed at length and the MCs didn't suffer that fate. It's just a contextual input regarding some side characters history.
I normally bloody hate SA scenes, of any variety but this book promised me a whole lot of fun with the slightly noncon scenes. It's kind of like it was wrong, but secretly the character loved it, after the fact.
So that makes it okay right?!
I don't even know man, but I was hooked from the start, and would happily devour more by this author for the vibes.
I don't usually like my romance this black, but I completely love this. All the things that are dark and twisty to read, but something I would never tolerate in the real world.
Give me more.
The pace moves rapidly, but also feels like it's being dragged out tortuously slow, jam packed with tension, heat and absolutely morally black, not gray, MCs.
Threw a couple of curve balls, which had me guessing and doubting my own thoughts, it was a HEA, I guess, but not quite as much as I hoped for, I need closure for the FMC.
It feels like so much more could be written about the quirky town of Jefferson, possibly another story, maybe even a back story for the shunned folk/criminals for the judgy as fuck town.
This book is an intense heavy read, I do not recommend for most of my book girlies, but all the weirdo SmutSisters know what's good for them. This is perfect for anyone who likes a deep pulse pounding book that will consume them whole.
The Halloween scene absolutely had me dying. 💀🎃
Totally deserves my 5 shiny stars, I'd read again for sure.
It's the perfect spicy Halloween read!
November 14, 2025
I haven't been reviewing much this year and when I have been my reviews haven't been as detailed and thorough as I used to. I have just had a year long book funk. I struggled to want to read and had zero interest in writing reviews. I'm trying to get back into it. I miss writing reviews but am struggling to do so.
I almost didn't read this. I'd never heard of this author before but came across the book in a facebook group.I was intrigued and borrowed it from KU. Then I opened it and realized it took place leading up to Halloween and returned it. I'm in Christmas mode at the moment. I didn't want to go back to Halloween. I kept thinking about it though. I went back and found the thread where this book was recommended and decided I didn't care if it was all about Halloween and I borrowed it again. I'm so glad I did because this was one of the best books I've read this year.
I don't know how to describe it but there was something incredibly endearing about the FMC and the MMC, especially together. There was something so earnest about both of them. I really enjoyed the stalking elements here. I loved the MMC's intensity for the FMC. He was completely obsessed with her and dedicated to her.
The parts about the jar of used condoms he gave her really amused me. She was so offended at first but then she got mad when he took his gift back. Then her hitting the OW that was trying to come onto him in the face with the bathroom door "on accident" really tickled me too. Her attitude about it was so amusing. He had no interest in OW but FMC didn't know that, so she took her revenge. She also goes to lunch with OM (oddly enough the OW's brother) to get back at him. He beats up the OM and breaks his arm. There is another bit of OM drama but FMC is only interested in MMC.
I almost didn't read this. I'd never heard of this author before but came across the book in a facebook group.I was intrigued and borrowed it from KU. Then I opened it and realized it took place leading up to Halloween and returned it. I'm in Christmas mode at the moment. I didn't want to go back to Halloween. I kept thinking about it though. I went back and found the thread where this book was recommended and decided I didn't care if it was all about Halloween and I borrowed it again. I'm so glad I did because this was one of the best books I've read this year.
I don't know how to describe it but there was something incredibly endearing about the FMC and the MMC, especially together. There was something so earnest about both of them. I really enjoyed the stalking elements here. I loved the MMC's intensity for the FMC. He was completely obsessed with her and dedicated to her.
The parts about the jar of used condoms he gave her really amused me. She was so offended at first but then she got mad when he took his gift back. Then her hitting the OW that was trying to come onto him in the face with the bathroom door "on accident" really tickled me too. Her attitude about it was so amusing. He had no interest in OW but FMC didn't know that, so she took her revenge. She also goes to lunch with OM (oddly enough the OW's brother) to get back at him. He beats up the OM and breaks his arm. There is another bit of OM drama but FMC is only interested in MMC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2025
4.5
Enemies to lovers
K!dnapp!ng
Morally black/psychopath MMC
St@lker romance
Second-chance romance/Reunion
Forced proximity/Captive
Biker romance
Explicit content
Amnesia
Violent s**
🩸 and kn!fe, pr!mal play
Mentions of SA and PA
Pitch black romance please check the TW page!!!
“You think I’m the only physch0p@th in this relationship?you just don’t remember what a little 😈 you are. We don’t run, baby. We 🔥 sh!t to the f**king ground.”
“I want every f!lthy thing he whispers to me at night while he pins me down and trakes me like he owns me.”
This is Dante and Leila’s story which is a dark and intense ride.
Dante, a biker with tattoos, piercings, and a scar, he st@lks Leila and feels abandoned by her after she leaves him eight years prior and seeks revenge. He decides to k!dnap her fixing her to get to know him again. Dante is violent, obsessive, and morally corrupt with a dark past. His obsession is Leila.
Perfect time for Halloween as it’s set in Halloween 🎃 vibes
Leila is a a sweet bank, teller, who lives in a small town, where strangers are rare. But one day, Dante literally rolls in on his bike, making people uncomfortable. He is unhinged, but Lila isn’t far off either. I loved their dynamic of their relationship.
With multiple plot twist has kept suspense sitting on the edge of my seat. The thrills the spice the suspense I couldn’t put it down and read this in one day! I lost sleep!😴
Enemies to lovers
K!dnapp!ng
Morally black/psychopath MMC
St@lker romance
Second-chance romance/Reunion
Forced proximity/Captive
Biker romance
Explicit content
Amnesia
Violent s**
🩸 and kn!fe, pr!mal play
Mentions of SA and PA
Pitch black romance please check the TW page!!!
“You think I’m the only physch0p@th in this relationship?you just don’t remember what a little 😈 you are. We don’t run, baby. We 🔥 sh!t to the f**king ground.”
“I want every f!lthy thing he whispers to me at night while he pins me down and trakes me like he owns me.”
This is Dante and Leila’s story which is a dark and intense ride.
Dante, a biker with tattoos, piercings, and a scar, he st@lks Leila and feels abandoned by her after she leaves him eight years prior and seeks revenge. He decides to k!dnap her fixing her to get to know him again. Dante is violent, obsessive, and morally corrupt with a dark past. His obsession is Leila.
Perfect time for Halloween as it’s set in Halloween 🎃 vibes
Leila is a a sweet bank, teller, who lives in a small town, where strangers are rare. But one day, Dante literally rolls in on his bike, making people uncomfortable. He is unhinged, but Lila isn’t far off either. I loved their dynamic of their relationship.
With multiple plot twist has kept suspense sitting on the edge of my seat. The thrills the spice the suspense I couldn’t put it down and read this in one day! I lost sleep!😴
October 5, 2025
Executing Malice isn’t your typical dark romance—it’s a full-on descent into obsession, vengeance, and the kind of love that claws at you long after you close the book. Airicka Phoenix doesn’t just tell a story, she drags you into it, kicking and screaming, and you feel every moment.
Leila and Malice’s history is a storm you can’t look away from. She thinks she’s safe. She thinks she escaped. But Malice… oh, Malice is the perfect antihero—broken, furious, and heartbreakingly obsessed. His voice is raw and dangerous, but threaded with such jagged vulnerability that I couldn’t help but ache for him even when he terrified me.
What gripped me most was how the story makes you question everything you think you know about love, loyalty, and monstrosity. This isn’t a sweet second-chance romance; it’s a pitch-black one, and yet the chemistry between them practically scorches the page. The countdown to Halloween adds this ticking-clock dread that had me turning pages way too late at night.
Airicka Phoenix crafts her words like a blade—sharp, deliberate, and impossible to ignore. By the end, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to hug Malice or run from him, but I knew I couldn’t stop reading. If you love your romance dark, dangerous, and dripping with obsession, this book is an absolute must.
Leila and Malice’s history is a storm you can’t look away from. She thinks she’s safe. She thinks she escaped. But Malice… oh, Malice is the perfect antihero—broken, furious, and heartbreakingly obsessed. His voice is raw and dangerous, but threaded with such jagged vulnerability that I couldn’t help but ache for him even when he terrified me.
What gripped me most was how the story makes you question everything you think you know about love, loyalty, and monstrosity. This isn’t a sweet second-chance romance; it’s a pitch-black one, and yet the chemistry between them practically scorches the page. The countdown to Halloween adds this ticking-clock dread that had me turning pages way too late at night.
Airicka Phoenix crafts her words like a blade—sharp, deliberate, and impossible to ignore. By the end, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to hug Malice or run from him, but I knew I couldn’t stop reading. If you love your romance dark, dangerous, and dripping with obsession, this book is an absolute must.
October 9, 2025
My one piece of advice for this book is pay attention to the trigger warnings! The author is very good about warning you, but I find sometimes people don’t pay attention. When I say this book is a dark romance, I mean REALLY dark. This makes Fifty Shades look like Hallmark.
Leila is living in the quiet town of Jefferson. To say this community is prim and proper is an understatement. While most everyone is pleasant, you are expected to fall in line and follow their traditions. She can’t remember her past before she was found in Jefferson. Then Dante enters the picture, or should I say he re-enters the picture. He’s been looking for her since she went missing and has vowed to make her his by Halloween.
Even though this book is so dark, it has a way of grabbing you and pulling you into the story. There are a lot of sensitive and disturbing topics mentioned, but the author does so with grace. I’ve read a lot of romance and this author has a gift for building characters so complex that your heart aches for them. It may be taboo in a lot of circles, eyebrow raising at times, and have you questioning what in the world you just read. But, this is one of the most well written and captivating dark romances I’ve read in a really long time. Sometimes we need a little dark to shake things up. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Leila is living in the quiet town of Jefferson. To say this community is prim and proper is an understatement. While most everyone is pleasant, you are expected to fall in line and follow their traditions. She can’t remember her past before she was found in Jefferson. Then Dante enters the picture, or should I say he re-enters the picture. He’s been looking for her since she went missing and has vowed to make her his by Halloween.
Even though this book is so dark, it has a way of grabbing you and pulling you into the story. There are a lot of sensitive and disturbing topics mentioned, but the author does so with grace. I’ve read a lot of romance and this author has a gift for building characters so complex that your heart aches for them. It may be taboo in a lot of circles, eyebrow raising at times, and have you questioning what in the world you just read. But, this is one of the most well written and captivating dark romances I’ve read in a really long time. Sometimes we need a little dark to shake things up. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 14, 2025
I've read a few of Airicka Phoenix's books now, including a few set in the...let's say "interesting" small town of Jefferson, and I've loved every one of them because they don't shy away from being true dark romances. They're so steamy and violent! In fact, Executing Malice may be one of the darkest romance novels I've ever read since the plot is so unpredictable and the characters are so depraved and unhinged and never once apologize for it. It also has forbidden romance vibes, which I have come to expect from and love about Airicka's stories.
I love how fierce, self-reliant, and stubborn Leila is, how clever, intense, and protective Dante is, and how devoted they are to each other, even when one of them doesn't remember why. I found the lovers-to-amnesia-to-enemies-to-lovers trope intriguing, and I had such fun "watching" Leila and Dante fall in love (again) over the course of the story while they dealt with various external and internal conflicts. They're not the most realistic or relatable characters I've come across, but they still manage to be interesting, likable, and memorable, mostly due to their witty banter, scorching chemistry, and unwavering loyalty to each other, and their HEA is definitely well deserved after all their struggles.
Overall, Executing Malice is an easy, engaging, and entertaining read with dynamic characters, an action-packed, fast-paced, steam-forward plot, and Halloween themes. It isn't for all readers, but those who love true dark romances should devour it and ask for seconds. That said, I hope this isn't the last we see of Jefferson and its...strange citizens.
I love how fierce, self-reliant, and stubborn Leila is, how clever, intense, and protective Dante is, and how devoted they are to each other, even when one of them doesn't remember why. I found the lovers-to-amnesia-to-enemies-to-lovers trope intriguing, and I had such fun "watching" Leila and Dante fall in love (again) over the course of the story while they dealt with various external and internal conflicts. They're not the most realistic or relatable characters I've come across, but they still manage to be interesting, likable, and memorable, mostly due to their witty banter, scorching chemistry, and unwavering loyalty to each other, and their HEA is definitely well deserved after all their struggles.
Overall, Executing Malice is an easy, engaging, and entertaining read with dynamic characters, an action-packed, fast-paced, steam-forward plot, and Halloween themes. It isn't for all readers, but those who love true dark romances should devour it and ask for seconds. That said, I hope this isn't the last we see of Jefferson and its...strange citizens.
October 13, 2025
Oh my!!! I absolutely devoured this, this consumed me fully I just couldn't put my kindle down!!!
Leila lives a quiet life in Jefferson, the only thing is she can't remember her past and boy is it coming for her now!!! Dante is from her past when he shows up masked and just unrelenting like this guy won't let up, he wants her back and he won't let her go again!! So as pieces of her past come back she knows something went down but can't quite understand what!! Dante lets her in on her past...the foster homes, the abuse within the home she shared with him. Then one night happens and she goes missing but not knowing anything other than waking up in the woods covered in 🩸and half naked will Dante let her know what happened that fateful night she disappeared? When she finds out will she run from him again?
Oof what begins as a reunion turns into an obsessive and brutal bond that no one will be able to break!! Honestly this had me on the edge of my seat and the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ let me tell you this!!!! wow!!! the spice was off the scale hot 🥵 the motorbike scene alone had me realising I have a new kink lol 😂 Dante is relentless on getting his girl back so there are some questionable things he does so please please check the TWs has there are a lot!!! honestly you won't be disappointed in anything Airicka Phoenix writes if you love books Dark then this is the author for you.
Leila lives a quiet life in Jefferson, the only thing is she can't remember her past and boy is it coming for her now!!! Dante is from her past when he shows up masked and just unrelenting like this guy won't let up, he wants her back and he won't let her go again!! So as pieces of her past come back she knows something went down but can't quite understand what!! Dante lets her in on her past...the foster homes, the abuse within the home she shared with him. Then one night happens and she goes missing but not knowing anything other than waking up in the woods covered in 🩸and half naked will Dante let her know what happened that fateful night she disappeared? When she finds out will she run from him again?
Oof what begins as a reunion turns into an obsessive and brutal bond that no one will be able to break!! Honestly this had me on the edge of my seat and the spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ let me tell you this!!!! wow!!! the spice was off the scale hot 🥵 the motorbike scene alone had me realising I have a new kink lol 😂 Dante is relentless on getting his girl back so there are some questionable things he does so please please check the TWs has there are a lot!!! honestly you won't be disappointed in anything Airicka Phoenix writes if you love books Dark then this is the author for you.
October 6, 2025
Leila is the main female character. Leila is living in Jefferson and is unaware of many things. There is someone who knows all about Leila, her former stepbrother, Dante. Dante is happy to stay in the shadows and stalk Leila. Dante may not be the only person watching Leila.
Dante is one of the most unhinged characters ever! Truly. Evidence? Try chapter 4 for starters and literally every chapter told from Dante's POV. Leila's stranger does some very disturbing things to her, and does not care about consent! It's a toss up on who is the craziest. Leila has to feel like she is losing her mind because of how her masked man gets to her and what he does. Most of the actions and thoughts in this book are so outlandish and absurd, but highly entertaining!
Leila and Dante just somehow fit together, though. Both of them know how to wear a mask and appear more "normal". Leila's past was cleared up and wrapped with a bow. Everything came to a head on Halloween. I just loved the insane things Dante did. Leila didn't really mind. Predator and prey. Full of so many trigger warnings and so many memorable quotes!
" I need to haunt her like she’s haunted me and break her like she’s broken me. I need to make her see me again, to remember she belongs to me."
Dante is one of the most unhinged characters ever! Truly. Evidence? Try chapter 4 for starters and literally every chapter told from Dante's POV. Leila's stranger does some very disturbing things to her, and does not care about consent! It's a toss up on who is the craziest. Leila has to feel like she is losing her mind because of how her masked man gets to her and what he does. Most of the actions and thoughts in this book are so outlandish and absurd, but highly entertaining!
Leila and Dante just somehow fit together, though. Both of them know how to wear a mask and appear more "normal". Leila's past was cleared up and wrapped with a bow. Everything came to a head on Halloween. I just loved the insane things Dante did. Leila didn't really mind. Predator and prey. Full of so many trigger warnings and so many memorable quotes!
" I need to haunt her like she’s haunted me and break her like she’s broken me. I need to make her see me again, to remember she belongs to me."
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