Dark & Darker Still: A Vane and Roc Origin Story

by Nikki St. Crowe

Vane and the Crocodile AKA the Madd Brothers, have been stripped of their titles and their assets after their father’s failed coup of the Darkland Court. Immortal, powerful and monstrous, it doesn’t take them long to make their way back up the ladder, but this time it’s not in the manors and mansions of the Darkland elite, it’s the dark underbelly known as the Umbrage.

Years later, they now rule the Umbrage and they are ruthless, destroying anyone who gets in their way. But even monsters have hearts, and when Roc and Vane find theirs broken, there’s only one get revenge.

Content warnings can be found on the author's website.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Audiobook, Retellings, Why Choose, Dark, Fantasy Romance

154 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2025

About the author

Nikki St. Crowe is a USA Today and No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Author specializing in dark, spicy romantasy where the villain gets the girl and the girl gets the power.

Nikki considers the start of her professional career to be in the 4th grade when she placed 2nd in a Young Author’s Competition. Back then she crafted stories about magical mansions and lost treasure. She’s since ditched the treasure hunts, but she'll never give up on the magical mansions (or the morally grey men who inhabit them).

These days, when Nikki isn’t writing or daydreaming about villains, she can either be found in the woods or at home with her husband and daughter.


For information on new releases, sign up for Nikki’s newsletter, The Forbidden Garden: https://nikkistcrowe.myflodesk.com/th...

Reviews

[Lychee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The epilogue saved this book for me tbh

[Hannah Crewe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need moreeeee. I love this universe and every snippet into another part of it is always spot on and enjoyable. I really need to see Alice & Hatter though…pleaseeeee

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite series. I love these characters. Every time I meet a new one I love them
Even more. Spicy, fast paced, amazing.

[Kelsey H · Rating 5 out of 5]

For novellas, I'm typically a little more picky, and I don't always rate them 5 stars because of it. But with this book, I loved all the characters, I loved the spice, and I finished the book feeling sincerely anxious to read the following duology!

The only thing I am confused about is if I read Nikki's books out of order. I've already read the Vicious Lost Boys series, which Vane and Roc are a part of. So I'm not sure if this novella and continuing duology come before that series or after. Either way, I will be reading the Devourer duology, and I'll find out sooner or later lol

[Shaz ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 - At this point, I’ll take whatever crumbs of Roc and Vane I can get 🖤

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally here for the vibes. I personally really enjoy this whole universe. This book though was a bit slow BUT the last 30% was everything I needed. I was hardcore anticipating this book because I was totally itching for a Vane and ROC origin story and this delivered. I absolutely love the Alice/Wonderland/ Madd Hatter connections and just overall enjoyed it.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

That took me longer to read than I expect anything by Nikki to take me, but for some reason, this prequel was hard to get into. Maybe it’s because I know Vane and Roc’s “villain” origin trigger so I was just not excited for the other shoe to drop (tears) or maybe the politics of Darkland and Wonderland were too much for such a small book. The only character we got to see a lot of was Alice, and she was admittedly a MESS (absolutely nothing was going right for her), making it even harder to read. Vane and Roc were a more subdued version of the characters we know and love with no real fire behind them yet. I think this book serves as a big warm up for what’s to come because that epilogue was definitely a banger and I do look forward to Alice’s redemption and eventual love story. Definitely a good read just not as binge-able as the prior books in this universe.

The briefest of plot summaries:
As Vane and Roc try to secure a seat of power in Darkland in order to provide a better life for their sister, things can’t help but fall apart due to their dark natures and the relationships they forge with those closest to them.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a book I can relate to.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloomin 'eck, that epilogue!!!!

KU Read
149 Pages
Fantasy
Novella
Prequel/Origin Story
Spice
Why Choose?

Arrrrgggghhh how do I even categorize this book... And that ending! I have always wanted to know the back story of Vane and Roc and now I have it. I didn't see any spoilers so I didn't realise that Alice of the Wonderland featured so heavily in this story but it plays out so well. I loved all the dark vibes, the magic and drama that only comes with a Darkland novella... All books in this series are amazing!

[Kait Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love getting the backstory of these characters!
The stakes felt higher in this novella because I already knew the event it was leading to. Nikki was still able to throw in more world building and as always, very good spice. I'm excited to see where she goes with the rest of this tale and to get more of Alice's story.
THE EPILOGUE GAVE ME CHILLS

[Beth Roger aka Katiebella_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

They are freaking Jabberwockys!!!!!

The Easter eggs to Alice in Wonderland were MADDening. I wanted more. There wasn't enough. I love how Crowe blends time loved children's tales into twisted dark romance for adults.

We finally learn what happened to Roc and Vanes' sister Lainey. Tragic......

This book was very different from her others. It is not a love story. There isn't redemption. It's more of a villains heritage tale. How they all became who they are. It takes place before any of the previous books in the series. It's more heartbreaking than heartfelt.

I love how Nikki is breaking away from p*rn over plot, and now her books are more plot with spice. I almost stopped when I read The Never King since I found it too much for me. I'm forever grateful I stuck with it and got stuck into the characters. If I thought Vane was my favorite, Roc stole my heart ❤️ yet here I am on team Vane all over again.

If you also found NEVER KING to be beyond spicy for you, I highly recommend reading on. These books are so good! It's worth the time, worth the dedication, worth the read.

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an okay novella, i really liked seeing the orgin of Roc and Vane and how they became the characters i know them to be. The spice was here, along with intrigue and action. I also really liked that Alice was in this book, she is very interesting. If you like fast paced origin stories then you should pick this up.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

God I love this author, the interconnected series & characters! In this novella, we get the Vane & Roc origin story plus a glimpse into a new series which is a retelling of Alice in wonderland perhaps!?!

I NEED ALICE & THE MAD HATTERS STORY LIKE NOW!🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 I already know that ish is gonna be wild & insanely hot

Type: audio
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Deets:
•fairytale retelling
•obsessive/possessive
•mafia vibes
•enemies to lovers to enemies
•peter pan x Alice in wonderland vibes

[Hayley Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Another amazing book in the Peter Pan/Alice In Wonderland retelling series by Nikki!

This one gave you the back story of the Madd brothers and why they seek revenge when you meet them in the main part of the series.

You also had a bit of spice (not as much as normal in her books), and it will having you question your morals with all of the toxic relationships going on.

I knew what was going to happen and I still was so devastated. The ending also blew my mind! I can't wait to see what happens next.

You get:
• Dark Romance
• Novella
• Murder & Gore
• Don't Trust Anyone
• Abuse
• Royalty
• Revenge

I recommend loved this one! Available on KU, ebook, and paperback.

[Nikki | graciouslybooked · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not having a great time. I was very bored. I did enjoy about 10% out of 100%. I do love the Never King series though and Devourer of Men. But this is not it. I would love another story with a focus of Alice though.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I think this suffers from having too many characters and too few pages, similar to the previous book, it actually reads well holistically. Why so many side characters that presumably we will never see again? Rushed towards the end, more a novella than a book.

[✨Gretch✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

This was Vane and Roc's origin story, but I felt like we got introduced to so many new characters, and it took place over a few days (maybe even weeks), and it left me wishing that we had more - even if I know we will be getting more soon.

I've loved Vane and Roc for ever, and getting to see them before they went to Neverland was a nice change. We also got to meet Alice, who I adored. It's not often we see a FMC that is both morally grey, and major flaws. It was a nice change, and I can't wait to see how her character grows in the future.

While this was a short and easy read, I wish we got more information out of it. There was a lot of telling us about things, but not showing it. Either way, I will be keeping up with this series as it continues!

[Shannon Whitley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will always read these because they are my guilty pleasure but god. It’s so bad lol. And Alice fookin SUCKS. But Roc gives me life as always.

[Makayla Beier · Rating 5 out of 5]

But where his uncle is a cliff edge crumbling beneath me, Vane is solid ground, even if it is unforgiving.

She is the opposite of me and Vane. If we are a boneyard, she is a meadow. If we are a violent storm, she is a morning of sunshine.

“She needs no protection from the monsters when she has one in her bed.”

“But you will get the most of me and that will have to be enough.” “It’s not,” she mutters, but I pretend I don’t hear her and she pretends she didn’t say it and we go on with our night.

I’ve always been drawn to morally grey men because in the gray, I don’t have to be so afraid of my own shadows.

I think on a subconscious level, he sees the abyss in Alice, and the only place Vane has ever allowed himself to be real is in the dark, a place where no one can see him for what he truly is.

“We were always going to break one another,”
———

This was amazing. The Vicious Lost Boys and the Devourer series are some of my favorite series ever and have some of my favorite characters ever. This book was so so good. Getting to see what Roc and Vane were like before the Darlings was so cool. I honestly have nothing to say about this book that isn’t a spoiler.

I will say one thing though, the epilogue was so well written and I absolutely sobbed like a baby. I’m so glad Nikki decided to add it rather than leave it where it was, like she had initially planned.

My only complaint is that I wish we had more character development with Lainey. We really only got one chapter with her and I wish she had been more prominent physically, rather than just being mentioned all the time. However, it is an extremely short book and there’s only so much you can cram into 149 pages (I so wish it had been triple that length).

I was so excited to read the authors note and see that Nikki is planning on doing a series following Alice at some point!!!

[Savannah Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a set up book, but I’m excited for what will come next!

[Jessica Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved every single one of these books and this was no exception. It was such a unique story, getting to delve into Alice and who she is. I can't wait for the next book.

[Breanna Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world and this book was so interesting. The combination of Peter Pan and Alice In Wonderland aspects made it so interesting. I can’t wait for the book of Alice and Mad Hatter!!

[Allie Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT ENDING!!

I knew going into this, it wasn’t going to be an HEA, but that didn’t make the hurt sting any less. As always, the spice was *Chef’s Kiss💋* but oh the tragedy of this “love” story out weighed the spice. And the way Corvin King, Robert Hatchet and Isabelle Turner performed the these characters and the “betrayals” and travesty that took place was felt so deep in my bones. At one point Vane, performed by Corvin, was yelling in his pain and the way Corvin performed that scene had me SAT. If I was the character he was yelling at, I would have shaken and broken into a million pieces. HOWEVER, Isabelle Turner really stole the show. Let’s me start by explaining that the way Nikki St. Crowe set this story had me going in thinking that I was not going to like the FMC. But with the way she wrote this story and the way Isabelle performed the FMC had my heart hurting for her. I’m so eager to know what happens next!! AND THERE BETTER BE A NEXT. Because that epilogue had me jumping, screaming and pretty much coming out of my body because WHAT WAS THAT?! That mirror scene! I was NOT expecting that at all!! So now I need to know what, how, when?! (😮‍💨I’m getting wound up again)

Anyway, as always Nikki St. Crowe served us well with this book and the Narration was top tier!

If you are new to Nikki St. Crowe books, this book reads best after the Vicious Lost Boys series, Devourer of Men and Devour the Dark.

[Stormborn Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

OH. MY. DARKNESS.

This book ruined me in the best possible way.
Nikki St. Crowe has outdone herself with Dark & Darker Still — it’s unhinged, deliciously toxic, and absolutely impossible to put down.

Vane and Roc Madd? Monsters. Kings. Obsessions.
I devoured every page of their twisted descent through the gritty underworld of the Umbrage. Banished from the Darkland elite, they carve out their own brutal empire—and when their hearts are broken? They don’t just burn bridges, they burn entire kingdoms.

The Alice in Wonderland elements gave this story such an eerie, dreamlike feel, but don’t be fooled—this world is dark, sharp, and addictive.
The pacing? Relentless.
The spice? Chaotic and HOT.
The relationship dynamics? MFM (you know I love those very much), messy, intense, and exactly what you’d expect from immortal monsters who don’t play by the rules.

I’m not okay 🫠

This book is for the girlies who love their fantasy fast, filthy, and feral. It’s for readers who want to feel wrecked in the best way.
Content warnings are important (check the author’s site), but if you’re into morally grey men, power plays, and emotional chaos—run to this book. I need the next one yesterday.

[Willie Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK RUINED ME… but like, in the most beautifully chaotic way possible 😭🔥
Nikki St. Crowe said “let’s make it feral” and Dark & Darker Still was born in chaos and raised by heartbreak. It’s dark, it’s toxic, it’s addictive—basically, it owns my soul now.

Vane and Roc? Clawing their way through Darkland to give their sister a better life—but when you play with shadows, don’t be surprised when everything catches fire. And ohhh, baby, it burns. 🖤

I’ve been begging for a Vane & Roc origin story, and this one DELIVERED. The Alice/Wonderland/Mad Hatter vibes? Unhinged excellence.

And that EPILOGUE?! My jaw hit the floor and is still down there somewhere. I already know Alice’s story of power, flaws, and survival is going to ruin me all over again.

Also, that audio lineup?! Robert Hatchet, Isabelle Turner, Corvin King & Shane East?? My headphones never stood a chance. 🎧🔥

Things to know

1st person pov, 3 pov, muliticast duet narration, dark romance, Graphic language, violence, gore, abusive parent, talk of suicide, alluding to sexual assault, graphic sexual content, blood drinking, war, displacement, death of family

[Hannah Gowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with the Nikki St Crowe universe.

This book could either be the perfect start to the universe or you could read them in publishing order, starting with the Vicious Lost Boys series (which Vane and Roc are apart of)

I need a book about Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the looking glass like I need air to breathe.

In Dark & Darker Still, Vane and Roc are trying to secure a seat of power in Darkland in order to provide a better life for their sister. Without giving it away, we learn more about what the monster that lays under their skin is. This novella is an origin story and we learn what happens to their sister.

Tropes You’ll Love:
🖤 Dark Romance
🖤 Obsessive/Possessive
🖤 Fairytale Retelling
🖤Mafia Vibes
🖤 Enemies to Lovers to Enemies

[Madi Yaussi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
2/5🌶️

“I think we find ourselves like this most nights because we remind each other of things we hate about ourselves.”

“I’ve found comfort, even if it’s existed alongside disorder.”


Nikki how are you going to write this the way you did and then move to the next series 🧍🏻‍♀️ give me 100 chapters on this world on my desk by Friday ‼️

Holy fucking TOXIC. But also I loved every second of this. While this is an origin story, it is absolutely NOT a prequel in anyway shape or form.

I truly can’t say much without spoiling but I liked the way this set a ton up, while answering a ton of questions, but I truly do need the next book on Alice immediately.

[Amber (Amber Reads Romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.5

I have loved this darker world Nikki has created with fairytale retellings of Peter Pan with the Vicious Boys, and now we get an Alice in Wonderland retelling. This is a prequel novella set as a Vane and Roc origin story, but it seemed more of a setup for Alice's upcoming series.

Vane and Roc lost their titles due to their dad's actions, and now they are trying to build more power in Darkland for their sister. They both have a toxic and messy relationship with Alice, who has some interesting powers with communicating with the dead. She left Wonderland and has an obsession with Vane, enjoys Roc, and has a complicated history with their uncle the Madd Hatter.

Alice makes a mistake that led to betrayal and devastation for the Madd brothers. The epilogue had me intrigued for the next series.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
🎤Duet narration by Isabelle Turner, Robert Hatchet, Corvin King, and Shane East

The narrators performances were top notch in this audiobook. Especially Isabelle Turner. She delivered such emotion and turmoil in the 3rd act with Alice's betrayal.

Thank you to Must Love Audio for providing the ALC.

[Shawna Jalbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

•Dark Fantasy
•Fairytale Reimaging
•Origin Story
•🌶🌶🌶

This was everything I needed to know about how Roc and Vane came to be. This was by no means a romance story. Purely all origin. Yes, there was spice, and god, was it good! But it focused on Alice (yes, as in Alice in wonderland!) with Roc and Vane and how they all knew each other. Their relationship is completely toxic. Alice loved the Madd men, but specifically, one she could never have. Everything leads to betrayal, and Alice is determined to fix it. I’ll be impatiently waiting for Alice’s story next! Even if it may be a while 😩

[Tay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑀𝒶𝒹𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓂𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓈. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀, 𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀, 𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈.

✨⭐️✨

This Vicious Lost Boys series spinoff is a Madd brothers origin story, where we see the monsters before we knew them— and their tangles with Alice of Wonderland.
It has multi POV, dark fairytale inspiration, morally grey men, MMF romance, and monsters.

Alice, Vane and Roc aren’t exactly a love match, but that doesn’t stop them from exploring and destroying each other with their unhealthy obsession.
Their relationships have lack of commitment, complications, possessiveness, obsession, games and doom.

The end may not end happily, but it rings true to the dark twisted past you expect for these brothers. This read was quick, spicy, uncomplicated and enjoyable.

“𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹𝓈 𝓃𝑜 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝑒𝒹.”