RED: Where Reality Fractures

by Ava Rouge

Brock has never had trouble getting what he wants. Until Kaya.

She’s the one woman who never gave in to his charm, the one he couldn’t shake, no matter how hard he tried. But when an accident leaves him vulnerable, she’s suddenly there. Closer than ever. And that changes everything.

As their connection grows, so do the shadows around him. The memories of his accident are consuming his thoughts. His nights are no longer his own. Red is waiting there; seductive, dangerous, and impossible to resist.

Now Brock is caught between the woman he’s falling for and the one who owns his darkest desires. And the deeper he goes, the harder it is to tell where reality ends and the nightmare begins.

Where Reality Fractures is a dark, spicy thriller about temptation, obsession, and the games that can cost you everything.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2025

Reviews

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a super fast supernatural vampire read then this is for you.

Brock, lives in a small town running a shop. One his way home on night his car breaks down, what follows is an eerie scene that leaves him wondering if he dreamt it. Kaya, inserts herself into his life after his car trouble, taking care of him. Brock, has always liked her so this is a bonus for him. It’s what transpires from here on out…

"𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓁𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹!" 🤭

It was a quick read, but the impact no less haunting. The intrigue kept you reading to the conclusion or is it???

[Danielle Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

was drawn in from the very beginning, had my suspicions about a certain character as the story progressesd. what a great little quick read

[GeeAlbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please check triggers with this one before reading.

Within the first chapter you get hints of a twisted Little Red Riding Hood but with the underlying horror of vampires. It definitely drew you in from the very first chapter.

It’s like teetering on that border of pleasure & torture, where reality starts to become questionable.

The closeness of Kaya started to make me question things, like how did she know when Brock had his episodes? Why was she always there? Something about her didn’t feel right.

Even though the spice is hot & definitely spicing. It really makes you feel for Brock in other ways. There’s a lingering uneasiness that makes you feel like you’re losing your mind along with him.

This twists & the realisation turned everything I had read on its head. The feelings towards Brock changed dramatically & I even wanted to side with Kaya & Dahlia… that feeling of being wronged, the feeling of feminine rage, the feeling of vengeance.

This was a good short read that had you questioning at every turn. It wasn’t what I expected but I enjoyed that about it.

[Feri G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! A very quick and easy read with a great twist.
I recommend!

[Michelle Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Ava and Wings & Words for the chance to get my hands on the Arc!

My first exposure to this author and she packs a hell of a punch. I went in blind based on the cover and was so pleased I did. The twists, the backstory, the easy flow of the book that made it a quick but intense read. I was trying to figure out the plot for the first 2/3 of the book and didn’t see the end coming. Devious, vengeful, humorous and a splash of spice. Delicious.

A great read, look forward to book 2 in the series!

[Sarah Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a smutty paranormal romance in a novella sizing you will like this. Interesting characters, and an unravelling of the mysterious which kept me interested. A good spooky read perfect for Halloween month!

[Shannon's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

a super quick read, that i thought i had guessed the twist but I was so so wrong. make sure you read the triggers but if you love dark romantasy then this is for you!

[T || · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating for #redwhererealityfractures⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ by #avarougeauthor

Thanks to @bookish_butterflybeth for the opportunity as always to be on the permanent arc team!

🩸🩸🩸Please note this review may contain spoilers. But in aid to do honest reviews. Sometimes i have to 🤷‍♀️ 🩸🩸🩸

Damn, this is such a quick short read. I wish it was longer.

But damn does it pack a punch and action.

The story follows the MMC Brock who meets the FMC Kaya...

The twist in this though. Damn.

I had a feeling she was fishy but I did not expect that 🤷‍♀️

For a quick short spicy read. I do recommend it.
Solid 4 stars, would be 5 for sure if it was longer and the backstory was more in depth and we didnt cliffhang at the end lol

#avarougeauthor #red #whererealityfractures #wingsandwords #permanentarcteam #paranormalromance #revenge #spicyread #shortstory #recommendedread #twisted

[Rainbowsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

​A Devouring Short Read with an Incredible Punchline!
​Wow, Red: Where Reality Fractures by Ava Rouge was the perfect, devouring short read! I picked this up and couldn't put it down. The whole story kept me utterly curious and hanging on the pages, eagerly waiting to understand what was happening and how it would all come together.
​Ava Rouge is a master of efficient storytelling. The writer captivated me immediately without needing pages of detailed explanations or complex world-building, which made this such a nice, easy, and refreshing read. I loved the characters—they felt real and relatable—and the narrative kept me guessing right along with the main character, building the suspense brilliantly.
​And the punchline? Ohhh, did I love the punchline! It was completely worth the buildup. This book is absolutely worth the read, and I'm eager to find more from Ava Rouge in the future.
​Disclaimer: I received an early digital edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Garbutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a read! This short had me hooked!
Brock is made to question everything after an attack when his car breaks down by a forest.

The woman he's been wanting more from for months steps up to take care of him but he's being tormented by the terrifying encounter he experienced. This is spicy, dark and has you questioning everything he knows!
Fantastic work, I only wish it was longer!

Thank you to Beth and the rest of the Wings and Words community for the free ARC copy of this little treasure! I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red: Where Reality Fractures by Ava Rouge is the kind of short story you sit down with “just to sample”… and suddenly you’ve devoured the entire thing in one breathless sitting. Kaya and Brock’s tense, electric dynamic pulls you in immediately, and the paranormal edges with hints of vampirism blended with a twisted, deliciously dark Little Red Riding Hood vibe make the world feel both familiar and eerily new.

Ava Rouge doesn’t shy away from the brutal side of the story either. There are torture scenes and psychological intensity woven throughout, so checking trigger warnings is a must. But the payoff is worth it: sharp writing, relentless atmosphere, and a plot that keeps fracturing reality until you’re not sure who to trust or what’s real.

It’s haunting, original, and perfect for readers who love their paranormal stories dark, fast-paced, and dripping with tension.

[Ashlene Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story that really packs a punch! I was absolutely hooked from beginning to end. The story was original, and had an amazing turn that I did not see coming! For being a short novel Ava really managed to fill it with mystery, plot, spice and info. Definitely one for the TBR ☺️
This was an ARC I was lucky enough to read thanks to Wings&Words!

[jennifer langdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique and intriguing read with a really cool concept at its core. The fractured-reality vibe and the overall atmosphere kept me curious about where the story was going, and there were several moments and images that really stood out and stuck with me.
I’m glad I picked this one up, and I think readers who enjoy slightly surreal, imaginative stories with a darker edge will find a lot to love here.

[Katy Brixey · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you want a smutty, mysterious novella that you can read in one sitting, this is the book for you! The smut is great and mixed with the mystery of the story makes this book even better!

[Anamval · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHECK TW

So that was an interesting read.. in a good way, it’s a fast-paced story and trust me the plot twists let’s just say that I didn’t see them coming hahahahahah didn’t even crossed my mind so that was a good surprise

And Ava, I was kinda mad hahah I was ready to watch him b.u.r.n. 🤣

[⭐️ mrs_munken_555 ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one - I was a bit confused throughout it, don't get me wrong, but I still enjoyed the premise of it and how it was written! For a quick read, highly recommend!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The twists in this book .. I didn’t see some of it coming 🤯 loved it 😱

I quite enjoyed the premise of this story, and genuinely kept going because I wanted to know who was the lady in red 😍

Red is a shorter story you can enjoy in one sitting 😊

Ava has a way with words and I loved her writing style, it was a nice change of pace to read mainly from a man’s POV

[Alison Birks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read triggers

This book will get you hooked from the start and will keep you guessing throughout.

We meet Brock and Kaya he gets what he wants and she doesn’t, when you first start to read this it gives off red riding hood vibes but with vampires. And just when you think you have them all figured out Red throws a curveball.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was really good, very dark and twisty and I didn't see the plot twist coming. short book but it packed a punch!

[tonicha Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was captivating right from the start, kept you wanting more and twists have you shocked. this book was short and sweet but an absolutely great read. I enjoyed getting lost in this story.

[Gemz Booktok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my I devoured Red Where Reality Fractures in one sitting and honestly I’m still thinking about it now. I loved Avas writing style i found it quite addictive the blend of dark paranormal romance with dark themes mystery spice all rolled into one it was an absolutely delicious short read. The storyline pulls you in right away! Which i loved i love a book that's captures you from page 1.
It’s one of those reads that feels quite cinematic the tension, the emotion, the little moments that make you pause and reread the page because you need to double check what you are reading. Totally obsessed definitely worth a read and I highly recommend.
If you like your books to be equally balanced with a strong plot great characters a sense of mystery and psychological elements this book needs to be on your Tbr. I will definitely be looking out for my books written by this author.

Thankyou to wings and words for the opportunity to read this as an arc. My review is totally voluntary.

It's a big yes from me!

[Disneysparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be apart of the ARC team for Red, so thank you Ava and Beth at Wings & Words for the opportunity. Please note that all words are my own, I was NOT paid to write a review.

WHERE DO I START?! This book might be small but it packs a punch and with leave you flabbergasted.

RED follows Brock, a guy who has no troubles getting what he wants, that is until Kaya. After a freak accident Kaya stays, giving into the chemistry that is so obviously there. But as time goes on the shadows thicken and Brock's mind plays tricks, making it impossible to tell where reality ends.

This is a dark, spicy thriller that will grip you throughout and leave you questioning all! This was a very quick read but it certainly didn't lack. I would of course have loved a thicker book (don't we all ay) but I loved what we got. The characters were fun and inclusive and the story was easy to follow, with a very large twist and not forgetting the cliffhanger!

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and am eagerly awaiting the second instalment!!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked within the 1st chapter & devoured it within a couple of hours.

Brock is a ladies man & meets Kaya who he actually wants to build something with, however one night driving home his car stops in the middle of nowhere & he finds himself amidst an animal attack!

Early on in the book I did find the interactions between Kaya & Brock quite robotic which disassociated me from her character slightly to begin with, but as the story & plot line progresses she did become more relatable for me.

This is a very fast paced book & you may feel like your being shot of the end of a roller coaster. It's filled with seduction, witch craft, intrigue, vampires, tension, uncontrolled desire & most definitely gives off HOT on the spicey scales.

* Thank you to the Wings and Words community for the free ARC copy of this book! I'm leaving this review voluntarily*

[Printessan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fast and intense vampire read that really kept me hooked. The dynamic between Brock and Kaya is strong, especially the way she refuses to be controlled, something that challenges him constantly. At the same time, there was something about Kaya that didn’t quite add up for me, like how she always seemed to show up at exactly the right moment. It made me both suspicious and even more curious about her role. The pace is high, a lot happens in a short time, and the twist completely caught me off guard. A short but powerful read.

This review is voluntary.

Thank you so much Ava and the Wings & Words community for letting me be a part of the team. 🌺❤️

[Louise Smalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a romance that stays safely within the lines, keep moving. Ava Rouge’s RED: Where Reality Fractures is a haunting, "spicy" thriller that blurs the boundary between a love story and a fever dream. This isn't just a romance; it’s a study of trauma. The way the accident triggers "shadows" around Brock adds a layer of genuine suspense. RED is a dark, obsessive ride. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy dark romance with a heavy side of psychological thriller. ~Thank you, Beth, and the rest of the Wings and Words Arc Community for the free Arc of this book. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.~

[Leean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a suspenseful short story that will have you hooked from the beginning, it was beautifully written and a five star read. I recommend reading it but read triggers first. Such a great read I absolutely loved reading it.

[vickies_corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Quick read. Red riding hood vibes, Vampire vibes and spice of course. Interesting ending. Liked it

[Paige Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the plot loved the spice!!! Vampire spicy read!!👌🏻👌🏻