Hellebore Fields

by Rivkah Plume

He says I'm his light. But loving him feels like drowning in shadows.

At UC Wisteria, I'm supposed to be chasing my future: books, scholarship, and a life I've fought tooth and nail to earn. But instead, I'm being chased by Branwen Atthill, the campus hockey star with sharp edges, hidden scars, and ice-blue eyes that track my every move like I belong to him. When his obsession transforms into something that looks like love, I fall headfirst into the dark fairytale I always craved—until I start losing myself in its twisted pages.

Branwen is dangerous. Possessive. Beautiful in ways that make me forget to breathe. When the violence starts, I convince myself I can fix him. That if I love him hard enough, my light will chase away his darkness. But as secrets unravel and the campus grows more dangerous, I'm forced to confront the question I've been too terrified to ask: if I survive loving him, will I still recognize the girl I was before he consumed me?

He's everything I was warned about, and the only boy I've ever wanted to burn for.

Genres: Dark Academia

260 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2026

About the author

Rivkah Plume is a die-hard dark romance reader (and now author) residing in iconic San Diego County with her husband, tween daughter, and their two beloved dogs. When she’s not otherwise occupied by her collection of steamy romance novels, you can find her drinking coffee, attempting yoga with her flexible husband, or out to lunch with friends. Pursuing an English degree in her mid-40s, Rivkah proves passion has no expiration date.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVEIW

Okay, where do I even begin? Let's start with the characters. Tesni is basically a human teddy bear; she wants to see the good in everyone. Branwen, on the other hand, is a total trainwreck - toxic and a liar. I was not his fan. Helena is not nice; keep an eye on her. I really enjoyed this book; it was dark and there really was no light, but it was relatable. This book is about obsession, and it can be triggering. On a more serious note, the subject matter is dark. Toxic relationships are just that; no matter how much you want a person to change, sometimes they can't. And it's absolutely okay to always choose yourself. This book touched my soul. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Young Adult Dark Sports Romance, and this is the first book in the UC Wisteria series. I do not read a lot of Young Adult books, and I think this book has some of the things that I do not love about young adult books who just acted younger than they are. I like my dark romance to be dark, but this book just is not that dark. The main male character is not likable and does questionable stuff. I just was not into this book, but I did not hate this book. I think this was not the book for me. I did enjoy the ending of this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually incorporate “dark academia romance” into my reading list anymore. I’ve found in the past the MMC typically crosses a line I’ve constructed and they can’t ever come back from. And I’m not a delicate flower. We all have our hard lines never to be crossed, but insert Hockey into the title, and storyline, and I become a literary puck bunny ready for anything. Thankfully Hellebore Fields didn’t even get close to them, and was able to incorporate romance, suspense, with a side of a mystery who done it, I didn’t expect. Author introduced a couple characters who gave our obsessed MMC a run for his money on crazy, and I loved the questions it brought up while reading on who the “bad guy” really is. There is spice, a couple different scenes, and overall a 4 1/2 star read. I’ll definitely go back and read the prequel and keep an eye out for anymore in this universe.
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC, these thoughts and opinions are my own.

[FN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both the MMC and FMC are potential bright students but they’re dragged down by red flags the FMC refuses to acknowledge largely because she’s trying so hard to fit in. Although its fast pace, the writing delivers compelling narrative, highlighting the stark contrast between the characters’ behaviors, the complexity of human emotions, and unexpected twists, all set in a college and hockey background. I found myself groaning and practically yelling at the FMC to make better choices for herself, which is a testament to how this story really pulled me in. Please be mindful of the TW. Thank you for the opportunity to read this in advance.

[Michelle_reads13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Hellebore Fields is A Dark Academia Hockey Romance, which isn’t 2 genres I thought would work well together but I throughly enjoyed this book.
The plot is definitely dark academia focused with the hockey taking a backseat and playing a minor role in the plot.

This was an easy read and finished it in one sitting, I was surprised, uncomfortable and on the edge of my seat the whole way through, however, I would caution to read the trigger warning before starting, themes include stalking, violence, gaslighting/ manipulation and murder.

Overall I highly recommend
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.

[Alexis Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The utter obsession I have with this book is wild. I couldn’t even put it down till I was finished. I was blown away by how much I loved this one. I loved the obsession, the secrets, the stalker( secret one and not so secret one) and I loved not knowing who was behind all the notes and bad things happening at the school. The overall growth of the characters made it all worth the read.

[Mache · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellebore Fields by Rivkah Plume is a slow-burn dark academia hockey romance that leans heavily into atmosphere, psychological tension, and the dangerous allure of obsession disguised as love. Set against the backdrop of an elite university, the story explores power imbalances, identity, and how easily ambition and self-worth can be eroded in the name of affection.

Tesni is a scholarship student trying to survive in a world not built for her. She’s disciplined, hardworking, and driven by the need to prove she belongs; not just for herself, but for her mother. That vulnerability makes her an easy target for Branwen Athill, a star hockey player whose attention is intoxicating, overwhelming, and deeply unsettling from the start.

Branwen is possessive in a way that goes beyond dark romance tropes and veers into manipulation. His obsession is not just about protecting Tesni (as he believes); but about reshaping her. He wants her world to shrink until he is the center of it, and watching that control tighten was upsetting at times. While the suspense and tension were well done, his behavior made it difficult to root for him, as his version of “love” consistently came at the cost of Tesni’s autonomy, goals, and voice.

Tesni’s emotional arc was equally frustrating at times. Her willingness to excuse red flags and rationalize harmful behavior felt painfully realistic, but also exhausting. Her desire to believe she could fix him, to love him into being better, highlights a hard truth about first love and self-sacrifice. While her growth does come, it takes time, and the journey there is heavy.

The strength of Hellebore Fields lies in its moody, unsettling tone and its refusal to romanticize control without consequences. The ending is bittersweet but fitting, and it reinforces the book’s central question: how much of yourself can you give to someone before there’s nothing left?

This is not a feel-good romance. It is a cautionary, emotionally charged, dark academia story that will linger with you after the final page and make you question decisions you may have made in your own life at some point in time. Readers who appreciate morally challenging narratives and psychological depth will find a lot to unpack here.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Christa Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars for craft and Bran's level of secrecy that brought a sense of intrigue into the beginning of the story. I was very engaged in the first third of this book, loving how Bran was stalkery and obsessed and she was being pulled into his orbit because of how manipulative he was about her life.

This book had an interesting premise with college setting, hockey, stalking and dark romance vibes. It has an overly obsessed and jealous to the max MMC and intelligent scholarly FMC, but for me the growth of their relationship didn’t fully resonate.

The story leans heavily into a possessive, stalker-style college hockey player MMC, which will definitely work for some dark romance readers, but I found it difficult to fully connect with him. His behavior felt more unsettling than swoony at times. I definitely think he had walking red flags which at first felt on point for the dark romance but then went a little sideways. I also really missed the hockey in this story. I'd have liked to have seen Tesni be way more involved with his hockey playing, too. There were a lot of the same type scenes but just different versions of it such as him being called into the coach's office to be warned about something and her being called into her I think professor's office to be told how bad Bran was for her.

The writing itself is solid, and there are moments where the tone and mood come through well but then the storytelling felt uneven in the romance. Certain plot developments seemed to come in abruptly (something happens to a very minor character really late in the story), and I found myself wanting more buildup and cohesion to make those moments feel earned.

Overall, this one has elements that could appeal to readers who enjoy darker, more obsessive dynamics, but for me, it didn’t quite hit the balance between intensity and emotional depth that I look for in this genre.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Branwen and Tesni’s story is intense from the start. Branwen is manipulative, isolating Tesni from her friends, monopolizing her time. Everyone around them tells Tesni what she should or shouldn’t do about Branwen, blame him for the dead girl without proof, push him, antagonize him.

Hellebore Fields is, for anyone that has ever been in a manipulative relationship, like a walk into a parallel universe—Seeing what that alternate ending would’ve looked like. Sort of.

The first twenty-odd chapters are deep, focused, rhythmic in their flow. The main characters are so well-fleshed, their every flaw laid bare—and acknowledged, their feelings raw and honest—even when twisted and dark. I thoroughly enjoyed Branwen and Tesni’s story … until Tesni’s complete 180-out-of-character-change-of-heart right after a huge proclamation towards Branwen, that was … STUNTING. And then there are the last 5 chapters. UGH Perhaps it is just my personal preference, my own subconscious preconceived ideas as to where their story started vs where it landed. The last 5 chapters didn’t feel like they belonged to the same book. But those remaining 24 are worth it.


MMC:
✨Branwen
FMC:
✨Tesni
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨bittersweet ending, HFN
Series:
✨UC Wisteria: Book 1
Chapters:
✨29 plus epilogue
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉dark academy romance
👉hockey romance
👉obsessive mmc
👉possessive mmc
👉grumpy/sunshine
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex, dub-con, rough, graphic, open door
💥profanity
💥violence, abuse, stalking
💥manipulation, isolation, intimidation, jealousy, domination, hostility
💥death, murder
Burn Speed:
✨medium
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Blue Ant · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stood out to me most about Hellebore Fields was the way it frames obsession and emotional dependency through the lens of dark academia and romantic fantasy without softening the psychological damage underneath. The novel understands the seductive pull of dangerous love while still allowing the emotional consequences to feel unsettling and real.

The dynamic between the narrator and Branwen is intense from the beginning, but what makes it compelling is how closely the story stays tied to the narrator’s emotional rationalizations. Her desire to “save” him and believe her love can transform his darkness creates a painfully believable emotional spiral. The book captures how obsession can masquerade as intimacy, especially for someone longing to feel chosen, protected, or consumed by another person.

Branwen himself works effectively because he is written less as a conventional romantic lead and more as a force of emotional gravity. His possessiveness, unpredictability, and emotional volatility create constant tension beneath the romance, and the story does a strong job of making readers feel both the attraction and the suffocating danger simultaneously.

I also appreciated the atmosphere throughout the novel. The academic setting, emotional isolation, and fairytale-like language all reinforce the feeling that the protagonist is slowly disappearing into something beautiful but destructive. That tonal consistency gives the book a hypnotic quality that fits the subject matter well.

This will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy dark academia romances exploring toxic attachment, emotional obsession, psychological vulnerability, and morally dangerous relationships where love and destruction become difficult to separate.

[Jennifer Amaral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellebore Fields blends the atmospheric feel of dark academia with the intensity and passion of a hockey romance, creating a story that feels both moody and emotionally engaging.

What stood out most to me was the atmosphere of the setting. The dark academia elements add a layer of intrigue and tension that gives the story a distinctive tone. Paired with the competitive energy of hockey, it creates an interesting contrast between quiet intellectual spaces and the fast-paced intensity of the sport.

The character dynamics help drive the story forward. As relationships develop, moments of vulnerability and emotional conflict add depth and keep the narrative engaging.

For me, this lands at 4 ⭐ because the story was compelling and immersive, though there were a few moments where I would have loved even more exploration of certain emotional beats.

Still, it’s an enjoyable read that combines romance, tension, and atmosphere in a memorable way.

This is a 4 ⭐ for me because:

• the dark academia atmosphere added depth to the story
• the hockey element brought energy and tension
• the character relationships were engaging
• the pacing kept the story moving smoothly

Moody. Intense. Atmospheric.

Read this book if you like:

• dark academia settings
• sports romance (especially hockey)
• emotionally driven relationships
• stories with tension and atmosphere

[Christine ARGYROPOULOU · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
ARC REVIEW

This book started with so many potential and it gets you invested immediately ❤️
I loved their chemistry and the reason they started spending more time together because of the assignment with the topic of obsession, this was something i found really interesting and unique ❤️
Their relationship was so strong and it was so real in a way because of his trauma, it showed that people might think something is normal just because they were raised this way. This books gives you hope about changing and learning from your mistakes. It proved that therapy and actually talking to someone about how you are feeling is important and it can make a huge difference in your life ❤️
This books gives you is not just a dark hockey romance is so much more.
Obsession can feel like love but it is important to learn to separate them❤️
Tesni in the end did the right thing for her, it took her some time but i loved their ending because it showed hope ❤️🥹

I loved the mystery kinda plot of the book as well i found it really interesting and to be honest i did not see that coming so it was another surprise ❤️

The only thing that set me off a bit it was that i found it a little repetitive and i got a little annoyed at some point. 😭👉👈

[MandysBookish Mind · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story really toes the line between love and obsession. It follows the beginning of an emotionally unsettling relationship, the conflicts that grow inside it, and the tipping point that changes everything. Seeing the story from both perspectives was powerful because you always understood how each of them interpreted the same moments, how one craved affection while the other craved control.

There is more happening here than just their relationship. There are friends, danger, and a growing sense of unease as Branwen becomes increasingly obsessed with Tensi, manipulating situations in ways he believes are love. From his perspective, everything he does is justified. From hers, she sees a broken person who has been judged his entire life and believes she can fix him.

What I loved most was the way the ending was handled. It shows that sometimes it takes one person refusing to give up to make a difference. It isn’t the resolution you expect, or from the person you expect, and that’s what makes it feel real.

There is such raw emotion in this book that it moves beyond a simple stalker or obsessive-love story. It becomes something deeper, something that makes you understand both characters in a way that lingers after the last page. I received this as an ARC and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

I’ll take anything, as long as she keeps choosing me.

[Bonnie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured Hellebore Fields in a couple of sittings. It’s dark, moody, and pulls you straight into the shadowy chaos of UC Wisteria. The dark academia vibe is strong — old buildings, secrets everywhere, and that constant sense that something’s not quite right. Add a brooding, obsessive hockey star and it works way better than I expected.

Tesni is a hardworking scholarship student just trying to get ahead, and Branwen is intense, dangerous, and very much fixated on her. The slow-burn tension is done really well — every interaction feels loaded — and the dual POV keeps things interesting. The spice delivers, the atmosphere is heavy, and the obsession-to-something-more line is walked nicely.

[Karen Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little step away from my usual reads, but I enjoyed the change. He is the sports star on campus, intense and has a past that is whispered about in the halls. She sees the good in everyone, academic and kind. When they come together, the passion is intense.

It's not just a dark love story, though; there is an underlying mystery, believable red flags and reasons for ignoring them, and that really made the story worth it for me.

Would I want him as a boyfriend, no, but was it a good read, yes.
A great read for anyone who likes dark academia with a little sport thrown in.

ARC provided via Pen Pinery
https://penpinery.com

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh . Dark Academia and Hockey Romance, two of my all time favorite tropes and I was so here for it all . This absolutely amazing world that Rivkah has so brilliantly created , filled with characters that are so intriguing, that have so many different layers and complexities. I do not even have the right words to express how in love I fell with Hellebore Fields. It’s the type of book that will have you devouring every single word, that will keep you up reading well into the early morning hours and leave you craving so much more. I genuinely could not get enough!!

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worlds collide when the straight A, perfectionist is paired with the university's most volatile hockey star for a project. He seeks to own her and she is helpless to stop it. This book is dark, angsty, twisty, and full of obsession. I really liked the premise, but I wish there was more hockey and also that the characters were a bit more likable than they were. I was really invested for the first half of the book, but by the second half, I was ready for it to be over. Overall, a pretty good, quick read but I probably won't continue the series.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily:

A delicious dark academy romance - with an intens male hockey player and a hardworking female maincharacter.
The tension and vibe in the setting was spooky in the best way - and the story kept me glued to the pages.

It's a short dark spicy romance - perfect for a cold dark evening ;)

A thanks to Booksirens for the ARC

[Lisa Serrano-Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty campus. Poisonous love. 🖤

Hellebore Fields is dark academia at its most unsettling obsessive, toxic, and impossible to look away from. This isn’t a swoony romance; it’s a slow unraveling wrapped in gothic vibes and dangerous devotion.

Come for the atmosphere. Stay for the emotional damage.

#DarkAcademia #DarkRomance #MorallyGray #ToxicLove #GothicVibes #BookTokReads #ObsessiveLove #MoodyReads

[llm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first dark romance and I was not prepared for the wild ride! Check the triggers bc this is really well written so that I started to feel chills creep up on my skin as Branwen started spiraling further into his obsession with Tesni. Shenanigans ENSUE.

I received an ARC and this review is totally honest and mine. 😎

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started strong, got me hooked in the first page. It seemed like an enemies to lovers type of fun book, alpha male but with a strong female character. But then the pace just changed. It got really slow and Branwen started to be really creepy. And then it turned into a murder story. Not really my cup of tea.

[Amanda Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like no other I had read. This was a fast paced book. Once I started I had to see what happened next Branwell was a unique character that was obsessed with Tesni. Tesni was trying to find a place that she could call her own. There were twists I wasn’t expecting.

[Dark Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark academia romance - definitely right up my alley, and with hockey to boot.

I loved the emotion here, and like all good dark romances, we start to question the line between obsession and danger. The writing is strong and fun to read.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Jordyn Haart · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC read via Pen Pinery

This book started out strong and is very well written. It alternates from the FMC and MMC's points of view as you learn about their lives on campus as a scholarship recipient and the hockey player who is obsessed with her. For 25 chapters, I was captivated, and wanted to read more. It showed his drive to win her over, painting his obsession as his downfall (evoking my visceral reaction to him - well done!). But then, there was a very sudden, and surprising ending that didn't sit well with me. It seemed too far fetched and unrealistic. The fight scene between the MMC and the murderous second stalker wasn't believable simply due to strength differential and skill (the MMC is a hockey star, known fighter). Overall, I did enjoy this book, I just wished it ended stronger with more depth.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!

I’m proud of this book, so excited for book 2! Dark Academia, dark romance, hockey star, obsessed stalker. All my favorite things.