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The Princesses of Ruin #1
Brutal Rival: The Princesses of Ruin, Book 1
He wants his bloodthirsty rival for a wife.
She only wants the queen's head on a pike.
Scarlett Bloodletter narrowly escaped her own assassination at the tender age of fourteen. Why had her mother, the queen, tried to kill her? Beats Scarlett, but she assumed it was because she was a nomaj. Without a drop of magic in Scarlett’s blood, she was useless to the throne. Reduced to all kinds of deplorable things to survive the harsh streets of the kingdom’s poverty-stricken “Underbelly,” Scarlett has grown into a feared criminal with two things on her kill the queen and liberate her sisters, the only people she still has a heart for…until Zane.
Zane, the Spider Lord, is a fearsome gang leader of the Underbelly known for decapitating his victims and poisoning his rivals. There’s only one thing he more fiercely protects than his his Nomaj Princess of Prayers, Scarlett. He’ll do anything to keep her off her knees and will kill anyone who looks at her twice.
After one passionate night leads Zane to discover Scarlett’s dark secret, he’s helpless to resist her cause. After all, what’s more exciting than plotting to kill a queen?
She only wants the queen's head on a pike.
Scarlett Bloodletter narrowly escaped her own assassination at the tender age of fourteen. Why had her mother, the queen, tried to kill her? Beats Scarlett, but she assumed it was because she was a nomaj. Without a drop of magic in Scarlett’s blood, she was useless to the throne. Reduced to all kinds of deplorable things to survive the harsh streets of the kingdom’s poverty-stricken “Underbelly,” Scarlett has grown into a feared criminal with two things on her kill the queen and liberate her sisters, the only people she still has a heart for…until Zane.
Zane, the Spider Lord, is a fearsome gang leader of the Underbelly known for decapitating his victims and poisoning his rivals. There’s only one thing he more fiercely protects than his his Nomaj Princess of Prayers, Scarlett. He’ll do anything to keep her off her knees and will kill anyone who looks at her twice.
After one passionate night leads Zane to discover Scarlett’s dark secret, he’s helpless to resist her cause. After all, what’s more exciting than plotting to kill a queen?
Audible Audio
First published October 24, 2023
About the author
Ember Holt
19 books347 followersEmber loves all things with heat! A glass of wine, a comfy, oversized sweater, and a spicy book next to a fireplace is her ideal night. She likes to read about powerful heroines and protective heroes, and write about them, too.
When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.
Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)
~~~
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When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.
Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)
~~~
Want a free novella? Sign up for my newsletter on my website!
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Want to Read
October 25, 2023according to the blurb, this is the definition of the fire emoji in book form.
October 18, 2023
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
I’ve never read a Dark Romantasy book before so I didn’t know what to expect. But when i tell you that this book GAVE 🤌🏻
I loved loved LOVED Scarlett and Zane. They are so perfect for each other. Zane is one of the most feared lords of the Underbelly and is known for his ruthless tactics but he has such a soft spot for Scarlett and I ate the up.
I was a little disappointed with the ending, but then realized that she’s writing a series soo i’ll have to wait for now.
I’ve never read a Dark Romantasy book before so I didn’t know what to expect. But when i tell you that this book GAVE 🤌🏻
I loved loved LOVED Scarlett and Zane. They are so perfect for each other. Zane is one of the most feared lords of the Underbelly and is known for his ruthless tactics but he has such a soft spot for Scarlett and I ate the up.
I was a little disappointed with the ending, but then realized that she’s writing a series soo i’ll have to wait for now.
February 1, 2024
Brutal Rival by Ember Holt kicks off with a bang, or rather, a bold move straight into a blowjob scene in the first chapter. Talk about grabbing your attention, right? I was all in, thinking this book was gonna be a wild ride. But boy, was I wrong.
As I kept reading, the initial shock wore off, and disappointment settled in like a stubborn fog. The plot? Yeah, it’s about as original as a rerun. And the lack of explanations? Don’t even get me started. The world-building? Minimal at best. Magic system? A dud. And let’s talk about those infamous ‘spindles.’ What are they made of, and how do they work? Your guess is as good as mine.
The Underbelly of the city and the territories? They could’ve been fascinating, but thanks to the author’s lack of explanation, they fell flat. And Scarlett’s mom? Total mystery. Why she’s the way she is and why she wants her daughters dead? Beats me.
Scarlett, oh Scarlett. I had high hopes for her to be the ultimate badass heroine, but man, was I let down. Her backstory? About as clear as mud. I mean, how did she go from delicate princess to powerful Underbelly territory holder? Your guess is as good as mine, because the book sure didn’t bother explaining. And let’s talk about her “legendary” blowjobs. Seriously, what’s up with that? I get it, it’s supposed to be edgy and all, but it just came off as ridiculous. So, she needs a man’s seed to steal their magic (one of three ways)? What if it was a woman’s magic she needed? Would she have to… well, you know? It’s like a bad magic porn plot. Overall, Scarlett’s character left a lot to be desired. If you’re looking for a strong, well developed heroine, you won’t find her here. And if you’re hoping for some logical explanations, well, good luck with that.
Ah, Zane. The epitome of the overprotective dude. At first, I thought his need to protect Scarlett was kinda sweet. But then it got old. Fast. I mean, the guy was so obsessed with keeping Scarlett safe that he’d probably bubble wrap her if he could. It’s like he had tunnel vision, only seeing Scarlett and nothing else. But here’s the thing: his protective streak? It wasn’t cute. It was suffocating. Like, let the girl breathe, dude! Zane was all up in Scarlett’s business, meddling in her plans and never giving her a chance to do her own thing. It’s like he thought she couldn’t tie her own shoelaces without him. Sure, some might find Zane’s “I’ll protect you at all costs” shtick endearing. But for me? Nah, pass. Give me a guy who trusts his girl to handle her own business any day. Because let’s face it, nobody wants a clingy bodyguard for a boyfriend.
Overall, Brutal Rival had potential, but it missed the mark big time. If you’re into unoriginal plots, minimal world building, and more questions than answers, then go for it. But if you’re like me and prefer a bit more substance, you might want to give this one a pass. Ember Holt “YOU ARE SHOWING!”
As I kept reading, the initial shock wore off, and disappointment settled in like a stubborn fog. The plot? Yeah, it’s about as original as a rerun. And the lack of explanations? Don’t even get me started. The world-building? Minimal at best. Magic system? A dud. And let’s talk about those infamous ‘spindles.’ What are they made of, and how do they work? Your guess is as good as mine.
The Underbelly of the city and the territories? They could’ve been fascinating, but thanks to the author’s lack of explanation, they fell flat. And Scarlett’s mom? Total mystery. Why she’s the way she is and why she wants her daughters dead? Beats me.
Scarlett, oh Scarlett. I had high hopes for her to be the ultimate badass heroine, but man, was I let down. Her backstory? About as clear as mud. I mean, how did she go from delicate princess to powerful Underbelly territory holder? Your guess is as good as mine, because the book sure didn’t bother explaining. And let’s talk about her “legendary” blowjobs. Seriously, what’s up with that? I get it, it’s supposed to be edgy and all, but it just came off as ridiculous. So, she needs a man’s seed to steal their magic (one of three ways)? What if it was a woman’s magic she needed? Would she have to… well, you know? It’s like a bad magic porn plot. Overall, Scarlett’s character left a lot to be desired. If you’re looking for a strong, well developed heroine, you won’t find her here. And if you’re hoping for some logical explanations, well, good luck with that.
Ah, Zane. The epitome of the overprotective dude. At first, I thought his need to protect Scarlett was kinda sweet. But then it got old. Fast. I mean, the guy was so obsessed with keeping Scarlett safe that he’d probably bubble wrap her if he could. It’s like he had tunnel vision, only seeing Scarlett and nothing else. But here’s the thing: his protective streak? It wasn’t cute. It was suffocating. Like, let the girl breathe, dude! Zane was all up in Scarlett’s business, meddling in her plans and never giving her a chance to do her own thing. It’s like he thought she couldn’t tie her own shoelaces without him. Sure, some might find Zane’s “I’ll protect you at all costs” shtick endearing. But for me? Nah, pass. Give me a guy who trusts his girl to handle her own business any day. Because let’s face it, nobody wants a clingy bodyguard for a boyfriend.
Overall, Brutal Rival had potential, but it missed the mark big time. If you’re into unoriginal plots, minimal world building, and more questions than answers, then go for it. But if you’re like me and prefer a bit more substance, you might want to give this one a pass. Ember Holt “YOU ARE SHOWING!”
April 11, 2024
I love how the magic works and the world that Ember created - the Underbelly screams Steampunk at me, even if it's not mentioned. But it's a bit hard to get into the story because not many things are really explained and there's a bit of name dropping especially at the beginning.
Scarlet is absolutely perfect in this setting - her emotions are palpable and she is a real badass.
Zane, on the other hand, I don't feel at all. He's introduced as the biggest bad wolf, but somehow he's just a puppy most of the time - the fact that everyone fears him is only ever mentioned... Compared to his rivals, he's just the good boy?!
And yes, I love that he hasn't forgotten his morals, but it just seems kind of strange in this context because - for whatever reason - he's THE guy in the Underbelly.
Unfortunately I don't feel the chemistry between the two very much either, for him it's always been instant love and for her it's more like hmmm kay... He's hot.
Kind of likeable, but the rivalry was never really there. So the title of the book doesn't really fit for me.
The final fight is a little disappointing; in general, Scarlet is rewritten as a naive girl in the latter part, which I find very unfortunate.
I'm still looking forward to the other books in this series because, as I said, I really like the setting.
Scarlet is absolutely perfect in this setting - her emotions are palpable and she is a real badass.
Zane, on the other hand, I don't feel at all. He's introduced as the biggest bad wolf, but somehow he's just a puppy most of the time - the fact that everyone fears him is only ever mentioned... Compared to his rivals, he's just the good boy?!
And yes, I love that he hasn't forgotten his morals, but it just seems kind of strange in this context because - for whatever reason - he's THE guy in the Underbelly.
Unfortunately I don't feel the chemistry between the two very much either, for him it's always been instant love and for her it's more like hmmm kay... He's hot.
Kind of likeable, but the rivalry was never really there. So the title of the book doesn't really fit for me.
The final fight is a little disappointing; in general, Scarlet is rewritten as a naive girl in the latter part, which I find very unfortunate.
I'm still looking forward to the other books in this series because, as I said, I really like the setting.
December 8, 2023
DNF at 62%… I couldn’t bring myself to finish this. I love an obsessed man with dark morals, but this was just cringe. The first half did nothing to make me connect with the characters and I couldn’t even bring myself to the second half.
Read
October 24, 2023
It's release day!!
This book felt like such a long time coming from the spark of the initial idea, but I couldn't be more proud of what I've created.
Thank you to so many different people who helped me along the way, especially my dev editors, my copy editor, and my amazing team of ARC readers (who had to deal with me inserting pages in the MIDDLE of spicy scenes asking if a trigger was too much, or telling them to go to bed 😂)
Thank you to every reader who dares to pick up this book despite the arachnophobia trigger warning. You're brave, and I respect you! 🕷
Happy Reading everyone <3
~ Ember
This book felt like such a long time coming from the spark of the initial idea, but I couldn't be more proud of what I've created.
Thank you to so many different people who helped me along the way, especially my dev editors, my copy editor, and my amazing team of ARC readers (who had to deal with me inserting pages in the MIDDLE of spicy scenes asking if a trigger was too much, or telling them to go to bed 😂)
Thank you to every reader who dares to pick up this book despite the arachnophobia trigger warning. You're brave, and I respect you! 🕷
Happy Reading everyone <3
~ Ember
November 21, 2024
The premise of this book had so much potential—a fantasy/steampunk world with rivals, a secret past, and a strong main character—but unfortunately, it missed the mark on almost every front. The world-building was incredibly confusing, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the setting. The MMC was immediately obsessed with the protagonist, instead of an enemies-to-lovers or slow burn which I had been expecting. The character development and chemistry just didn’t work for me, and in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to finish the book.
October 2, 2023
This book was AMAZING!!!!! It had cool magic that not gonna lie was a little gnarly at first but was also what made the FMC a top tier badass. I squealed a little reading the romance and overall could not put the book down at all! This was a fast paced first novel and I need the sequel immediately. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 13, 2024
Don't. Just.....don't. Spare yourself.
February 15, 2025
The major takeaway I got from this experience is that I will be fully satisfied if I never read the words teal and spindle again.
I was actually so annoyed by these words by the end I took the time to look up how many times they appeared in this book, so I’m gonna share it with you.
Teal appeared 49 times and was the only word used to describe the color of anything. Eyes, jewelry, gems, magic, dresses, spider webs?? etc. Not sure why I’m so bothered by this but there it is.
Spindle appeared a staggering 241 times and yes, they used them for fucking. I will not elaborate further.
Aside from that unfortunate detail, I have other formal complaints. These characters vastly switched personalities from chapter to chapter, and didn’t feel at all like real people. It reads like bad fanfiction written by a 13 year old. The dialogue is… lacking. People don’t talk like this and it was awkward af.
The lack of world building, plot, motive, and character development was so obvious I almost DNF’d in the first 50 pages. But you know what? I finished it anyway. Am I glad I did? Not really, but I’m not mad about it.
This one wasn’t intentionally funny, but I give it a star for the good laughs we had along the way. ⭐️
I was actually so annoyed by these words by the end I took the time to look up how many times they appeared in this book, so I’m gonna share it with you.
Teal appeared 49 times and was the only word used to describe the color of anything. Eyes, jewelry, gems, magic, dresses, spider webs?? etc. Not sure why I’m so bothered by this but there it is.
Spindle appeared a staggering 241 times and yes, they used them for fucking. I will not elaborate further.
Aside from that unfortunate detail, I have other formal complaints. These characters vastly switched personalities from chapter to chapter, and didn’t feel at all like real people. It reads like bad fanfiction written by a 13 year old. The dialogue is… lacking. People don’t talk like this and it was awkward af.
The lack of world building, plot, motive, and character development was so obvious I almost DNF’d in the first 50 pages. But you know what? I finished it anyway. Am I glad I did? Not really, but I’m not mad about it.
This one wasn’t intentionally funny, but I give it a star for the good laughs we had along the way. ⭐️
August 26, 2024
Look. Look. I bought feral guardian. I wanted that one. I love this one more…..
I went into this book not excited but enjoyed Feral Guardian.
As a woman that wants to believe I don’t need to rely on anyone, I related and loved the main characters.
I want this Spider lord to heal my inner demons like he wants to heal hers.
The quote that sold it for me….
“I don’t need anyone,” she growled
Thats a lie. She might not have the wherewithal to know that in this moment but I do. Gods, who the fuck hurt her this much? I want to ask her. I want to hang them from my dungeons and let her murder them slowly. But she needs to be in control right now. 🫠🥲🥵
I went into this book not excited but enjoyed Feral Guardian.
As a woman that wants to believe I don’t need to rely on anyone, I related and loved the main characters.
I want this Spider lord to heal my inner demons like he wants to heal hers.
The quote that sold it for me….
“I don’t need anyone,” she growled
Thats a lie. She might not have the wherewithal to know that in this moment but I do. Gods, who the fuck hurt her this much? I want to ask her. I want to hang them from my dungeons and let her murder them slowly. But she needs to be in control right now. 🫠🥲🥵
October 22, 2023
I absolutely ATE this book up from beginning to end. The only things that got in the way of me finishing it in one go were basic human survival needs like sleep and food. I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading but being sucked into this world is something I’ll never forget.
Scarlett and Zane are one of the best power couples I’ve read in a while. The way they both do the best they can to protect those around them is astounding. That’s not even mentioning the way their own relationship grows throughout the book. Seeing them go
from being each others’ rivals to their everything was everything I could have asked for.
Holt does an amazing job at brining these characters to life and diving into all the different aspects a person can have. They are the perfect descriptions of what means to be a morally grey character. Holt makes it nearly impossible to feel anything but adoration towards our main characters.
I cannot wait to see what else Holt brings to the bookish world in the future. I’m already dying to get my hands on the next book of this series.
Scarlett and Zane are one of the best power couples I’ve read in a while. The way they both do the best they can to protect those around them is astounding. That’s not even mentioning the way their own relationship grows throughout the book. Seeing them go
from being each others’ rivals to their everything was everything I could have asked for.
Holt does an amazing job at brining these characters to life and diving into all the different aspects a person can have. They are the perfect descriptions of what means to be a morally grey character. Holt makes it nearly impossible to feel anything but adoration towards our main characters.
I cannot wait to see what else Holt brings to the bookish world in the future. I’m already dying to get my hands on the next book of this series.
August 20, 2023
Note: I was granted an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This in no way effects my opinions.
First, the world building and details were excellent. Not overly done and didn’t go on and on, but for me conveyed what was needed to set the stage for the characters and events.
Second the editing was superb (though I’m sure that started with great writing). I’ve read other books in this genre that made me feel like I was on some lesser version of wattpad. This book was polished and well put together.
I read the book in one day. That’s how well it kept me engaged. And I’m looking forward to the next in the series (though each are stand alone worthy).
Please do understand the genre you’re in however. If you’re not able to fathom magical persons and how their abilities and bodies will interact with those they come into contact with, this is not the book (or genre) for you.
First, the world building and details were excellent. Not overly done and didn’t go on and on, but for me conveyed what was needed to set the stage for the characters and events.
Second the editing was superb (though I’m sure that started with great writing). I’ve read other books in this genre that made me feel like I was on some lesser version of wattpad. This book was polished and well put together.
I read the book in one day. That’s how well it kept me engaged. And I’m looking forward to the next in the series (though each are stand alone worthy).
Please do understand the genre you’re in however. If you’re not able to fathom magical persons and how their abilities and bodies will interact with those they come into contact with, this is not the book (or genre) for you.
October 31, 2023
3.5 stars really. Only a few complaints, they’re not really “rivals” or enemies as the author keeps stating they are. They were peaceful with each other territory wise and *slight spoiler* he’s always had a thang for her. That’s not enemies or rivals. She honestly had no reason to dislike him from the getgo like she did.
The emotional status of the FMC seemed to randomly progress sometimes without much clarification, sometimes seemed like one chapter she hated him and then was succumbing to him, and then pulling away and then talking of marrying him.
Overall a good read though! Cute story and they were actually morally grey instead of the author claiming that and then just having them switch halfway through, or not actually preform anything morally grey.
The emotional status of the FMC seemed to randomly progress sometimes without much clarification, sometimes seemed like one chapter she hated him and then was succumbing to him, and then pulling away and then talking of marrying him.
Overall a good read though! Cute story and they were actually morally grey instead of the author claiming that and then just having them switch halfway through, or not actually preform anything morally grey.
October 23, 2023
Thank you BookSirens and Ember Holt for providing me with an eARC!
All of these opinions are my own. Please check the TW before reading this book!!
My very first dark romantasy book that included my biggest phobia: arachnophobia. I'm surprised I didn't chicken out and DNF it at the first mention of "spindles" haha. I give it 3.5 stars!
It was a great read! The writing style was rough and straight forward which I haven't seen often but it wasn't bothersome, I enjoyed it.
In the beginning I was confused about the magic system but it got more clear as the story progressed. I do still wish Ember would have explained the magic system a little more because the way it was explained was too generic to me. Maybe names and specific traits about the "magic spells" would be nice.
Scarlett was so badass and I really loved that about her. Zane, our morally grey hero, was just as amazing and completely whipped for her 😂. I really liked their chemistry and they're such a power couple. There was one threesome scene that I didn't enjoy so if that's not your thing then you can skip that, it doesn't influence the story.
I was bothered by how the relationship between the two would keep going back and forth in the past and present. There are no flashbacks but there's a lot of mentions about "Scarlett did this 6 years ago blah blah" or vice versa about Zane.
We see them in the present and in the first 50 pages we already see Zane shifting to being in love with her while he has known her for years. I think that was too abrupt and made the story a little weird because if they would have met eachother right at the start of the story it would have still been too insta-lovey like it is now.
I also found it really difficult to imagine the world building. I think if the author included a map it would have been way easier for the readers to navigate through the story.
Again, thank you so much Booksirens for the eARC! I would recommend this book to people who enjoy dark romantasy with a badass heroine and a morally grey hero. (:
I hope this review convinced you to read this book and if you do, please make sure to support the author on your preferred platform!
All of these opinions are my own. Please check the TW before reading this book!!
My very first dark romantasy book that included my biggest phobia: arachnophobia. I'm surprised I didn't chicken out and DNF it at the first mention of "spindles" haha. I give it 3.5 stars!
It was a great read! The writing style was rough and straight forward which I haven't seen often but it wasn't bothersome, I enjoyed it.
In the beginning I was confused about the magic system but it got more clear as the story progressed. I do still wish Ember would have explained the magic system a little more because the way it was explained was too generic to me. Maybe names and specific traits about the "magic spells" would be nice.
Scarlett was so badass and I really loved that about her. Zane, our morally grey hero, was just as amazing and completely whipped for her 😂. I really liked their chemistry and they're such a power couple. There was one threesome scene that I didn't enjoy so if that's not your thing then you can skip that, it doesn't influence the story.
I was bothered by how the relationship between the two would keep going back and forth in the past and present. There are no flashbacks but there's a lot of mentions about "Scarlett did this 6 years ago blah blah" or vice versa about Zane.
We see them in the present and in the first 50 pages we already see Zane shifting to being in love with her while he has known her for years. I think that was too abrupt and made the story a little weird because if they would have met eachother right at the start of the story it would have still been too insta-lovey like it is now.
I also found it really difficult to imagine the world building. I think if the author included a map it would have been way easier for the readers to navigate through the story.
Again, thank you so much Booksirens for the eARC! I would recommend this book to people who enjoy dark romantasy with a badass heroine and a morally grey hero. (:
I hope this review convinced you to read this book and if you do, please make sure to support the author on your preferred platform!
September 5, 2023
Oh my GOSH!!!!! THIS BOOK!!!!
To start off this book is a Dark Romantasy !! I'm not sure why I didn't read that in the description, but I didn't. I started reading and they were talking about magic and stuff and I was so confused. But it was SOOOOOO good!!
I'm not really a romantasy reader, but I decided to just go ahead and give this book a chance. I'm so happy I did. First off, Zane mhmmmmmmmmmmmmm everything about that man 🥵 he so fine!! I was a little confused about the whole emotion thing, but it became clearer as I kept reading and it just made him hotter.
I don't want to comment too much because I'm afraid I'm going to spoil it, but this book had me blushing. things were swarming in my stomach !! UGH it was so good. I think the whole Spider thing is SOOOO unique! I loved that aspect of it.
My only note, I wanted the fire between Zane and Scarlet to burn a little more. It wasn't too sudden but I just wanted it to build more. I don't care though they were cute. The spicy scenes were SPICY . I loved it!! I'm honestly sad that it's over and I CANNOT wait for book 2!!! I think I found a new favorite author 🥰
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🖤❤️🖤❤️
To start off this book is a Dark Romantasy !! I'm not sure why I didn't read that in the description, but I didn't. I started reading and they were talking about magic and stuff and I was so confused. But it was SOOOOOO good!!
I'm not really a romantasy reader, but I decided to just go ahead and give this book a chance. I'm so happy I did. First off, Zane mhmmmmmmmmmmmmm everything about that man 🥵 he so fine!! I was a little confused about the whole emotion thing, but it became clearer as I kept reading and it just made him hotter.
I don't want to comment too much because I'm afraid I'm going to spoil it, but this book had me blushing. things were swarming in my stomach !! UGH it was so good. I think the whole Spider thing is SOOOO unique! I loved that aspect of it.
My only note, I wanted the fire between Zane and Scarlet to burn a little more. It wasn't too sudden but I just wanted it to build more. I don't care though they were cute. The spicy scenes were SPICY . I loved it!! I'm honestly sad that it's over and I CANNOT wait for book 2!!! I think I found a new favorite author 🥰
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🖤❤️🖤❤️
November 3, 2023
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks, BookSirens.
General Thoughts: This was a great start to a new interconnected standalone series that I can't wait to see what happens next in. I loved Scarlett and Zane as characters. You kind of get thrown into the worldbuilding and story and have to figure it out as the story progresses, but it mostly worked.
I enjoyed the story, the writing, and, as I mentioned above, the characters. This is the first I've read by the author, but it won't be the last. If you're looking for a dark romantasy, this one has you covered.
Steam Meter: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥.5 Steamy and graphic and imaginative.
Romantic Tropes
-dark romance
-fantasy/romantasy
-series
-interconnected standalone
-romance
-rivals to more
-revenge
-rival "gangs"
You can read more of my reviews at mylastromance.com. You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks, BookSirens.
General Thoughts: This was a great start to a new interconnected standalone series that I can't wait to see what happens next in. I loved Scarlett and Zane as characters. You kind of get thrown into the worldbuilding and story and have to figure it out as the story progresses, but it mostly worked.
I enjoyed the story, the writing, and, as I mentioned above, the characters. This is the first I've read by the author, but it won't be the last. If you're looking for a dark romantasy, this one has you covered.
Steam Meter: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥.5 Steamy and graphic and imaginative.
Romantic Tropes
-dark romance
-fantasy/romantasy
-series
-interconnected standalone
-romance
-rivals to more
-revenge
-rival "gangs"
You can read more of my reviews at mylastromance.com. You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.
August 28, 2023
What a super duper original magical theme storyline. Scarlett is an exciting badass heroine able to steal magic through blood. Add Zane, a ruthless badass with spider spindles and vicious killer. Definitely a fascinating combination. Interesting characters, spicey, some good laughs and well written, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It rocked.
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you Ember
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you Ember
October 22, 2023
Thank you to the author for the Advanced Reader Copy.
This was my first book from Ember Holt and it did NOT disappoint. This is a dark romantasy so be careful of CWs, but it is perfect for the spooky season!
I absolutely ate this book UP because it has everything! Strong FMC, MMC with the touch her and die vibes (he falls first), magic, spice, etc. It's actually plot with spice over spice with some/none plot. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series and see how Scarlett and Zane's relationship continues.
This was my first book from Ember Holt and it did NOT disappoint. This is a dark romantasy so be careful of CWs, but it is perfect for the spooky season!
I absolutely ate this book UP because it has everything! Strong FMC, MMC with the touch her and die vibes (he falls first), magic, spice, etc. It's actually plot with spice over spice with some/none plot. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series and see how Scarlett and Zane's relationship continues.
September 17, 2026
I’ve read quite a few Romantasy books, probably more than my wife at this point, and this independently published book is better than some traditionally published ones that I’ve read. It’s dark, brutal, morally grey and pretty spicy, but it manages to balance all those things and tell a pretty compelling story. I’ll keep reading this series for sure.
November 15, 2023
i thought this book was amazing and was very well-thought out. I literally could not put this book down once I started reading. The character development is amazing and she really made it easy to read and visualize. The book kept me on my toes and I loved reading it. It was easy to synthesize with the characters and I loved all the characters in her book. The relationship between the two main characters is so amazing and I loved their connection. The book made me feel a mixture of emotions; it was a joy to read, it definitely has some suspense, during certain parts of the book I was worried about what was going to happen next, the interactions between the two main characters was a little drawn out and made me crave to read more to see how their relationship would play out. As soon as I met the second main character I really wanted to see them together. It was a little slow in that aspect but I think it went well with the book. It focused more on the plot of the story. Towards the end I was super worried for scarlet and it was definitely left on a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see what happens in her future books for this series. It is a definite must read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 11, 2025
Shockingly, this wasn’t just smut with a plot. It had actual character growth, believable angst, and just enough spice to keep me happily unproductive. Holt packed more emotion and tension into these pages than some authors manage in entire trilogies. Loved it. Would absolutely ignore responsibilities for this again.
Oh—and you’ll need to be cool with spiders. Like, very cool.
Warning: this is a series with other characters to finish out the story line.
Oh—and you’ll need to be cool with spiders. Like, very cool.
Warning: this is a series with other characters to finish out the story line.
January 2, 2026
I started this series by reading book 2 so it was nice to finally be able to read the first one to see where it all came from. I enjoyed it a lot. I was able to listen to the audiobook of it and I thought the narrators did a great job. Definitely recommend this series.
June 28, 2024
This was WAY better than I imagined
And the author sold me when they described the book on their tiktok lol beautiful marketing lol it was the "eggplant" for me.
And the author sold me when they described the book on their tiktok lol beautiful marketing lol it was the "eggplant" for me.
January 2, 2024
I read this one AFTER reading book 2. I wish I would have read it before. This is marketed in most cases as "standalone interconnected" but I really think they work best in order.
Our MCs are rival territory leaders in the underbelly of the land. Scarlett has no innate magic, but can suck it out of others (literally :: shudders ::). She's a badass with a bit of a chip on her shoulder.
Zane is such an interesting character. He's IMMEDIATELY obsessed with Scarlett and spends much of the book trying to get her to feel the same. His magic is so interesting and I WISH there was fanart to bring him to life. My visualizations of him constantly changed.
Their banter is excellent and the relationship grows quickly. I look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
Our MCs are rival territory leaders in the underbelly of the land. Scarlett has no innate magic, but can suck it out of others (literally :: shudders ::). She's a badass with a bit of a chip on her shoulder.
Zane is such an interesting character. He's IMMEDIATELY obsessed with Scarlett and spends much of the book trying to get her to feel the same. His magic is so interesting and I WISH there was fanart to bring him to life. My visualizations of him constantly changed.
Their banter is excellent and the relationship grows quickly. I look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
January 16, 2026
Cringy, uncomfortable, and terribly written. I wish I DNF’d.
Reading this book feels the same as hearing nails on a chalkboard.
1 star is TOO generous- this book is ZERO STARS 🍅🍅🍅🍅
The writing is so TRASH - just THINKING about the time I WASTED reading this sends me into a blind RAGE. Probably similar to how the FMC, Scarlett, felt eating that guy’s finger. 🤢🙃
I’m SHOCKED this book made it anywhere past the trash can.
The plot was so rushed and predictable and the author explained NOTHING. Not the world, not the magic system, not Scarlett’s plan when she rescues her *targets* in the palace - NOTHING. The author doesn’t even bother to explain something as BASIC as how Scarlett travels back and forth between territories -Everything was quite LITERALLY a hop, skip, and a jump away.
And the worst part- Every 15 seconds some random power or skill or person would pop up (with ZERO explanation) that would just happen to be the VERY convenient thing they needed 🙃🙃🙃. Even for fantasy it was unbelievable.
And then the romance was terrible!
I can appreciate a “Plot? What plot?” type of book but my GOSH not even the ROMANCE was good 😭😭💔💔
The banter was GRATING 🤮🤮- every cheesy line felt like spiders crawling under my skin (PUN INTENDED)
I wasn’t expecting a literary masterpiece but I was expecting to be entertained- I couldn’t even have that 😭😭💔💔! I wish the author at least TRIED to write a story that made SENSE instead of just wasting my time and money. The writing was so ATROCIOUS it’s borderline disrespectful as a reader. HIGH KEY, I’m OFFENDED the author thought we readers deserved so LITTLE effort 😭
Examples of bad sentences:
“… so I need to be strong and fast, the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been” 🤮🤮🤮
“Another of her magical Cecillia-isms that don’t make any sense, but I’m guessing she’s calling me slow. “That doesn’t make any sense, I grumble…” RUBBISH 🤢🤢
See below for additional examples. ZERO effort at actual descriptions, just mindless repetition for the sake of MAKING ME ANGRY 🤬🤬🤬
More reasons why I hated the writing in this book:
1. The author uses “fuck” as an adjective.🥲
- It TRULY is not by force to use fuck every 30 words. GET A THESAURUS I BEG
2. The writing was so cringy it made me itch 🤮
-Chapter one LITERALLY ends: “It’s just another day in the life of Scarlett Bloodletter, the Princess of Prayers.”
And that’s the tone the ENTIRE book 🤢🤢
3. Trope salad, no salt or seasoning
The author didn’t even TRY to make this story good. They just threw in a bunch of tropes that made zero sense then had Zane whisperer “My monster” or “my princess” every 10 words while both Scarlett and Zane take turns saying “Fuck.”
Ugh I’m cringing just thinking about this book.
I feel like I lost so many brain cells reading this book.
DO NOT BE LIKE ME - AVOID this book.
Read literally ANYTHING ELSE
EEEYUCK!! 🤮🤮
Reading this book feels the same as hearing nails on a chalkboard.
1 star is TOO generous- this book is ZERO STARS 🍅🍅🍅🍅
The writing is so TRASH - just THINKING about the time I WASTED reading this sends me into a blind RAGE. Probably similar to how the FMC, Scarlett, felt eating that guy’s finger. 🤢🙃
I’m SHOCKED this book made it anywhere past the trash can.
The plot was so rushed and predictable and the author explained NOTHING. Not the world, not the magic system, not Scarlett’s plan when she rescues her *targets* in the palace - NOTHING. The author doesn’t even bother to explain something as BASIC as how Scarlett travels back and forth between territories -Everything was quite LITERALLY a hop, skip, and a jump away.
And the worst part- Every 15 seconds some random power or skill or person would pop up (with ZERO explanation) that would just happen to be the VERY convenient thing they needed 🙃🙃🙃. Even for fantasy it was unbelievable.
And then the romance was terrible!
I can appreciate a “Plot? What plot?” type of book but my GOSH not even the ROMANCE was good 😭😭💔💔
The banter was GRATING 🤮🤮- every cheesy line felt like spiders crawling under my skin (PUN INTENDED)
I wasn’t expecting a literary masterpiece but I was expecting to be entertained- I couldn’t even have that 😭😭💔💔! I wish the author at least TRIED to write a story that made SENSE instead of just wasting my time and money. The writing was so ATROCIOUS it’s borderline disrespectful as a reader. HIGH KEY, I’m OFFENDED the author thought we readers deserved so LITTLE effort 😭
Examples of bad sentences:
“… so I need to be strong and fast, the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been” 🤮🤮🤮
“Another of her magical Cecillia-isms that don’t make any sense, but I’m guessing she’s calling me slow. “That doesn’t make any sense, I grumble…” RUBBISH 🤢🤢
See below for additional examples. ZERO effort at actual descriptions, just mindless repetition for the sake of MAKING ME ANGRY 🤬🤬🤬
More reasons why I hated the writing in this book:
1. The author uses “fuck” as an adjective.🥲
- It TRULY is not by force to use fuck every 30 words. GET A THESAURUS I BEG
2. The writing was so cringy it made me itch 🤮
-Chapter one LITERALLY ends: “It’s just another day in the life of Scarlett Bloodletter, the Princess of Prayers.”
And that’s the tone the ENTIRE book 🤢🤢
3. Trope salad, no salt or seasoning
The author didn’t even TRY to make this story good. They just threw in a bunch of tropes that made zero sense then had Zane whisperer “My monster” or “my princess” every 10 words while both Scarlett and Zane take turns saying “Fuck.”
Ugh I’m cringing just thinking about this book.
I feel like I lost so many brain cells reading this book.
DO NOT BE LIKE ME - AVOID this book.
Read literally ANYTHING ELSE
EEEYUCK!! 🤮🤮
October 7, 2025
Had potential in the beginning 1.5 🌟 rounded
This lost me at about 60%. But I finished it out in case it redeemed itself, but it just kept sliding out from under itself.
We started off with a pretty tough FMC with a shitty history and a mission. She has interesting magic and was supposedly part of a dark underground life with supposedly hefty rivals. Sounded great. Too bad none of that really materialized.
It was all kinda going on in Zane's background, but not really. So, zero points on world building.
Our FMC has a slight history with Zane that we get cliffnotes on before they jump straight into an unrealisticly intense romance where Zane is repeatedly emasculated and has his character development completely contradicted. He's supposed to be very alpha, but in reality, he's a sulky little girl. I didn't connect well with him.
It gets worse for him, though. He's involved in a sexual encounter that he did not want to be a part of. He was coerced into this situation by the FMC. He noted that he felt violated, and Scarlett said she understood and apologized for making him do it. He responds by saying she didn't make him do it, she just left him few options that were unacceptable, and then this whole scene is immediately dropped.
I took issue with this because consent had been the focal point of every other sexual encounter in this book leading up to this and then after. But only where FMC was concerned. Holt, you need to be aware that coercion is not consent. Also, this scene added nothing to this book. Sexual assault is not a trivial matter! If you're going to write about it, it should be necessary and handled with care. You shouldn't just have it happen to a male character and act like it doesn't matter. It matters no matter who it happens to!
But this scene and how it was downplayed killed this book for me. Scarlett did not reflect on it once. Nothing was learned from it. It was just used to emasculate Zane for the author's sick enjoyment, I guess.
And the story didn't get much better after this. Scarlett makes no plans for her big mission. Everything happens quickly without much thought. Naturally, things go south. But nothing is resolved. Our badass FMC is rendered absolutely useless after having been a badass earlier on, and our MMC has to come to her rescue. I was so done at that point.
Then, the ending just added fuel to the fire. The hefty rivals that have been talked about are suddenly handled. I mean, no effort here. We didn't even meet them. Such a sloppy wrap-up. All to learn that the next book is a different couple. I'm regretting wasting my time.
This lost me at about 60%. But I finished it out in case it redeemed itself, but it just kept sliding out from under itself.
We started off with a pretty tough FMC with a shitty history and a mission. She has interesting magic and was supposedly part of a dark underground life with supposedly hefty rivals. Sounded great. Too bad none of that really materialized.
It was all kinda going on in Zane's background, but not really. So, zero points on world building.
Our FMC has a slight history with Zane that we get cliffnotes on before they jump straight into an unrealisticly intense romance where Zane is repeatedly emasculated and has his character development completely contradicted. He's supposed to be very alpha, but in reality, he's a sulky little girl. I didn't connect well with him.
It gets worse for him, though. He's involved in a sexual encounter that he did not want to be a part of. He was coerced into this situation by the FMC. He noted that he felt violated, and Scarlett said she understood and apologized for making him do it. He responds by saying she didn't make him do it, she just left him few options that were unacceptable, and then this whole scene is immediately dropped.
I took issue with this because consent had been the focal point of every other sexual encounter in this book leading up to this and then after. But only where FMC was concerned. Holt, you need to be aware that coercion is not consent. Also, this scene added nothing to this book. Sexual assault is not a trivial matter! If you're going to write about it, it should be necessary and handled with care. You shouldn't just have it happen to a male character and act like it doesn't matter. It matters no matter who it happens to!
But this scene and how it was downplayed killed this book for me. Scarlett did not reflect on it once. Nothing was learned from it. It was just used to emasculate Zane for the author's sick enjoyment, I guess.
And the story didn't get much better after this. Scarlett makes no plans for her big mission. Everything happens quickly without much thought. Naturally, things go south. But nothing is resolved. Our badass FMC is rendered absolutely useless after having been a badass earlier on, and our MMC has to come to her rescue. I was so done at that point.
Then, the ending just added fuel to the fire. The hefty rivals that have been talked about are suddenly handled. I mean, no effort here. We didn't even meet them. Such a sloppy wrap-up. All to learn that the next book is a different couple. I'm regretting wasting my time.
September 15, 2023
Brutal Rival is an dark fantasy with lots of romance and a vengeful main character. Scarlett was nearly assassinated by her mother, the Queen, when she is fourteen. Years later, Scarlett wants her head on a pike and will go to drastic measures to see it happen. Zane is the Spider Lord and has had his eye on her for years. I absolutely loved the premise and especially Scarlett's motives.
For a fairly short book, I found it to be rather slow paced for the first half. Nothing much of note seemed to happen until about half way through. This isn't necessarily a bad thing since it helped to set the scene. I found the final eight chapters of the book to be fast paced and extremely enjoyable.
I didn't feel overly connected to either of the main characters, which made it difficult to be invested in the plot. Whilst I knew Scarlett's motives, I feel like this book lacked the emotional repercussions of her assassination attempt. She's angry but it was not clear to me if she felt other emotions other than rage, which made me lack sympathy towards her.
I liked Zane, however, his whole purpose in this book is to do with Scarlett. Despite getting his POV, I don't really feel like I got to know Zane since everything he did revolved around Scarlett. I would have liked to dig deep into things such as his past, hobbies or interests.
Zane and Scarlett had insane chemistry and I enjoyed their love story. They were so well matched and I looked forward to the scenes they spent together. The romance is truly excellent and is definitely the highlight of the book
I didn't have a clear understanding of the world or the political system and would have liked to learn more about them. I did, however, really like the magic system.
I really liked the writing style. It was eloquent and I liked how it often kept things light hearted and humorous since this book does cover some dark topics.
Overall, Brutal Rival was an enjoyable book. If you are looking for a mafia style fantasy, I highly recommend that you give this a chance since you might absolutely love it. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before you dive in because there is some heavy stuff including but not limited to attempted rape of the female main character, torture and cannibalism by the female main character.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
For a fairly short book, I found it to be rather slow paced for the first half. Nothing much of note seemed to happen until about half way through. This isn't necessarily a bad thing since it helped to set the scene. I found the final eight chapters of the book to be fast paced and extremely enjoyable.
I didn't feel overly connected to either of the main characters, which made it difficult to be invested in the plot. Whilst I knew Scarlett's motives, I feel like this book lacked the emotional repercussions of her assassination attempt. She's angry but it was not clear to me if she felt other emotions other than rage, which made me lack sympathy towards her.
I liked Zane, however, his whole purpose in this book is to do with Scarlett. Despite getting his POV, I don't really feel like I got to know Zane since everything he did revolved around Scarlett. I would have liked to dig deep into things such as his past, hobbies or interests.
Zane and Scarlett had insane chemistry and I enjoyed their love story. They were so well matched and I looked forward to the scenes they spent together. The romance is truly excellent and is definitely the highlight of the book
I didn't have a clear understanding of the world or the political system and would have liked to learn more about them. I did, however, really like the magic system.
I really liked the writing style. It was eloquent and I liked how it often kept things light hearted and humorous since this book does cover some dark topics.
Overall, Brutal Rival was an enjoyable book. If you are looking for a mafia style fantasy, I highly recommend that you give this a chance since you might absolutely love it. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before you dive in because there is some heavy stuff including but not limited to attempted rape of the female main character, torture and cannibalism by the female main character.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 26, 2023
This book was so unlike any other dark romance or fantasy I’ve read before in the best way possible. I tend to be a mood reader and fantasy is pretty low on my list of preferred genres to be honest. Dark romance is 100% up my alley though. I absolutely devoured this book and read it in just two sittings, I just could not put it down. If it wasn’t for work I would’ve probably read the entire thing in one day. I immediately got attached to the characters and felt all the emotions with them. Which is a big deal for me, it can make or break a book in my opinion. I NEED to be invested enough to feel the emotions of the characters to stay engaged in the book.
The world building is perfectly timed and paced, not ever giving too much or too little. The plot was set at a really comfortable pace so I never felt rushed or like it was being drawn out. There was some AMAZING banter, sexual tension and spice, but it did not overtake the book which I appreciated (and is kind of hard to find). Most of the time you either get a book with minimal spice and heavy plot OR heavy spice and minimal plot, so Ember did a great job of making sure she didn’t lose the plot in the spice. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy for my bookshelf.
I do want to side note and urge potential readers to check the trigger warnings and take them seriously if you have triggers.
Also there are quite a lot of talk about spiders and the extra appendages that come with that. So if that is not for you, you should probably skip this book. I’m personally scared of spiders (terrified actually) but nothing in the book creeped me out or bothered me. Just remember everyone has different tolerance thresholds, so just because it was fine for me doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be fine for you.
I did receive an ARC of this book but I am reviewing it voluntarily, on my own accord and this did not in any way affect my review. I will be purchasing a copy upon release because I enjoyed it so much.
The world building is perfectly timed and paced, not ever giving too much or too little. The plot was set at a really comfortable pace so I never felt rushed or like it was being drawn out. There was some AMAZING banter, sexual tension and spice, but it did not overtake the book which I appreciated (and is kind of hard to find). Most of the time you either get a book with minimal spice and heavy plot OR heavy spice and minimal plot, so Ember did a great job of making sure she didn’t lose the plot in the spice. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy for my bookshelf.
I do want to side note and urge potential readers to check the trigger warnings and take them seriously if you have triggers.
Also there are quite a lot of talk about spiders and the extra appendages that come with that. So if that is not for you, you should probably skip this book. I’m personally scared of spiders (terrified actually) but nothing in the book creeped me out or bothered me. Just remember everyone has different tolerance thresholds, so just because it was fine for me doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be fine for you.
I did receive an ARC of this book but I am reviewing it voluntarily, on my own accord and this did not in any way affect my review. I will be purchasing a copy upon release because I enjoyed it so much.
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