Dark Obsessions

by Lexi C. Foss

When the Strigoi King says, “Kneel, pet…”
And his fated mate replies, “Make me.”

“Monsters Are Real.”
That’s the title of my master’s thesis.
It’s also why I’m in Romania.
Hunting. Scouring. Searching.

Because I know he’s here.
Ciprian Negru, King of the Strigoi.
He’s the heart of my research.
My damnable obsession.
My downfall.

I assumed he had no idea a measly human like me even existed.
I should have known better.
Because he’s been waiting for me.
Lurking in the shadows.
Stalking my every move while I stalked him.
And I just waltzed right into his trap…

You’re mine now, Viviana Dalca.
A pretty little toy to use.
To break.
To claim.
So be a good pet and kneel for your king, sweet girl.
Because I’m about to show you how dark this mutual obsession goes…

Author’s Dark Obsessions is a standalone dark romance with monster vibes. If you enjoy possessive antiheroes who lack morals and adore depravity yet handle their heroine with the utmost care, then you’ve come to the right place…

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Dark Romance, Demons, Dark, Fantasy

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2026

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi C. Foss loves to travel and write in supernatural worlds. Paranormal romance is her favorite genre, but she dabbles in contemporary romance when she needs a break from the darker side of her mind.

Coffee is her addiction, swimming is her passion, and she has a not-so-secret adoration for eclipse chasing.

Lexi can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and dirty read! I loved how obsessed Ciprian and Viviana were with each other; the two were so feral for one another and things got so steamy. I do, however, wish the plotline was a little further explored. We get introduced to a whole new world, and it basically boils down to nothing. Regardless, if you're in the mood for a dark and depraved romance that gets straight to the smut, this is the one for you!

[Kate V · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 - 5 stars!

Viviana has been obsessed with the existence of vampires to the point she not only meant to make it her dissertation but tracked a man down through the ages that she believes to be one.

Ciprian is not human (not vampire either😂) and protects his peace and anonymity. So when he discovers someone has been sniffing around his secret he has to know who it is. When he discovers it’s Viviana he has an intense need to make her his pet.

Viviana thought she was tracking and surprising King Ciprian but it was really the other way around and soon Ciprian has her in his clutches. But what neither of them bargain for is the all consuming heat and connection these two share and the trials they will go through and overcome.

Lexi never fails with her MF paranormal romances. This was so smutty (I mean HOT AF) but also had such a wonderful plot and underlying theme of how trust and affection are built and won. I loved Ciprian. He was so dominant but in ways that felt naive and endearing. I really liked how he grew through this story and came to see Viviana as his equal and as his other half. Viviana was a really refreshing character because she was real. Her reactions felt genuine and fueled by both desire and vulnerability.

Ciprian was just such a force and I loved the way he loves Vivian. His complete infatuation, possessiveness and obsession was ❤️❤️❤️.

“She’s mine. My intended. My queen. My pet. She may not like that endearment, but it doesn’t change how I feel about her. She’s mine to care for. Mine to please. Mine to possess.

Viviana loved and obsessed over Ciprian just as much and that felt super sexy to read. Viviana and Ciprian’s story was just the best. I kind of wish this had been longer but at the same time it was the perfect length with the greatest ending and epilogue. Loved this.

[T.P.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars: I am going to start by saying that I can understand the fascination with Romania, the Carpathian Mountains are exquisite and the atmosphere is certainly captivating. Ciprian was quite the character for sure - unapologetic, obsessive, possessive and completely smitten with his mate. Viviana did risk it all, all the research, the pursuit of proof for the existence of supernatural creatures and her effort did pay off as she not only found him, but also ended up being his mate.

As interesting as the concept was, I needed something more from the story. I am in a certain mood and probably that does impact on my reading experience, but I needed more emotions, more time for them to bond. If you are in the mood for a seductive, pretty passionate story then this might be a good story to try.

[Angela Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great short story about vampires or Strogi as they are called in this book. The characters are amazing ans have such great banter as they try to figure out their new relationship. Viviana and Ciprian are such fun together. Loved the book and hope to see more from other characters.

[Britney Jean | JeanInTheHeatOfBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, addictive and vampire themed but better. Smutt forward but still giving plot and there was growth between both characters. The mutual obsession between the two is what really made the book for me.

- Virgin MMC
- Trials
- Everyone’s a stalker here
- Tail play
- Dark fated mates

[Olivia ❦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★3/5! give me a strigoi -vampire- king who is an a thousand year old virgin waiting for his intended mate any day of the year please and thank you ( ∩´͈ ᐜ `͈∩) loveeed Viviana

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒅." "𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝," 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐬. "𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞."

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Obsessions😈

Dark Obsessions is a standalone story set in a similar world to previous books by Lexi and is fantastic🙌

Viviana aka Vivi is researching vampires and comes across an otherworldly picture which she believes to be true. When she finally gets approval to continue her research overseas, she makes her way to Romania. She suddenly finds herself thrust into a world much different than she first thought but doesn’t fear this for some bizarre reason🤔

Ciprian has become obsessed with Viviana, ever since he realised she found a picture of him that he never knew existed. Now she’s in Romania and he’s been presented with an opportunity too good to miss😍

Loved this story, it was steamy and can I just say I loved the magical fridge and picnic basket - I need both in my life🤩 I received an advanced copy and willingly leave my honest review❤️❤️

[Vintagev_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a good, fast-paced PNR story where the spicy is flowing early and frequently this book is for you! Lexi does a good job giving a backstory into the characters, giving a full plot in a short amount of pages.

The fmc is on a vampire historical hunt when she finds info about a Strogoi King. This King becomes aware of her research and takes an interest in her, devising a plan to bring her to him, and things take off.

Micro tropes:
Tail play
Blood play
Dubious consent
Anal
Trials
Pregnancy
Territorial/possessive

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and delicious

This was such a fun read. I love how the spice was very much a part of all the plot. But the plot still was very entertaining it highlighted the spice. I hope we get a book for the FMC's best friend in the MMC's best friend because that just has to be delightful.

[Libby Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good shortish read!loved the spice in this book especially him being a virgin! I really liked the characters especially our MMC Ciprian.
Vivi is obsessed with vampires I can’t blame her we’ve all been there! so she goes in search for them but instead she Strigoi King. He’s been uninterested in women for thousands of years till her!

Overall a very good fairly dark monster read with a fab storyline and fab characters!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Obsessions is a fast-paced, spicy, vampire, or Strigoi romance. Viviana is obsessed with proving vampires are real and Ciprian becomes obsessed with her. Their romance is fast and intense, and Ciprian's tail does some interesting things.

[Amy Kay ♥️ Books are my daily therapy ♥️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🦇DARK OBSESSIONS🦇
By: Lexi C Foss
Part of: Monsters of Darkness
Collab Series of Standalones

ARC REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5 Star Review
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 Spice Level
 
RECOMMENDATION:
This standalone MF monster romance is on the shorter size but is exploding with spice and so much fun to read! There is a college grad student obsessed with finding a real life vampire and a vampire king waiting to break her in the best of ways. Although he finds out the hard way just how breakable humans really are!

FAVORITE QUOTE(S):
“I need a mate.
My beast seems convinced that she’s destined to come from this land of humans. I just haven’t found her yet.” -Ciprian
&
“I want her to come to me. Willingly. It makes her the hunter in this scenario and me the prey.
Which is a unique turn of events.
Perhaps that’s what has roused my sleeping beast.” -Ciprian
&
“I came here to find a vampire.
To prove that monsters exist.
That means meeting one.” -Vivian

TROPES:
MF
Stalker
Grumpy Vampire King
Curious Human Heroine
Dark Fated Mates
Power Exchange
Tail Play
Biting

GENRE, POV, PAGE COUNT:
Monster Romance
Dual POV in 1st Person
Ebook Is 236 Pages Long

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW, NARRATORS & TIME LENGTH:
No audio at the time of this review.

FMC:  
Viviana Dalca is 22 and a grad student at Ohio State. She is doing her thesis on Mythology and is obsessed with vampires. She is single, studious. She has a best friend with a monster-romance book obsession.

MMC:
Ciprian Negru, King of the Strigoi, is over 1,000 years old. He has been waiting to find a mate for a very long time and a feeling tells him she will come from the human world. Nobody has piqued his interest in the slightest…. Not until Viviana Dalca.

STORYLINE/PLOT:
Viviana is obsessed with finding out whether vampires exist and arrives in Transylvania, Romania to hunt down the one she believes is one… the one she has named Count Negru.

She finds him very quickly. So quickly, she begins to wonder if she is either very lucky or if he knew she was coming. Has he been stalking her as she’s been stalking him?

I must say, Ciprian is extremely intense. He sees Viviana as a pretty little toy, a plaything, a pet, to do with as he wants. To dress her in what he wants her to wear, feed and her what he wants her to eat, and use her body to the point of breaking simply for his pleasure. Consent is a foreign term to him.

He finds out pretty quickly just how breakable a human is. As the relationship begins to shift, Viviana begins to change from the little, meek, weak girl to an outspoken and powerful vixen… and Ciprian is here for all of it! Is she the one he’s been waiting for to take back to his home realm?

NOTE:
There are some seriously dark scenes and situations in this book so check those trigger warnings if needed!

THANKS:
Thank you to Author Lexi C Foss for this amazing digital ARC! As always with your books, I loved reading it and look forward to reading all of your future books! Thank you!
 
Happy Reading! ♥☻

[PelicanFreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this drew me right in—imagine turning your obsession into your research and basically making it your mission to prove vampires exist … and the Strigoi King decides to keep you as a pet. (Or don’t imagine it—you can read this tale…)

Oh and he likes … games.

Alternating POVs between FMC and MMC.
Written in first-person, present tense.
Heat level, on a scale of 1-5: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ [Yes, I said 11!]

“I was beginning to worry that she might kneel for me willingly. But this means I’ll have to work for her submission.
And that… that intrigues me.”

This is a fast-burn, fast-paced tale, er0t|c, yes, and with a delicious plot, complete with royal politics, trials, a 1,000 year-old v!rgin strigoi who has much to learn—and I’m talking outside of the bedroom. He needs a strong, brave female to tame him.

Very strong female lead.
Royal vampires.
Set in Romania.
Massive age gap.
C4pt|vity.
Tail action 🔥.
Fated mates.
Dub con.
Trials.
Mate bond, complete with telepathy.
He’s inexperienced.
Br33ding…

… and so many more! Honestly, just read it and pick them out yourself.

Overall: listen, THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE! By ‘it’, I mean if you want to write a book that is incredibly sp!čy, I’m talking chapters-long sessions, but is still extremely plot-rich AND manages to be different, still from all the other steam out there, this could be a case-study. Foss proves once again, that she’s a master at writing, world-building, ‘showing’, not telling and so much more. I loved getting lost in this, and I normally can’t stand so many / or such long … ‘sessions’. (That’s because normally they’re all rather the same and they bore me—how an author with this many books out manages to keep it fresh is beyond me.)

So, obviously, I recommend this read. I love a quick, hot standalone that still manages to drop me into a whole other world. ALL the stars.

[BookishEchoes · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ꪑꪗ ᥅ꫀꪜﺃꫀ᭙

ʟᴇxɪ ᴄ. ꜰᴏꜱꜱ
ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ: ᴀ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴏɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
(Monsters of Darkness)

📖 Pages: 236
🗓️ Release Date: 02/28/26
✍ Author: Lexi C. Foss
✨ MCs: Vivi & Ciprian

This is dark monster romance at its finest!

Even though this story can be read as a standalone, the author sets a fantastic pace that pulls you right into the world from the very beginning. I loved the buildup between the main characters and how Lexi C. Foss developed Vivi and Ciprian’s connection throughout the story.

From the start, the book was engaging and had such a strong dark, atmospheric vibe. It checked all the tropes and delivered all the feels—and then some. I loved going on this intense adventure with these characters, and the story kept me hooked until the very last page.

I was never bored for a second. I was constantly excited to see what would happen next, and the story definitely did not disappoint. The writing flowed well, the story was captivating, and the delivery of the plot and characters was fantastic.

If you love steamy, dark monster romances with obsession, tension, and spice, this is a great read to dive into for an afternoon escape. It exceeded my expectations, and I can’t wait to see what Lexi C. Foss writes next.

🔥 Highly recommend for dark romance and monster romance lovers.
✧──────✧
🔥 Happy Release Day 🔥

Dark Obsessions is now available in Kindle Unlimited. Here are some of the tropes you can expect to find.



🦇 Standalone Monster MF Romance

🦇 Vampire King

🦇 Stalker Vibes

🦇 Dark Fated Mates

🦇 Tail Play


Download Here: https://geni.us/DarkObsessionsLCF

[Shasta · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book, the strigoi was new to me. After reading this book, I would not mind finding more books that involve them. If you are like me and have no knowledge of the strigoi, they are part of Romanian folklore and are very similar to vampires. In Romanian folklore they are troubled spirits that rise and feed on blood for vitality, can shapeshift and are generally up to all sorts of nefarious behavior. In this book, the author has taken some liberties with the strigoi from folklore and they are described as a species themselves that live in a realm away from the human realm. They are gothic in nature, have wings, and very talented tails.
The MMC here is the strigoi king. He has been living a secretive life in the human realm trying to find a human mate. The MFC is a doctoral student researching and trying to prove that strigoi are real. When the MMC learns about her research, he is intrigued and watches her from a distance. When they finally come in contact with one another there is a clash in what they each consider appropriate, which takes some time to work out. Listening to the MMC speak and try to figure out how to navigate his new relationship with a human was amusing. I quickly grew to like him for his straightforward honesty. The story was overall entertaining. Most of the book is the two main characters engaging in various intimate physical acts, and the rest is how they can work through their differences. However, what was set up as a huge event at the end was anti-climatic. Despite this, the book provided an entertaining short story with lots of spice (the tail!) and a sprinkle of humor. I would definitely recommend it for a quick read.

[Jennifer English · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all, Lexi went dark with this one. Like, dark as far as our MMC, not so much the story overall. But I will say check trigger warnings before reading, for this one, I feel like that would be important.

So part of the description is "If you enjoy possessive antiheroes who lack morals and adore depravity yet handle their heroine with the utmost care", but I gotta say, it didn't quite start that way. When Vivi and Ciprian finally meet, he really doesnt care about consent, what she thinks, feels, or says. And it shows, I would say there's a bit of dub-con in the beginning of their relationship. Thankfully our Strigoi is smart enough to begin to listen and learn and it all becomes full on consensual. He's definitely an anti-hero who lacks morals but by the end he's fully committed to Vivi and has no problem showing it.

There's lots of steam, some interesting scenes that caused me to pause and see if I could figure out exactly how that would work/look and by the end a Strigoi (cause he's not exactly a man lol) who would do anything for his mate. And we also have a MFC who is perfectly ok giving up almost everything she knows, so that she can be with the male she loves (again, not exactly a man lol). I also liked the little bit of a glimpse we get into their 2 besties, how they meet, how they clash and how they eventually end up together. I know this is supposed to be a stand alone novel but I would be totally ok getting their story one day too. 😉😏

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced, addictive romance built on pure obsession. Viviana’s need to prove vampires are real drives her straight into danger, but what she discovers is far more intense and consuming than she ever imagined.

Viviana has spent years trying to prove her theory, and every deep dive into the Negru castle brings her closer to the truth. Her research eventually leads her straight into the monster’s nest.

Ciprian becomes just as obsessed with her the moment he realises she has been hunting him, and that shift sets the entire story alight.
Once their worlds collide, the story becomes a whirlwind of desire, need and fate. Their connection is sharp, magnetic and impossible to ignore.

What I loved most is that Viviana never backs down when it matters. She challenges Ciprian, pushes him to understand her needs as a human, and refuses to lose herself in the chaos of his world. Her strength gives the romance real depth.

Their push pull dynamic is entertaining, beautiful and undeniably hot to watch unfold. Every moment feels charged and every choice pulls them deeper into each other’s orbit.

Spice Level 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶
High explicit scenes

Tropes
• Obsessive vampire MMC
• Human heroine in over her head
• Monster romance
• Fated pull
• Forced proximity
• Push pull dynamic
• Researcher x supernatural being
• Dark devotion

Triggers Warnings
• Violence
• Blood
• Kidnapping elements
• Power imbalance
• Obsession
• Threats and danger
• Non traditional consent dynamics

[Anya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was FANTASTIC!
I loved Cip and Vivi’s story!

Seeing how Cip learned and took Vivi serious and always made sure she was okay was so heartwarming.
Vivi staying true to herself and holding her ground and her boundaries even in the situations she was in was powerful to read.
Marius was an absolute menace and I loved every second of him being on page!

This book was perfect, there was enough world building that I wasn’t confused but not so much that it took over the story. The character and relationship development was phenomenal, we literally saw and experienced both of them grow in themselves and their love through each chapter.
The storyline of the trials was great, I thought the twist was exactly what needed to happen or else the trials would not have come off as good as they did.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
-MF
-Mönster x human
-Vïrgïn MMC
-Mates
-Adventurous taïl 👀
-🩸drïnkïng
-Minor D/s dynamics
-Säfe wörd
-Touch her and dïë

Content warning:
-Brëëding/Prëgnanċy
-Prïmal/Chasïng
-Düb Cön and light Non Cön in the very beginning
-Mentions of parental dëath by süïċïdë
-Mention of dëath and potential dëath by mäting trïals
-Stälkïng
-“pet” names

Key words:
Monster | romance | spicy | tail | bite | book | kindle | review | love | mates | mmc | fmc | dom | sub | primal | princess | king |

[Paula Sabol (Never Choose Fantasy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Obsession: Monsters of Darkness Series by Lexi C. Foss is a dark(ish) monster romance. Vivi is doing a paper on the existence of vampires. After years of research she finds herself ready to confront the subject of her obsession. She knew it was dangerous, what she didn't expect was that he was waiting for her. Ciprian left his realm 1,000 years ago in search of a human mate. However he has yet to find one that keeps his attention past a quick snack and sending them on their way. When she proves to be all he expected and more, he finds it difficult to hold back. Will Vivi survive the attention of the king of the strigoi and the mate test from his realm, or will it be too much for her?
This book was a quick read( finished in a day) that was fast-paced, fast-burn, spicy with a hint of darkness and I absolutely LOVED it. Vivi proves to be smart, strong, brave, and obsessed which is perfect for Ciprian. I loved the lesson in consent and Ciprian's subsequent epiphany about behavior and trust. He may be a monster and rough but he still listens and is willing to try to change for the benefit of his desired “mate”.
If you enjoy dark paranormal romances with vampires/strigoi, humans, alternate realms, royalty, dubious consent, primal play, bites, blood play, tailplay, mates, and heats then Dark Obsession is for you!

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexi really said “let’s go dark” with this one Like DARK dark—mostly with the MMC, not so much the overall plot, but still… definitely check trigger warnings before you start.
So the description talks about a “possessive antihero who lacks morals but handles the heroine with care,” and I’m just gonna say… that is not how it starts. When Vivi and Ciprian first meet, he does not care about consent, her feelings, or what she wants at all. It’s very much giving dub-con vibes in the beginning, which might not be for everyone.
BUT—he does grow. Our little Strigoi (and I say little very loosely lol) actually learns and starts to listen, and things do become fully consensual as the story goes on. By the end, he’s all in for Vivi and completely devoted to her.
There is a LOT of steam and I’m not even gonna lie, a couple scenes had me pausing like “wait… logistically, how???”
By the end, you’ve got this morally unhinged, not-quite-a-man MMC who would burn the world for his mate, and a FMC who’s totally okay leaving everything behind to be with him.
Also?? The little glimpses we get of their best friends?? I’m kinda obsessed. The way they meet, clash, and then… yeah. I would 100% read their story if Lexi ever writes it.

[jennifer morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is apart of the Monsters of Darkness shared world which can be read as a standalone. And isn't as dark as some of them. Lexi has brought humor to this story, while it's still full of monsters and some danger but there's definitely plenty of spice and Ciprian definitely knows how to use that tail. And Viviana spent years obsessing over a vampire to come face to face with a Strigoi King. Ciprian who's a bit rough at first and can't understand why Viviana intrigues him so mush and why he's so possessive with her. So there's definitely a lot of touch her and die vibes going on especially when it comes to his friend Marius who just seems to love winding him up which is so funny at times. And i loved how Viviana wasn't afraid even though she's just found out monster are real. They'll be challenges along the way and i loved how the characters developed and evolved into so mush more. And i always love a good happy ending which this definitely has. I even loved her friend Gaby who was such a Hoot and I'd love to know what actually happened between her and Marius and hopefully we'll get to read her story next but time will only tell. fingers crossed.

[Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi C. Foss has done it again! "Dark Obsession" is a masterclass in dark romance, delivering monster vibes and a mates dynamic that had me hooked from the first page. The world-building is immersive, and the characters are so well-developed that you can't help but get invested in their story. This book is packed with spice and plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Foss's writing is phenomenal; she has a unique ability to draw you into her stories and make you feel every emotion the characters are experiencing. "Dark Obsession" is a standalone, but I'm craving more from this world. Whether it's a continuation of these characters' journeys or a new story set in the same universe, I'd be first in line to read it.

Overall, "Dark Obsession" is a must-read for fans of dark romance. Lexi C. Foss has truly outdone herself with this one, creating a story that is both captivating and unforgettable. If you're looking for a book that will leave you breathless and wanting more, look no further. Lexi killed it with this book!

[Lene Blackthorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viviana was researching monsters for years, and decided that for her thesis, she will prove they exist. She follows the leads to an old castle in Romania, one that has a monster in residence - none other than the Strigoi King, Ciprian. And just as she was investigating him for the last three years, he was stalking her. Now that she arrived to Romania, the real fun can start...
If you are looking for a story that is fully concentrated on the physical relationship, its development, and loooooot of steam, then this PNR "monster romance" is for you. For me, the whole story was a little too carnal with not enough backstory or plot development to really connect. I admired Viviana in some moments, like during her last trial, and that she was trying to set up some boundaries, because with MCs that are "too much", there is a fine line for me when it is attractive and when it is not. Here it bordered with the later category. On the other side I liked how the story ended and the progress the main characters made in building an actual relationship at some point, so it was fine.

[Steph Whitelaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Obsession is a standalone quick romance story about a young woman, Vivianna who is obsessed with discovering that “vampires” are real. Unknown to her the King of the Strigoi, Ciprian is aware she is looking for him & watches her. As the King of the Strigoi, Ciprian is expected to find his mate & produce an heir. He has spent 1000s of years bored & uninterested in the woman around him, till he discovers Vivanna in the human realm. After three years of watching her he finally arranges for her to meet him. Whilst Ciprian has set up a plan to play with Vivanna & make her his pet what he didn’t expect was for his “pet” to stand up to him & this entices him even more. I really enjoyed the two of them coming together as couple, it was a fun read.

I am aware this is part of the Monsters of Darkness series written by multiple authors. I would like to read Marius & Gabby’s story I think their story would be funny.

[Paula Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viviana is a master’s student researching the existence of vampires, and her obsession with the Strigoi King, Ciprian Negru, leads her straight to him. What she doesn’t realise is that he’s already been watching and waiting for her. Ciprian left his realm a thousand years ago searching for a human mate, but none ever held his interest, until Vivi.
I loved Vivi’s character. She’s smart, brave, and just as obsessed with Ciprian as he is with her, which makes their dynamic really interesting. Ciprian may be a powerful and dangerous monster, but I liked that he still listens and learns when it comes to trust and consent.
The story is fast-paced, fast-burn, and definitely spicy with a darker edge, which made it really hard to put down.
If you enjoy dark paranormal romances with vampires/strigoi, human heroines, alternate realms, royalty, fated mates, and a possessive antihero, then this is definitely worth reading.

[Caylee T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viviana & Ciprian were definitely quite the match up.

Viviana had been researching about vampires and the folklore surrounding them when she came across a certain castle & a certain Lord that she found very interesting.

Ciprian has been putting off finding his mate for so long. But when he comes across someone looking into him, he finds he is far more interested in that person. Which leads to him having her come to the castle. And not letting her leave.

Their dynamic was very interesting at first because she was curious yet distrustful. And he found her very peculiar in a way & confusing. But the pull was too undeniable.

The push and pull between them was definitely very interesting to read but I loved the fact that she ultimately fell for him the way he had her.

And I loved that epilogue, it was very sweet.

Amazing job!

[Casey Velasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️
3 🔥
Monster Romance
Strigoi (Vampire) King
Curious Human Heroine
Stalker Vibes
Possessive
Obsessive
Red Flags Galore
Twisted Fated Mates
Tail Play 😈
Standalone
This was a spicy good time! It is a part of the Monsters of Darkness world, but has no links to any other world or series of Lexi’s. There are three other books in the world from other authors, but can be read as a complete standalone. This one is about Ciprian Negru, the Strigoi King, who has been living in the human realm for centuries, looking for a mate. No one of interest has caught his eye, until a measly human, Viviana, starts researching and uncovering details he has spent centuries covering up. Viviana’s research has become an unhealthy obsession, that finds herself in Romania, stalking what she thinks is a vampire. What she doesn’t know is that Ciprian has also become obsessed, researching and stalking her. He intends to make her his pet, but he is unaccustomed to human emotions, needs & desires. They definitely get off to a rough start, but they eventually work through things. If you enough monster romances, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you Lexi C. Foss for the ARC!

[Naurarwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The FMC, Viviana, has been obsessed with vampires forever, and now her dissertation is leading her to the original home of the vampires, after a thread she started pulling makes her believe she will finally have answers.

Ciprian, the King of the Strigoi, has been trying to keep below the radar for centuries, but one female human seems to have made her his target. Now he's intrigued by her and wants to meet her in person; he pulls strings to get her into his clutches, and he doesn't plan on letting her go.

I love the dynamic between these two. Ciprian expects her to follow his every whim, but Viviana is the kind of FMC who demands you earn her loyalty and trust; she won't just bend over and take what Ciprian throws at her. It was an engaging story from start to finish, and I have to throw out a special mention to Marius, he's a terror but I adore him.

[Frida-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dark Obsession by Lexi C. Foss is the perfect blend of dark romance, obsession, and seductive supernatural danger.

This story pulls you into a world where desire becomes obsession and love takes on a darker, more dangerous edge. The vampire/monster romance element adds an irresistible intensity to the story, making the relationship feel even more powerful, primal, and consuming.

The chemistry between the characters is electric and filled with tension, passion, and possessive devotion—the kind that defines the best dark romances. Lexi C. Foss creates a captivating atmosphere where danger, temptation, and longing are constantly intertwined.

If you love dark romance with obsessive love, powerful supernatural beings, and morally gray characters, Dark Obsession will absolutely pull you in and refuse to let go.

A dark, seductive, and addictive read that I couldn’t put down.

[JackaayReadsallday · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute quick read with just the right amount of spice. Viviana is absolutely adorable and I love how obsessed they are with each other. When I say that I want a monster romance… This is the kind of story I’m talking about. A human that pushes boundaries and challenges their monster and a monster that is bewildered enough by them to become enthralled and possessive/obsessive… This girl lives for an OTT monster 😍 This author absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one… I mean, who doesn’t love tails and wings? Cip is adorable and I loved seeing his POV throughout the story. MINE is one of my favorite tropes of all time and Lexi writes it so well. Please good Lord tell me we are going to get a Marius story. That last 8% of the book was great and I need more banter like that in my life.