Vallyn in Chains

Vallyn Duet #1

by Maelana Nightingale

In this not-your-typical stalker romance, Vallyn Spencer has everything going for her-or so it seems.

As a dedicated grad student & teaching assistant on the verge of earning her doctorate, she has a loving family & a supportive group of friends. Vallyn's life appears picture-perfect for someone immersed in academia.

But when an enigmatic admirer begins sending gifts & captivating her with unsettling texts & calls, her carefully ordered world takes an unexpected turn. His actions blur the line between alarming and irresistibly intriguing, drawing her into a web of tension & desire. Just as she begins to let her guard down, events spiral out of control, leading them both into a collision course with devastating consequences.

In this haunting, suspenseful, and spicy story, Vallyn and her mysterious "phantom" are thrust into an unnerving battle of trust & survival. The book ends in a partial resolution, setting the stage for a gripping continuation of their electrifying journey.

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒆𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒎𝒂, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚, & 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅.

Genres: Dark Romance

431 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2025

About the author

Bestselling author Maelana Nightingale writes romance that bleeds, breathes, and burns—stories where love is messy, healing is hard, and desire is sacred.

Her novels span contemporary found-family romances, dark and taboo stories, and sweeping romantic fantasy, united by raw emotion and unflinching realism. Known for intimate, character-driven storytelling, her work explores connection, power, and trust in ways that feel lived-in rather than performative—and never shies away from the complicated edges of love.

A nurse by trade and storyteller by soul, she brings authenticity to every page—from medical precision to the psychology of trauma, trust, and connection. When she’s not writing, she’s usually wrangling one of her five children or navigating the controlled chaos of her corporate healthcare day job.

Reviews

[Keri M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was tough. So incredibly written. You will fall in love with the characters and be so flabbergasted how dark it gets! I wouldn’t change a thing! You guys are in for a wild ride!!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vallyn In Chains is a wild ride. At the beginning you fall in love with Vallyn and her phantom. Maelana's writing is fantastic. Her characters come alive and you connect with them instantly.
Vallyn is a post grad student and sees a cute stranger at a bar. They just have a fleeting moment in time but he's obsessed. He's a PI and still works for the government. He learns all about her and starts messaging her. Never letting her find out who he is. She knows she should be afraid but she's drawn to this mysterious man. They grow closer as time goes on and he eventually lets her see his face. By now she's practically in love with him as well. When a tragedy strikes, taking Vallyn from him, he goes crazy trying to find her. She's taken and a.bused, in more ways than one. Will her phantom be able to save her?
The book ends on a cliffhanger. Check your TWs.

[Sandy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter I was hooked! I couldn’t put it down! The characters will win you over and you just can’t get enough of their love story! The unexpected plot twist took me by surprise and was dark! I loved every minute of this book!!!

[Kami Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book, and I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily.
This book had me hanging off my seat from page one. This is a must-read if you like dark romance or smut. And just beware, she could have made the cliffhanger worse than she did. The last 3 chapters definitely threw me for a loop, but I can't wait for book 2.

[CAS CA Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one starts all normal/mild stalker romance and quickly turns into obsession. But Vallyn is ok with it 😉 The problem arises when his “day job” crosses paths with hers and Vallyn ends up on the wrong people’s radar… Then things get REALLY dark & our MMC is desperate to save her.

This duet is a 10/10! Especially if you liked Haunting/Hunting Adeline. If you thought that duet needed deeper character development & emotions connection, then this is worth the dive! Hands down a much better story all around.

[Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I would fight the wildest animals, burn the world, and find you in the darkest corners"-

Vallyn is everything you want in an FMC- beautiful, smart, flirty and sassy. But she's also kind and gentle.
In steps the big man...her Phantom.. I mean who doesn't secretly want their own 'healthy' stalker who is absolutely Obsessed to the point of defiance...

You better buckle up darlin, cuz the possessivly obsessed train is leaving and it's definitely one you don't wanna miss!

[Shyloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think all I can really say is HOLY SHIT!! I absolutely loved this and ate it up! The book follows Vallyn and her Phantom who becomes obsessed with her after a night out. Vallyn I s a student who is working on her dissertation and wants to help at risk kids. Her Phantom is a morally grey bounty hunter/ P.I The phantom is amazing and everything you want in a morally gray MMC.

Over the course of the book Vallyn and her Phantoms relationship progresses and they just become more and more intertwined in each other's lives. then their loves are forever changed when the consequences of their relationship and of the decisions they made before they met changes everything in a matter of seconds.

The last 10% of this book absolutely wrecked me though!!

please read the trigger warnings on this book before you read it!

I did receive this book as an arc and I am incredibly grateful to Maelana for the opportunity! I CANNOT wait for the next one!!

[LivingReadGirl666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An encounter has Vallyn gaining the attention of Phantom, an ex military mercenary that stalks her. However Vallyn’s kind of into it? After some significant ups and downs, they begin a relationship only for a huge twist to occur. I was forewarned this was a heavy read and I still wasn’t fully prepared. Definitely check TWs. Thankfully this cliffhanger wasn’t the most painful Maelana has left me with (but I would like to state I am still uncomfortable and will be until I know how book 2 ends) and I’m dutifully waiting for book two and a HEA.

I was given a free copy. I am leaving my review voluntarily

[Ava Milns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book fulfilled me in the most wholesome ways. What a rollercoaster from tender and spicy romance to pitch-black noncon torture. Mae, you left the best part of your amazing range of writing skills to the 90% mark. You kept me hooked until then and then slammed me with your craft. I have a bottomless appetite for trauma, agony, and suffering (in the sweetest and not-so-sweet ways) - and you gave me all of that. Authentic dark romance with gripping undercurrents of thriller storyline, with a deafening slap of pitch-black torture in the end: that's my one-liner gold-medal review for you and the work you've produced.

[Jamie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an incredibly well written book, and I absolutely loved it!!! It is one of those books that will hook you right from the start and never let you go. Vallyn and her “Phantom” were amazing characters, and I found myself drawn into their world and so invested in what was happening with them. I went through a lot of emotions while reading this book. Parts of it were even a little hard to read. But Maelana managed to write about these things in the way they needed to be written, bringing these topics to light even though they are difficult. I highly, highly recommend checking this book out. Just be sure to read the trigger warnings.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Please check trigger warnings before reading

I was hooked on this book from the start. Maelana did an amazing job making you fall in love with both the MMC and FMC.

Both Vallyn and Phantom are thoroughly obsessed with each other. He wants to possess her, but he would also burn the world for her.

The ending will have you craving book 2. Such a huge cliff hanger, but an amazing set up for book 2 in the duet.

If you enjoyed Haunting Adeline, and Zade, you will enjoy this book as well. Highly recommend. 🖤

[𝑲𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒆🥀🖤📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- This one started out great with all the emotions and then got super dark towards the end, please read the TRIGGER WARNINGS before reading this. But with that being said I very much enjoyed reading this book 🖤 The MMC and MFC are absolutely amazing and you will love them both as much as I did 🥹 The deep connection and the banter between them two, also the possessiveness and protectiveness he has when it comes to her is MIND BLOWING. So if you like a good stalker read with spice then I recommend this one 100%

[Kar Wils · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of being an arc reader for this book!

I love the FMC and the MMC. If you love motorcycle, masked stalker, ex military MMC, and the MMC, and a bad ass volunteer, smart FMC, this book is for you. I would say the majority of this book is the banter between the MMC and the FMC and I am here for it. Please check your trigger warnings as they do come up at the end of the book. This book ended up in a cliff hanger and I cannot wait for book 2!

Run don't walk and get your copy today!

[Sfawnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. Stalker romance, morally grey, almost like a found family situation. Lots of ups and downs moments where normally you’d be like wtf be smarter than that woman. I feel like it gives more of realistic expectations of how things would go in the world. Definitely read the trigger warnings before reading I have personally yet to find something that makes me dnf a book so go by the warnings on what you can handle. Love the characters absolute perfection with them. Couldn’t put it down finished it in one day type of book can’t wait for book two!

[Kristen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vallyn in Chains challenges the typical stalker romance, slow burn genre by providing an emotionally intelligent and introspective main male character, where many times this is missing from these books. I think this addition added to the development of the relationship but also quality of the dialogue and banter. The relationship between Vallyn and phantom was organic and relatable. The book takes a heavier turn in the latter half but with promise to dive deeper into how this propels the story and our connection the characters. I really enjoyed the writing style and character development in this book and highly recommend it for those able to take on heavier themes. Please check your trigger warnings prior to reading and check out more from this author!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat! Especially the last several chapters! Poor Vallyn is really put through the ringer in those, so definitely make sure to check your triggers.

Vallyn has a not so secret admirer. She doesn't know who he is, just that he's the phantom that has awakened things inside her that have been dormant for so long.

Blake will do anything to make Vallyn feel safe and wanted, only when he feels like it's time does he make his identity known. And still Vallyn loves him.

But when their relationship escalates, they are both tested in ways that will test their resolve.

[Nickol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their is so much good stuff that happens in the book! I was just gobbling it up! Could not get enough! I love how she wrote the FMC and the MMC! Was wanting a student kind of dark, stalker romance book, and it definitely gave that! Beware the last 100 pgs will have you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what will happen! 10/10 would recommend!!!

[Destiny Foret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. This dark stalker romance has my heart in a twist. It’s like a better version of haunting Adeline. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dark romance. The Phantom is the best crazy book boyfriend I have ever seen. The story keeps in invested and wanting more I am excited to read the second book

[Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC read, this book will have you hanging onto your seat.. it has great a
Banter but also is sad and dark. It is a great love story especially if you like stalker, military, motorcycle vibes. Be sure to check the trigger warnings. You won't be disappointed with this book.

[TheLazyCat]

8% DNF… Might come back to it, not sure yet. I DNFed super early because it’s so unrealistic so far and I cringed a bit.

[Crystel Pettit · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st of all - I love the name of FMC Vallyn! MMC Blake instantly became obsessed with FMC. I loved reading about how protective and possessive he was, along with how quickly he changed his stalking ways when she called him out on it. While there were a couple instances when Vallyn felt uncomfortable, she also knew immediately that her stalker was meant to be for her. I loved their bantering via text. I’ve noticed that Nightingale uses texts in her books heavily, and I love it!!

This is listed as a dark romance, but I kept wondering if my dark heart has been desensitized with all my pitch black reading because the small amount of stalking and the slow burn didn’t seem like it was dark. BUT WOW - The last 15% of this book hit the darkness hard!! I will be starting book 2 of this duet today and hoping that I love it just as much. Remember, a woman’s intuition and 6th sense is real.

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark stalker romance!

Told in dual POV, you get to see into the minds of both the FMC and her stalker. Vallyn is a graduate student working on her dissertation, which leaves her with little time for boyfriends or even fun. A chance encounter at a bar leaves her with a secret admirer, whom she nicknames "Phantom."

You will fall in love with both of these characters while getting to know them. Vallyn is a loyal friend and questions her feelings for her mysterious stalker. Phantom knows what he is doing is wrong, but just cannot help himself because he has become consumed by her.

The ending was rough, please read the author's note, which includes some TW. Left on a slight cliffhanger, I am very much looking forward to the next book!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

the yearning 🔥👏🏻

The emotional pull between them was intense, the kind that leaves your chest tight and your thoughts spinning. He was protective, yes, but it came from such a raw, human place… fear of losing her, of believing something that finally felt real. And she matched his energy with quiet strength, grounding him when everything else felt unsteady.

Their connection built slowly but burned deeply. Every look, every moment between them carried so much tension it was impossible to stop reading. Then that ending… I swear my jaw actually dropped. The cliffhanger destroyed me in the best and worst way.

I need the next book immediately because waiting after that ending feels like cruel and unusual punishment.

[Parantua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of ARC reading this book! Maelana's writing is always fantastic, but this may be her best work yet. I was warned that the dark parts hit hard and fast and they did, after a relatively tame, stalker beginning to the romance.

THE BANTER!!!!! Their banter is amazing and it's so amazingly refreshing to read a stalker romance where consent is a thing, but still done in a way that is dark and tantalizing.

This book doesn't leave you hanging on the edge of a cliff, but definitely wanting more. And I'm glad that it will only be a few months until the next one comes out!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Maelana’s writing, it sucks you in from the start not wanting to put the book down until the end. We are following Vallyn, out with her friends and a bar patron got handsy when Phantom stepped in to stop him. First sight of her and he was instantly obsessed and wanted to know everything about her. Even though he went about it the wrong way, Phantom is a great guy and I loved how he was with her. I love how they were together, they are perfect for each other, and I can’t wait to see how they fair in the next book.

[Abby Kirkland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Maelana Nightingale! I have read everything she has published so far!

Vallyn in Chains is unlike anything Maelana has put out before. The spice is here, the suspense is here, everything to make a gripping novel.

With that said, be sure to check your trigger warnings because this book is not going to be for everyone. But…if you read, be prepared to love Vallyn and her phantom.

Out of Maelana Nightingale books, in my opinion, this is below the Unbinding series, but above Breathing Autumn. I can’t wait for Vallyn Unchained to release!

[Kandace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up late so I can finish this book in one night. Because it sucked me in. In less than 24 hours this book has consumed me. Not only did I read and love this, I preordered it on Amazon, because I need this in my collection. This was dark and everything I hoped it would be. Without giving any spoilers I will say I cannot wait for the second book. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good dark book. Read the trigger warnings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Caterina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to dnf. It was taking way too long to get to the "good" part.

He is supposed to be a "stalker" but he's definitely not. Not in the way people who read stalker books expect a stalker to act. He won't meet with her but why? Since we get his POV, we should know. As far as I can tell, there is no reason other than to drag the story out.

I had high hopes for this one. I was disappointed.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This makes me want my own Blake! I really enjoyed this book. A few plot twists that make you go, "OMG! Why?" But the ending was something...wow.

[Kim Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

It went from zero to one hundred in a hurry! Exciting was an understatement! Awesome!