Mellifluous

by Imogen Pyre

In which an indentured prostitute makes a dangerous deal to earn his freedom: selling his body not for pleasure, but for blood, to a wealthy vampire-in-hiding with dark plans for the holy city of light he calls home.

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Reuben has survived decades as an indentured prostitute using one simple tool: deception. With his music, he crafts illusory magic to enchant crowds, and with his persona 'Reubielocks,' he hides behind a bright smile with clients and friends alike. But when a vampire-in-hiding named Everic Payne requests services for an absurd amount of gold one night, he doesn't want Reuben's body or his pretty lies—just his blood.

In a holy city whose patron is the god of gold and light, such a creature of darkness should be reported straight to the religious guard. But what's one more sin? The chance to lower his debt and save his loved ones from poverty is far too tempting for Reuben, so long as he ends the arrangement before he joins Everic at the pyre. And Everic turns out to be different from the monster Reuben expected: stern but kind, blunt but gentle, formal and yet endearingly awkward at times.

Quickly Reuben finds his knack for flattery and deception can aid Everic's dark plans for the city as well. But just as trust between them blossoms, Reuben's involvement threatens to reveal personal secrets that could unleash the vampire's monstrous side after all.

When Reuben tries to conceal the ugly truth instead of ending the arrangement, the consequences will not only threaten his life, but force him to confront his greatest fear:

Stripped of all his pretty lies, could Reuben ever be worth more than gold?

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This story contains many dark themes; sensitive readers should proceed with care. Please visit the author's website to review a full list of potentially-triggering material.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Romance, Romantasy, M M Romance, Vampires, LGBT

480 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2025

About the author

By day, Pyre works as a writer and editor for a professional association. By evening, night, and weekend, they are writing transformative and original fiction, developing lore and worlds for TTRPG roleplay, and running a Patreon and Discord server for their readers.

Pyre is part of the LGBTQ+ community, an ex-member of a high-demand religion, and an avid fan of all things queer fantasy since the very formative age of 7, when their dad yelled at the TV screen that Frodo and Sam should stop acting gay for each other.

Reviews

[Casey Anger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect when starting this book. And I can say with certainty it exceeded any expectations I could have dreamed up.
The world building was top tier, I felt such a part of it. I felt immersed in the life of the MC and the politics of this fantasy world and how it affected their life so much. I truly crave books where a character is faced with an immeasurably amount of adversity, they are living their life day to day while feeling this immense amount of crushing desperation and looming terror. Always finding a way to push past it and keep safe their heart.
This book is both beautiful and horrifying, filled with equal parts elegance and savagery. I will definitely be recommending this to others and hopefully someday getting my hands on a copy for my shelf. Wow, just wow!

[Cass Biehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich world-building to sink your teeth into, character arcs that defy expectations, and a slow-burn romance that left me starving, MELLIFLUOUS completely captivated me. Elements here reminded me in the best way of Captive Prince, but the book felt wholly original and unique. I truly can’t wait for the next installment (which appears to be a sapphic romance!).

(Reuben stole my entire heart.)

[Leah Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨I received a free E-Book in exchange for my honest review. ✨

Wow wow wow where to begin. I had a fabulous time with this book. 4.25/5 stars. As a debut indie novel this is a very strong start IMO.

⚠️Please take the trigger warning seriously, I am not a reader of dark romance traditionally but I was able to deal with all of the everything nasty that happens in this book, please make sure you can too⚠️

🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆SPOILER WARNING 🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆










What I liked:

Reuben's character - I loved the duality split between him and Reubielocks, he acknowledges that it's the part of him that keeps him sane and able to keep getting back up after each knock down. And boy oh boy does he get knocked down a lot, he's basically one of those punch-able inflatable clowns that were popular in the 90s.

Speaking of punches, no punches pulled on his profession - a lot of books when dealing with a prostitute dial down what the experience would ACTUALLY look like, I really really liked that this one didn't. It's in your face staring at you the whole time, not just some flowery words or descriptions that talk around it.

The consent from Everic!! - a valid point that I rarely see addressed is if you are buying someones "time" you cannot fully trust that their actions are purely their own. Reubie knows the consequences of saying "no" the entire time, even if Everic wouldn't punish him for it, it's still there lurking in the background through every interaction. And Everic is a good boy who while he falters occasionally manages to stick to his guns. If you cannot be 100% certain of someone's consent you do not take what they are offering no matter what.

My grumbles:

The pacing felt slightly off in the middle, I know we were plot progressing and digging in deep for the second half, it just stalled me out a little in my reading.

I wanted a little bit more of expounding on Reubens relationship with the other stellas, which was hard with him gone 90% of the book. We got a little taste and I wanted more of it.

Thoughts:
- Sidarchus is a nasty nasty man, we 100% know this slimy slug was letting Waron in
- Also what a slimy little drug dealer
- Does Reuben have wings in his lower back/hip area??
- Jophiel is also nasty, her description gave me the heebies

I'm for sure hoping for some relationship progression between Reuben and Everic, they've got a good base now. I also want Reuben to process and unpack some of the trauma he most CERTAINLY went through and be able to move forward through it. What happens with Isolde? Who was her captain? Bev I have some questions for you too. I would like to see where this goes!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

TL;DR — 5 stars because I couldn’t stop thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it and I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed* a book this much.

I don’t usually write reviews, but since this book is a debut by an indie author, this feels like the kind of situation where reviews by a nobody on the internet can be helpful/meaningful. And along those same lines; I thought about writing a more thorough “analytical” kind of review, but I think other folks are better suited to that than I am (it’s 1am and I literally just finished the book — ran here with my lowkey feral energy because I was too excited to wait lol).

So, what I can offer is that I was pleasantly surprised by the world building and politics in the story and that I was way more invested in that aspect than I thought I’d be. There are tropes and character archetypes that aren’t my favourite, but that did not impede my endearment towards the characters and the whole pay off at the end of the book felt really good to me. I thought that the prose struck a good balance between being lyrical/whimsical/poetic and being understandable/digestible.

It gets 5 stars from me because as a person who has struggled to read for her whole life, I had fun and actually made more time in my day to read just so I could read more of this story.

Anyway, if you like a good ol’ angsty vampire story, stupid dumb miscommunication fueled yearning, and/or cried while playing through Astarion’s storyline in BG3, this might be a book you’d enjoy and I recommend giving it a go :)

*there was a lot of me metaphorically banging my head against the wall/wanting to grab characters by the shoulders and scream “USE YOUR FREAKING WORDS AND C O M M U N I C A T E!!!” but apparently that’s “enjoyable” for me so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I received the arc of this book for my honest review*

Rating 4.5⭐️

Content Warnings-
This book covers a lot of triggering themes and I highly suggest that anyone check the trigger warning list from the Imogen Pyre's website. As a reader I prefer to know as little as possible before I pick a book up including triggers. I do understand where these heavy topics are not what everyone is looking for.

*very light spoilers below*

Characters felt real and complex. Following Ruben a prostitute with the ability to cast incantations through song as he processes some traumas while gaining some more. He constantly takes 2 steps forward and then a step back taking lessons and ideals that others taught him at a young age a little too close to heart and a bit too literally in some cases. I usually pick characters apart for making "stupid" decisions and though he makes many poor choices they feel realistic to his character and to his experience rather than forced for plot. Each time he decides to lie to Everic it is met with a logical conclusion as to why he can't offer up the truth. The vampire Everic is such a soft dom always worried more about Rubens health and trying to help nudge him into better decisions. Mean while Everic, who has spent centuries plotting for this moment for revenge, is hiding his own past and truths.

Truly stunning world building I could sink my teeth into. The settings always seemed tangible be it the bordello, the hollows or a night out with the higher rings. The individual challenges Reuben and Everic found themselves in were clearly built up through the magic systems, the politics, and the back alley deals. I trust/hope that the loose strings will spark plot points in future books. This is an aspect I love about a series having things to formulate theories around while waiting for the next book.

I felt the pacing was just my speed. It gave me time to learn the world through Ruben's eyes and then have to pause each time that world view was challenged. Imogen Pyre pulled me as a reader through this book as though I were being lulled by Reubie himself.

All in all well done I can't wait for book 2 whenever they choose/ are able to grace us with it.

[Ven · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

3.5 stars for me.

I found the work a little too derivative, and the parts that I did find interesting and intriguing came much later in the book and didn't have time to breathe or flesh themselves out very much. Considering it's the first in a series though, I will look forward to exploring more in the sequel!

[Emrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Thank you to the author for a copy of this eARC! Here's an honest review as requested :)

I will admit that Reuben's name made me think of the sandwich a lot, so I spent my time reading this book pretty hungry lol.

Reuben and Everic's relationship was equally sweet and frustrating, which I think was the intent. If either of them had spoken plainly even ONCE, they could have skipped the melodrama, which is a personal pet peeve of mine with books, but I recognize that the plot wouldn't have been quite the same without the lack of communication so I respect it—and without the melodrama, they wouldn't have grown close in the same way, or have had the slow burn romance we see on page. I also acknowledge that both characters had been traumatized in their own ways, so communication was certainly a hurdle for them both at a base level, so I think the frustration it caused me as the reader screaming internally for them to just TALK was successfully done.

That being said, I do think the book could have been at least a hundred pages shorter if some of the repetition was trimmed. For example, through the first half of the book, I felt a little like I was going crazy from the number of times the same routine was repeated: "don't take the drug" / "okay, I won't take the drug" / "you took the drug, didn't you" happened enough times that it got a little old. I understand the circumstances, but this was another scenario where a little talking would have gone a long way, which again is one of my pet peeves, so it very specifically stood out to me. I know that this helped to establish Reuben and Everic's relationship woes and care for each other, I just also felt like it could have been done in a slightly less repetitive way (I also wish that Everic had picked up on the fact that Reuben didn't always WANT to take the potion/drug, but was made to by Sid/his clients. That could have made for a good scene and I kept hoping for it).

I was very intrigued by the magic system! The concept of "crafts" was something I really wanted to learn more about, so I hope in the next book those will get discussed more. Greencraft, godcraft, and I belive goldcraft are very briefly mentioned in chapters, and we learn a little about devilcraft and just slightly more about crowdcraft. I was left with a lot of questions about these (what are the mechanics and where does craft come from/does everyone have access to a craft or is it purely a lineage thing/is it certain groups of people or species who can access certain crafts/is craft common or uncommon/etc) even though we spend a decent amount of time with Reuben using his abilities.

Overall, this book kept my attention, which is difficult to do these days unless I have access to an audio copy. The chapters themselves often had a slower pace and picked up right at the very end, or left off on a cliffhanger. I love that Reuben and Everic haven't had sex yet because that might have tarnished how much care was given to ensuring that their romance was a slow build. Reuben came onto Everic several times, yes, but when he was truly being himself and not embodying Reubielocks, their interactions were much more genuine and personal/intimate in a way that didn't need the promise of sex to piggyback off of. Any scenes that included sex weren't described in detail, which I appreciate (thank you to the author for not using the tired romantasy terminologies and instead employing much more finesse and craft (teehee)). I only found three typos, all of which were punctuation errors.

I'd recommend this book and am looking forward to the sequel! Definitely a debut author I'll be keeping an eye on :)

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

And gosh, is it hard to review this one.

I first became acquainted with this author through their fanfiction work (which I love), and when I heard they were releasing an original book, I immediately knew I had to read it. It’s always exciting to see a writer whose stories have meant something to me take the leap into publishing their own work.

Some things that worked beautifully for me in an episodic fanfic format didn’t sit quite as well in a novel — it left me wanting a bit more. More explanation of the lore (which feels vibrant and unique), a bit more editing to make the story more compact and better paced, more hints leading up to the big revelations in the last, plot-heavy part of the book… and, honestly, maybe just a bit more story overall.

Imogen Pyre excels at portraying their characters’ suffering, the hard situations they face and overcome (or sometimes just survive), and their inner turmoil. They get hurt, they get up, and they strive for hope and freedom in harsh and often unbearable conditions. This kind of storytelling always draws me to Imogen’s work, and it shines through in Mellifluous as well.

Content warnings:
Mellifluous is a dark book, with mentions and depictions of rape, humiliation, drug abuse, torture, and other heavy topics. Personally, the level of detail worked for me — I felt comfortable (and even slightly hot and bothered) reading about some of the terrible things described. However, I would strongly recommend checking the content warnings on the author’s site if there are themes you find difficult to read about.

Characters:
The main character, Reuben, is very well written and feels lifelike — shaped by his experiences, toxic relationships, and years of work as a prostitute and musician. I grew very fond of his faults and quirks, and it was a joy to watch him evolve. That said, during some of his final changes of heart, I felt a bit less connected to him and wasn’t entirely sure how organic those moments felt.

Other characters were less detailed, and I wish I had learned more about them. The author is probably saving their deeper stories for the next book(s) — which I’m genuinely excited for — but I would have liked at least a little more insight into the side characters we’re meant to care about for the story’s emotional core to fully land.

Story and setting:
While I enjoyed the story and setting very much, there simply wasn’t enough of it for me for a full book. Many plot points were opened but almost none were resolved. I understand this is the first in a series, but I still prefer my books to feel a little more self-contained. This one retains the feel of an ongoing online story published chapter by chapter.

I’ve read other works originally written that way — for example, translated novels by MXTX — but for some reason, it didn’t quite work for me here. Perhaps it stands on the border between two genres — a self-contained novel and a collection of serialized chapters — without fully becoming either. It aims more toward the structure of a “regular” book but isn’t quite there yet.

The middle part of the book is emotionally heavy but lighter on plot progression, and then suddenly, the final section arrives and everything happens all at once. I would have appreciated a more balanced pacing throughout.

Overall thoughts:
I enjoyed my time spent with Mellifluous. It’s dark, emotional, and full of heart — and even when it didn’t completely work for me, I could always feel the passion behind every page. I truly enjoyed the read and will definitely be buying the next book.

[Aubrey M White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading Mellifluous. Reuben was such an interesting and realistic character. His mother's debt weighed heavily on him, but he still remembered her fondly and trusted her advice even though she made some poor choices. And even though Reuben suffered due to his position as a prostitute with evil clients abusing him and a debilitating injury, he puts Isolde before himself. He could use his earnings to escape his lifestyle, but he gives it to her. I liked that Reubielocks was so distant from Reuben's true self. This identity and name allowed Reuben to put up a front with his clients. He was willing to debase himself on a regular basis. These unique charms of his did not exactly work on Everic, his newest client.

The yearning/slow burn of this book had me locked in. I couldn't put the book down, just waiting for something to happen between them. There were so many light touches and other moments of connection, but I think the fact that they don't get physical right away shows Reuben's uncertainty. He has been sought after for his looks and what he is willing to do for his clients so when Everic is not swayed, Reuben looks inwardly and assumes he must have done something wrong. One of the lines that really stuck out to me is "Reubielocks was nothing and no one, whether others around him had realized it yet or not." Reuben has been groomed to be this attractive spectacle, and he fakes confidence when really, he feels inferior. Meanwhile, it seems like Everic does not want to give into his desires because of his grief and guilt even though he is attracted to Reuben. The massage scene was captivating. I was on the edge of my seat thinking that they were finally going to cross the line but the fact that they didn't during such an intimate moment only made me more invested in their relationship.

I enjoyed the style of the writing and the inclusion of several songs as someone who finds song lyrics to be very poetic. Whenever Reuben is in danger throughout the book, he is seemingly paralyzed by fear. I related to his feelings of weakness because of his inability to save himself. Typically, I see male characters always trying to prove how tough they are, but I think Reuben is strong in his mind and heart rather than his body. He comes across as submissive to outsiders, but he has more control and power than those who oppose him. As far as the fantasy elements, I thought certain explanations could have been drawn out more. The evil forces at play throughout the book were named, but I would have liked to learn more about Zald and the Priesthood. Since this is only the first book in the series I understand that there is more to come but it just felt like there were a lot of different sects in the society and I was struggling to figure out a connection between them.

I am obligated to mention that I received an advance review copy free of charge and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Excited to read the next installment when it comes out!

[J.V. Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circle of Sixths Part One: Mellifluous

by Imogen Pyre

A dark, dystopian queer romantasy

Vampire, romance, Action/Adventure, Magical Realm, Spicy LGBTQ, Bard

I rarely leave five-star reviews. A book has to exceed a very high standard even to be considered. The writing must be (near) perfect, the story engaging from page one, and the character ARC/world building exceptional. Imogen Pyre’s debut novel, Mellifluous, first in her Circle of Sixths series, surpassed every benchmark. This is a mature audience book, not due to its sexual content, but the sophistication. It’s not your typical spicy, fae-alpha domineering romance. It’s an in-depth submersion into the life of a queer indentured male prostitute, rich in detail and colorful prose. Every sentence is crafted precisely to capture the imagination, develop the plot, and reveal just enough to keep the reader engrossed. Not a single word is wasted.

As I lost myself in the intrigue and mystery of this dystopian world, I remembered Kiss of the Spider Woman (the original 1985 film by Hector Babenco, not the 2025 adaptation) and how captivated I was by its raw emotional dialogue, mystery, and suspense. The premise of Mellifluous is built upon Reuben, a half-elven minstrel and courtesan of the Starlet Eye, an elite bordello catering to high society with entertainments of all tastes, and few exceptions. Employing multi-racial, multi-talented courtesans (stellas) through indentured servitude, each must earn their way, slowly paying off their life debt. Reuben enjoys particular fame and high demand from all castes—especially those with particularly dark and banal tastes. He’s a gifted whore and musician with latent magical abilities from his music. But he’s also debilitated and frail from a lifetime of abuse, often requiring restorative drugs and numbing compounds to maintain his daily commissions.

Drawn into the dark underbelly of a theocratic city by Everic Payne, a mysterious vampire who prefers his blood over others, as long as it remains untainted by the aforementioned drugs.

Throughout the tale, the two become reliant on each other in a complex relationship of denial (of their mutual attraction) and codependence. Rueben, drawn by greed for wealth to pay off another’s life debt, conflicted by his attraction to the vampire who feeds on him weekly, and the knowledge of who and what he is—a whore. Everic, enchanted by the restorative nature of the minstrel’s blood and his ability to navigate the sociopolitical intrigues of the higher city, reveals his mission to reach the epicenter of the sectarian leadership.

My final note, in keeping with my ‘no spoilers’ principles, is that the ending is so unexpected that readers won’t be banging their heads in outrage over the open-ended cliffhanger. It’s part one, so expect it to leave the central storyline open. The author did a masterful job of building up the story to its logical conclusion, with more to follow.

[Nina JG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purée wow c’était de la frappe atomique
Je l’ai DÉVORÉ c’était si addictif.
J’étais accrochée du début jusqu’à la fin, au plot, aux personnages archi attachants, au monde, à tout.
Ruben m’a fait tellement tellement mal au cœur, surtout quand tu sais que c’est la vie réservée à des millions de personnes.
Ruben est un prostitué, forcé à l’être à cause d’une dette que sa mère portait avec elle. Pendant plus de 45 ans il s’est fait violer plusieurs fois par jour de manière horrifique.
Pour faciliter sa condition, il se persuade de la facilité de son travail et de ses conditions. Qu’il ne vaut rien.
Évidemment, parce que toujours plus, on est dans une fantasy avec des vampires et des monstres.
Il est soudainement appairé avec un dit vampire, qui lui propose plus d’or qu’il n’a jamais eu en échange de son sang.
Ce livre est une romance, mais les deux personnages ne s’embrassent pas avant les dernières pages. Les plots politiques derrières, la magie, le mystère de la provenance du petit Reubie, tout ça m’a accroché comme une moule à un rocher.
J’aurais tellement voulu que Enrique se rende compte de toute la souffrance de Reuben, malgré le fait que le petit vampire était absolument adoooooorable.
La scène absolument HORRIBLE avec Waron, de torture etc a eu le mérite de montrer à quel point un cerveau peut se convaincre de sa propre culpabilité face aux pires infamies qu’il vit en tant que victime. Reuben drogué, agressé, violé, qui ne pense qu’à sa pseudo trahison.
Sauf qu’en fait j’avais vraiment besoin qu’il se rende compte que rien de tout ça n’était sa faute. Malheureusement c’est un tome un, donc il va falloir attendre.
Sicchardus je crois c’est un e pires. Déjà, il le viole aussi, même si notre héros ne s’en rend pas compte, et qu’il a commencé quand il avait 14ans. La daronne qui a laissé ca passer… On sait tjr pas de quoi elle est morte… Puis c’est sûr que c’est lui qui l’a donné à Waron. Oui y’a aussi les jumeaux nains, dont la soeur qui pleurait, puis qui s’est donné au priesthood. Je veux savoir comment ça va continuer ça. Tellement de personnages.
Je suis tellement intriguée pour la suite. J’pense que c’est une société maxi feminine la haut, et que comme il est né homme il s’est fait reléguer.
Je suis trop intriguée par Isolde aussi et le capitaine, par Bev, tout tout ! Il manque encore tellement d’infos sur le monde….
J’ai trop hate de la suite, mais ça m’a pas l’air d’être prévu pour tout de suite…
18/20

[Nylah Neptune · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a disclaimer, I received a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for a review. I am also in a writing discord with the author. Neither of these has influenced my opinion here, and the most I knew about the book going in was the blurb on Pyre's website.

Mellifluous was overall a fantastic read that I recommend to anyone seeking a fantasy romance with an intricate and mysterious plot surrounding two damaged people learning to love themselves and each other. The very slow burn between Reuben and Everic is well worth the pay off, considering the circumstances both men are under.

As the MC, Reuben particularly had a believable growth throughout the novel, starting off as someone going through the motions day by day in the hopes of being able to continue to care for those that he loves to someone that starts to think about what he wants for himself. His pain, trauma, and self doubt had me tearing up multiple times, especially when he felt like everything was falling through his fingers. The only issue I had with him was his continued lack of communication with Everic. It made sense regarding his character in the beginning, but when it was obvious that if he had just said it everything would have been easier, it started to be a bit annoying.

The world building was, in a word, delicious. I loved the concept of the tiered city so much as well as the differences in the various rings of society. The history was vast and detailed, weaved in with a religious trauma that percolated every interaction. I desperately wanted more time in it to understand all the intricacies.

Overall, this book was fantastically written. The descriptions drew me in and had me craving for more. I will definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out. The main things that were rough for me was the length and the lack of screen time with characters like Bev. The beginning was fantastic, the second fourth a bit slow, third fourth amazing, and the end rushed. I recognize that this is a first in a series, but while it concluded one plot thread, it left several hanging. I think I would have liked one more chapter to see them out of where they ended and planning their next steps.

None of that was enough to lose a star for me though. The story itself was just that captivating.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea how to write this review. This is such a rollercoaster of a book! The veiled explanations that are more powerful than 1000 details, the glimpses of painful pasts and dark futures in the midst of tumultuous presents… this is an amazing story. Politics, magic, friendships, redemption, secrets, perilous liaisons, painful experiences… it has it all and more. I didn’t like Isolde at first, I wanted Reuben to be selfish and keep the money for himself, period. But… she grew on me, a little bit, because Sidarchus is the devil incarnate! Seriously!! Argh, the more I read about him, the more I hated him! And Waron was… seriously. The author does an amazing job at making the characters complex and realistic, and the relationship between Reuben and Everic grows in an unexpected way, that is somehow inevitable as well. I’m still not a big fan of Reuben’s actions, he’s too much into “giving the shirt off of his back, with no backup, no possibility of getting another one, and giving it away will make life difficult for everyone, the recipient of the shirt included”. But he’s likable, and he grew on me. Everic on the other hand, I liked from the very beginning for some reason. Maybe because he has such a loyal friend, or because he reminded me of a lost puppy trying to please his master when dealing with the high society, or… I don’t know, he’s just so cute! I wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap and keep him safe from all the idiotic people around him, Reuben included at times, but he loves his Reubie, so I guess he can keep him. I loved the intrigue, the twists and turns, the drama and suspense, but above all, how realistic and complex the characters are. Even those that don’t carry that much weight in the story are shown as individuals, with independent lives, and stories that we get a glimpse of, and not carbon copies or cookie cutter secondary characters. Like some of the clients, with their pillow talk, giving a glimpse at their lives, their position in society, and what’s going on around them. It’s a very clever way of moving the story along, and introducing a variety of characters without bogging the reader down with inane facts. Very well written, and I can’t wait to read the next one!

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

[Fen'Harel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I actually can't believe I get to finish the year off with a book that immediately slipped into one of my absolute favourites. I'm not lying at all - I finished this book and immediately found the author's Patreon to support them for the second book! And if you know me, it's rare that I respond like THIS to a book. I'll get excited, hope the author writes the sequel quickly, and set up some alerts, but this one had me absolutely sold.
To begin, Reuben is a fantastic character. I believe him and the choices he makes because they're realistic. He needs money to help buy himself and his friend out of the debt they have (created by his mother), but the twists and turns with this were fantastic. I grew suspicious when the author wanted me to, and I began to read between the lines like the character was starting to. When he was desperate or sad, I felt it too. It was so well done and a round of applause to this author.
Everic was great. I'm really hoping he becomes a 'touch him and you'll die' kind of guy. I'd like to see him grow more protective of Reuben as the series continues, which would work perfectly as this book was more of a "getting to know you" kind of vibe. It's not instalove or anything like that, which is nice. It's a slow burn, and they both make mistakes with one another.
The magic system in this book was great as well. I enjoyed learning as I went, but what I liked was that the author didn't treat the reader like a child. They'll show something and perhaps the character might explain later to someone else to fill in the gaps. For example, Reuben can read emotions and motives when he plays music. At first, I wondered if all the people could do this, or had some form of power, but later find out it's unique to him which was great. I was shown something, I understood, and then I learned something extra about it.
Can't wait for the second book. Literally gnawing at the bars of my enclosure.
I received this book from BookSirens for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Max C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imogene Pyre’s debut novel Mellifluous, part 1 of the Circle of Sixths was fantastic. She has created a beautiful world in all its messy glory. This novel contains dark themes ad for a complete list of trigger warnings consult the authors website imogenepyre.com for a full list.

The story takes place in a magnificent city. That is segregated into different classes built and maintained on the backs of indentured servants. Within that city there is a bordello which is called the Starlet Eye. In this establishment, Reubielocks aka Reuben, who has inherited his deceased mothers debt, is a Stella of the Starlet Eye. He is a talented musician and companion to those who are patrons of the bordello. Still dealing with the aftermath of a particularly violent client. Reuben has been more than a little traumatized by the situation. When Sidarchus the bordello owner, says that he has been booked by an exclusive client for an offsite outing he meets The Mysterious Everic Payne. Everic pays a large amount of money to secure the services of this Stella. But not what you think. It is decided that they will see each other at least once a week if not more and so Reuben is able to help him as he is able and help smooth over his rough edges as he mingles with polite and upper society. Reuben is drawn into Everics plans not unwillingly but because he finally finds his voice. They will take down the system of evil that controls the city. There were some low spice scenes, flashbacks, and some heavy petting. It was a slow build up but I anticipate that as the story goes on the spice intensity will ramp up. I look forward to more from Imogene Pyyre and I hope you check out Mellifluous.

I received this as an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Nikki Wilbur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been so invested in a vampire novel in so long.
This is the fist one I couldn't put down or not finish. I was grasped from the first page.
Imogen's world building and her ability to create lore is so fascinating in itself that I could have read it on that alone regardless of characters.

The slow burn has me wanting more and more. I don't know if I want them to bone already or keep stringing me along . . . I think I like being dragged along in this book to be honest.

I found the romance of this novel not the main point (which I WHOLE HEARTEDLY loved), but it was Rubielocks trying to find himself, the Ruben, he left behind long ago. He's so used to just opening his legs or his jaw for his patrons that in the mix he put who he was and could have been on the back burner—not even the back burner, like a whole other continent. Rubie spent his life either caring for his mother, his adoptive parents or his best friend, who works as a sex worker as well, and not himself.
With his crowdcraft, a magic he used upon those who would see his shows, he seeks out who wanted him and use that to his advantage to earn gold for his and his best friends indenture. His whole goal is to free his best friend because his debt is sky high. It is more realistic in his eyes to free her first before himself, and he can't fathom freeing himself first and leaving her behind.
It's an unattainable goal until he's swept up into the underbelly of the city, where those who are unsavory in their goddesses eyes, lurk in the dark.
A man with fangs and sacks of gold wishes to use Rubie for his blood, to drink, but it has to be a closely guarded secret which he obliges to, because Rubie is willing to do much if it ends in gold and closer to his goal of freedom.

[Cici Zhen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - a compelling dark fantasy (there is triggering content).

Reuben is a prostitute, who encounters a strange man who turned out to be a vampire. Yet despite the dangerous situations that keep occuring, the tension between Everic and Reuben was pulled taut like rope.

There is so much to get into because the story was deep and complex beneath the surface, while keeping the same limited perspective of a trapped prostitute. The storytelling was engaging without too much detail, although in the beginning i wish there was more context for the settings (I figured it out along the way by piecing it together). I adored the fae-esque vibes that the worldbuilding described. The magic system wasn't explained and didn't click until very later in the book- there was the title of the spell without explanation on how it worked, or incantations.

Everic's ominous introduction made him seem mysterious and strange (is he a masseuse). Their dynamic wasn't one of lust or attraction at first, and grew a steady attraction that felt emotional and passionate. Both of them bear heavy burdens, yet I am especially proud of how Reuben developed- even with his faults and traits. He has been hardened by the world from his experience as a musician and a sex worker, the horrible treatement and the environment he's trapped in, shaping his perspective of relationships. I do wish the other characters were more complex and better explored in the next book.

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

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly, this is a really intriguing read. The lore and worldbuilding are fantastic and interesting. It wraps as a whole story but still leaves you wanting more - and I definitely want more.

I first became acquainted with Pyre's works on Archive of Our Own, reading Perfect Slaughter, which positively wrecked me. The emotion of the characters, the descriptions, every bit was pitch perfect.

Not knowing the lore for the Circle of Sixths world took a bit more for me to get into. I found myself craving a bit more explanation at times, to be brought further into this world Pyre has created, but at the same time, I inhaled this entire book over the course of two "I can't put this down" days. The characters Pyre creates are interesting, captivating, and well designed. The slow burn has a beautiful payoff, but it takes a LONG time to get there.

I know this is supposed to be dark romantasy, but I may have been ruined by Perfect Slaughter, which takes it to a whole other level. I found this to be far less graphic and devastating, but in a way that made it a far more enjoyable read for a broader audience.

Overall, if you like high fantasy, strong world building, and some slow burn relationships, I highly recommend. All I can say is...I can't wait for the next installment.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the dark fantasy setting of Mellifluous and it's characters. Reuben is an indentured sex worker who starts selling his blood to a vampire, Everic, with mysterious goals in their city. Reuben in particular has had a hard life but strongly cares about and tries to help others around him. I was invested in him right from the beginning. Everic on the other hand is more mysterious and standoffish but still caring. With their situations, he could have been terrible towards Everic, but he was always concerned about his comfort and consent from the beginning.

I liked seeing their relationship develop slowly over the book, but I wish we had seen more of it. My main complaint with this book was that it really felt like the first of a series. Not much happens for a lot of the book, and I found it to get a bit boring and repetitive. Once I got to the action at the end it was exciting and pulled me back in, but it ended with a lot of issues going unaddressed. With a book this size, I would have liked a more complete ending for some of the storylines and the characters.

Overall, I liked this book and found it unique. I will be reading the next one, but I would have liked this one to stand more fully on its own.

Thank you for the author for an advanced copy of this book. I have given it an honest and voluntary review.

[Cassi Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review

I will say that this book got me out of a reading slump that I was in. From the amazing world building and the way I could imagine myself there right along the characters and seeing how the love in this world. How Reuben is just trying to survive while basically working in a brothel to stay alive but also why he is working so hard for those around him that he loves. My heart just feels for Reuben but also marvel at his strength to keep doing what he does.

Now don’t get me started on the hottie vampire Everic. This man is just the walking green flag that I needed. The way he thinks of Reuben and takes care of him. The yearning between Everic and Reuben makes my heart so happy that I squeal any time they are together and just their subtle touches. You also just remember the power difference between these two subtly but also how you just root for them all the way through.

This book does have triggers so make sure to review them.

Overall this book may have started out slow for me just because of the world building and meeting all the characters but once things started rolling it kept rolling to where it was hard to put down. I will be recommending this to other to read but also can’t wait for the next one to come out and to also purchase this as a trophy on my shelf because it is a must to be on my shelf.

Chest kiss to a wonderfully written imaginative story!

[James Struck · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, interesting read! On the surface, Mellifluous seems to just be a D&D-adjacent queer slow burn romantasy, but it’s way more than that. Peel back the surface and you’ll find anti-capitalism, religious commentary, war trauma, sex work normalization, the connection between SA survival and substance abuse, all layered on top of amazing world building. This book has a TON of depth, but the author does a great job of lightening things up with some heartwarming moments and some pleasant snark from the MC. It’s a hard balance to maintain (I know as an author myself) but Pyre does it wonderfully.

Now this book is not perfect. The writing is a bit stiff in the beginning, there’s a little too much of the MC essentially monologging to themselves, and while the miscommunications between the MC and the LI make sense, I wish there was a little bit less of it. Also, bear in mind that it is the first book in a series, so it definitely leaves things unresolved. But these are all very minor quibbles over a truly enjoyable read. I have no problem giving Mellifluous an enthusiastic 5-star rating.

[Abby L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The first 30% of the book really pulled me in and got me excited for the story. The author did a fantastic job at making me fall in love (or despise!) the characters. There is nothing surface level here. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and while I am normally not a fan of the intentional lack of communication trope in a book, it really worked in this story due to the character social status. It was done in a way that made sense. I did feel like the middle of the book was repetitive and a little slow - Starlet Eye / meet with Everic / go to a party ... repeat. But that last 20% had me so captivated! I am truly looking forward to reading book 2 in the series. What kept me from giving 5 stars was how slow the middle of the book was. I cannot wait to see how the relationship between Reuben and Everic grows in book 2! I'm also a huge Bev fan and hope to see more of this side character in the future. Definitely will be recommending to my fellow readers.

[Dal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reuben and Everic had my heart from the moment they stepped on page!

I loved the fantasy element of the story, gave me DnD vibes in the best way possible! Between Elves, Humans, Infernal (Tiefling), Orc; there are so many different fantasy races featured throughout. I thought the world building, while detailed, was very easy to grasp and follow along. I will say that ending left me with so many questions on how their story is going to conclude in the next book!!

While I loved Reuben’s limited 3rd person POV I would have loved to see more POVs of some of the other characters; ie, Everic, Bev, or Isolde. Discovering the world and the politics as Reuben does was wonderful and kept Everic’s mysteriousness about him, getting to see the political parties from Everic’s POV especially towards the end I think really would have solidified how much he came to care for Reuben while also trying to navigate this world he hasn’t majorly been apart of in some time.

Overall I greatly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to Pyre’s next novel!!

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imogen Pyre did a fantastic job with the start of this series. The complex characters and world building were done wonderfully. Watching the personal growth of characters was done beautifully and reflected directly in how they interact with each other over time. It made it all more realistic and easier to immerse myself. The magic system was also something that was incredibly interesting to me.

The flow between the characters felt very smooth and natural, I didn't find myself thinking I missed anything because of how the previous chapter ended.

I do think there was a bit of repetition, especially in the first half of the book. It did smooth out more in the second half however. I personally think if some things were reworded, it may not have been as noticable.

Overall the book was well done, enjoyable, interesting, and immersive. I felt myself really connecting with each character. I'm very excited to see how the story continues in the series!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks to booksirens for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for a review!

now this is the kind of fantasy romance i craveeee. this is a very complex, well fleshed out world that hones in on the individual lives of the two main characters and how they move through and around this world has been set up. this is a book that feels intimate at the start, and by then end it is working at a much larger scale as the plot ramps up. to me, this book remains interesting and continues to work at all points. the slow burn is a little slow for me but it really didn't impact my enjoyment of this.

there are some side characters in this that i would've loved to know more about and learn more about how they function in this world, especially isolde and bev. i'm hopeful this might be done in later books. if not, i think it would be a shame to let those characters fall to the side.

[Brooke Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

Thank you so much to Imogen Pyre for sending me this eARC!

This was such an amazing read. I’ve been in a fantasy slump for a few months but this book brought me out of it!

I loved how the world building was slow and steady and not thrown in your face. The characters were so well thought out and had me wanting to learn more, as well. I really enjoyed the plot. It was unique and I’m so excited for book 2 to come out!

There were a few times where the story was a bit slow, but I was already hooked on the beautiful writing and characters that I didn’t mind it! Also, Reuben and Everic…I love them both and can’t wait to see their journey!

[Shy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fascinating story. You can tell the author wrote a lot of backstory lore to this, my only issue is that they dont explain enough of it. They try to have it all come up naturally instead of lore dumping for the most part, but that does leave some confusion and how things truly work. I assume as the series goes on, we will get more in depth explanations for any questions I still have so I'm willing to give a lot of grace. The characters were interesting and I did enjoy them for the most part? Vampire dude was just slightly insufferable, but my issues with him are due to the nature of a slow burn power imbalance, so I'm again willing to give him some grace. I will say, the veil thing? I love that. Very small detail but it's the small things that make a story feel more alive.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that is difficult to put down before going to sleep! The world building was very well crafted and all the characters felt interesting. Reuben was a top favorite, delicate but strong minded, and a perfect match to Everic.

My only complaint would be the lack of spicy scenes between the two mc, but again, I understand that it would probably have tainted the relationship this early in their story. Still, if I'm sold an MM romance, I was expecting a bit more, hence 4 stars only.

I'm also worried about book 2, because it will be about two other characters and I'm afraid we won't have much more of Reuben and Everic, which is quite a bummer.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to love this book but it was so slow-paced that it was a struggle to stay to tuned in for me. There is a lot going on and a lot of parts felt like trudging through mud. It just wasn’t a home-run for me; I can’t quite put my finger on why.

Despite the slow-pace, it is well-written and the characters complex. Scenes, thoughts, emotions are very descriptive (maybe a little too much) and the author does an excellent job of showing and not telling.

I received this as an ARC.

[Zoey Royal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sold on this book the moment that I saw that an indentured prostitute was hired to give his blood to a mysterious benefactor. This book was more than it promised to be though. Its about love and betrayal and angst and politics and darkness and light and corruption. Everything is shades of gray and nothing can be trusted. Everyone is fighting for the top. The main characters are beautiful and so well rounded. The writing is impeccable. I loved every second of this book. It drew me in at chapter one and has be begging for the next one to come out.