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Weary Souls Trilogy #1
The Pythonist
The Damned
I made a bargain with a daemon when I was a child.
For the last twelve years, I never saw any reason to crave my freedom from Kingsley Manor and the dark, lost entities who inhabit the lonely estate. But then he came back for me—like he promised he would when we were children.
He doesn’t remember that I’ll die if I leave Kingsley Manor.
And they’ll kill him if he stays.
The Dreamer
I was told to burn Kingsley Manor to the ground.
They want me to get rid of the melancholy girl occupying the estate and hosting strange guests who scream in their sleep, but I can’t. Not when something inexplicably draws me to her—when I watch her and I can’t look away.
She thinks her ghosts and daemons will scare me, but she’s wrong.
I possess her now.
I made a bargain with a daemon when I was a child.
For the last twelve years, I never saw any reason to crave my freedom from Kingsley Manor and the dark, lost entities who inhabit the lonely estate. But then he came back for me—like he promised he would when we were children.
He doesn’t remember that I’ll die if I leave Kingsley Manor.
And they’ll kill him if he stays.
The Dreamer
I was told to burn Kingsley Manor to the ground.
They want me to get rid of the melancholy girl occupying the estate and hosting strange guests who scream in their sleep, but I can’t. Not when something inexplicably draws me to her—when I watch her and I can’t look away.
She thinks her ghosts and daemons will scare me, but she’s wrong.
I possess her now.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2026
About the author
Loren Little
5 books265 followersLoren Little has been writing stories since before she learned how to spell. Her books are dark, sexy, and hopelessly romantic with themes of found family and love growing from the most dismal odds. Loren still believes faeries are real, and she enjoys scattering little pieces of her Australian upbringing into her books.
When she isn't working on her own stories, Loren enjoys watching crime shows and romcoms, and trying to finish her reading challenge as a mood reader with a towering TBR of books.
You can find out more at www.lorenlittle.com. Her most active social media platform is Instagram.
When she isn't working on her own stories, Loren enjoys watching crime shows and romcoms, and trying to finish her reading challenge as a mood reader with a towering TBR of books.
You can find out more at www.lorenlittle.com. Her most active social media platform is Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I didn’t realise just how much I was craving a dark, gothic romance set in a haunted mansion—full of grief, secrets, and restless spirits—until The Pythonist completely consumed me.
I’ve only just started dabbling in dark romance, and I found this one surprisingly approachable. It’s moody and atmospheric with a strong supernatural edge and just the right amount of spice, but it never feels overwhelmingly heavy. There’s this eerie undertone throughout, but it doesn’t drown you in darkness—it pulls you in slowly, almost without you noticing, until you’re completely invested.
The story revolves around Kingsley Manor, and honestly, the setting might have been one of my favourite parts. The manor feels alive in the most unsettling way, like it’s clinging to every secret and every terrible thing that’s ever happened within its walls. The townspeople view the girls who live there as unstable and dangerous, which only adds to the isolation and mystery. I loved how the story doesn’t hand you answers—it forces you to sit in the confusion, piecing everything together bit by bit.
At the heart of the story are Cathleen (Catty) and Sam—former best friends torn apart by lost memories, trauma, and a devastating bargain with a demon.
Catty, the last heir to the Kingsley fortune, is such a layered and tragic character. After losing both her parents in horrific circumstances, she’s left not only with the grief but also a cursed sleep cycle, where she experiences prophetic dreams she cannot control. Bound to the manor by a deal she made long ago, she lives surrounded by restless spirits and her dark past. Her loneliness feels incredibly real—you can feel the weight of every choice she’s made and how trapped she is by them. What I loved most is that she’s constantly torn between accepting her fate and longing for something more, which makes her feel deeply human.
Then there’s Sam, who arrives at Kingsley Manor with the intention of burning it down. From the moment he sees Catty, though, something shifts. His memories are fractured, and watching them slowly return—revealing pieces of his past and his connection to her—was honestly one of the most gripping parts of the book. He starts off morally grey in a subtle way, but the more you learn, the more complicated he becomes. Every reveal doesn’t just answer questions—it creates more, which kept me completely hooked.
Their romance is built on a friends to lovers, second chance dynamic, and it’s full of tension, history, and everything left unsaid. There’s so much longing between them, and it feels messy, emotional, and real rather than perfect. As Sam’s memories return, his connection to Catty intensifies, and I loved how the flashbacks added depth, slowly reshaping everything you thought you knew about their past.
Plot wise, this book had me hooked. There are so many twists, and I genuinely didn’t see most of them coming. Every time I thought I had things figured out, something shifted and completely proved me wrong. That said—this is a dark romance, so definitely check content warnings. This book is filled with trauma, pain, and some very pretty heavy themes. This book will definitely hurt you—more than once
Overall, this is such a haunting, character driven read with a strong gothic vibe. It’s emotional, eerie, and incredibly easy to get lost in. If you enjoy dark romance with supernatural elements, layered characters, and a story that constantly keeps you guessing, I’d absolutely recommend it.
And the ending? When I say I didn’t see it coming, I mean at all. Not even slightly. No guessing, no hints clicking into place beforehand—it completely blindsided me in the best way. There were multiple twists I never could have predicted, and I loved every second of that. Loren truly is the queen of plot twists!
I’ve only just started dabbling in dark romance, and I found this one surprisingly approachable. It’s moody and atmospheric with a strong supernatural edge and just the right amount of spice, but it never feels overwhelmingly heavy. There’s this eerie undertone throughout, but it doesn’t drown you in darkness—it pulls you in slowly, almost without you noticing, until you’re completely invested.
The story revolves around Kingsley Manor, and honestly, the setting might have been one of my favourite parts. The manor feels alive in the most unsettling way, like it’s clinging to every secret and every terrible thing that’s ever happened within its walls. The townspeople view the girls who live there as unstable and dangerous, which only adds to the isolation and mystery. I loved how the story doesn’t hand you answers—it forces you to sit in the confusion, piecing everything together bit by bit.
At the heart of the story are Cathleen (Catty) and Sam—former best friends torn apart by lost memories, trauma, and a devastating bargain with a demon.
Catty, the last heir to the Kingsley fortune, is such a layered and tragic character. After losing both her parents in horrific circumstances, she’s left not only with the grief but also a cursed sleep cycle, where she experiences prophetic dreams she cannot control. Bound to the manor by a deal she made long ago, she lives surrounded by restless spirits and her dark past. Her loneliness feels incredibly real—you can feel the weight of every choice she’s made and how trapped she is by them. What I loved most is that she’s constantly torn between accepting her fate and longing for something more, which makes her feel deeply human.
Then there’s Sam, who arrives at Kingsley Manor with the intention of burning it down. From the moment he sees Catty, though, something shifts. His memories are fractured, and watching them slowly return—revealing pieces of his past and his connection to her—was honestly one of the most gripping parts of the book. He starts off morally grey in a subtle way, but the more you learn, the more complicated he becomes. Every reveal doesn’t just answer questions—it creates more, which kept me completely hooked.
Their romance is built on a friends to lovers, second chance dynamic, and it’s full of tension, history, and everything left unsaid. There’s so much longing between them, and it feels messy, emotional, and real rather than perfect. As Sam’s memories return, his connection to Catty intensifies, and I loved how the flashbacks added depth, slowly reshaping everything you thought you knew about their past.
Plot wise, this book had me hooked. There are so many twists, and I genuinely didn’t see most of them coming. Every time I thought I had things figured out, something shifted and completely proved me wrong. That said—this is a dark romance, so definitely check content warnings. This book is filled with trauma, pain, and some very pretty heavy themes. This book will definitely hurt you—more than once
Overall, this is such a haunting, character driven read with a strong gothic vibe. It’s emotional, eerie, and incredibly easy to get lost in. If you enjoy dark romance with supernatural elements, layered characters, and a story that constantly keeps you guessing, I’d absolutely recommend it.
And the ending? When I say I didn’t see it coming, I mean at all. Not even slightly. No guessing, no hints clicking into place beforehand—it completely blindsided me in the best way. There were multiple twists I never could have predicted, and I loved every second of that. Loren truly is the queen of plot twists!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.50✨
“We’ve had our claws in each other for years without even realising it, and one of us would fucking bleed to death if the other ever dared to take them out.” ❤️🔥
This was so creepy and strangely melancholic, with a mystery element that’ll keep you guessing until the end. What the hell is going on in that house?? Thankfully the book didn’t leave us hanging, but I still have so many lingering questions. Paintings with eyes that follow you, and strange reflections in the mirror where you never quite know if it’s you or something else staring back. 👀
The majority of the supernatural occurrences are moody and harmless, but the malevolent entity that’s latched onto Catty creeped me the fuck out. All those girls are just going about their day while Sam, our MMC, is fighting for his life. He is so down bad for her, a sweet childhood friends to lovers dynamic. Their banter was spot on and they had magnetic chemistry that almost gives you a reprieve from all the things going on in that suffocating manor. The final reveal was as shocking as it was sad, and I would easily read a hundred more pages of this.
Marco, baby, I’m ready for your book.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.🫶
“We’ve had our claws in each other for years without even realising it, and one of us would fucking bleed to death if the other ever dared to take them out.” ❤️🔥
This was so creepy and strangely melancholic, with a mystery element that’ll keep you guessing until the end. What the hell is going on in that house?? Thankfully the book didn’t leave us hanging, but I still have so many lingering questions. Paintings with eyes that follow you, and strange reflections in the mirror where you never quite know if it’s you or something else staring back. 👀
The majority of the supernatural occurrences are moody and harmless, but the malevolent entity that’s latched onto Catty creeped me the fuck out. All those girls are just going about their day while Sam, our MMC, is fighting for his life. He is so down bad for her, a sweet childhood friends to lovers dynamic. Their banter was spot on and they had magnetic chemistry that almost gives you a reprieve from all the things going on in that suffocating manor. The final reveal was as shocking as it was sad, and I would easily read a hundred more pages of this.
Marco, baby, I’m ready for your book.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.🫶
Review of advance copy received from Author
Like a moth to a flame, I am desperately, irrevocably lured to the world of The Pythonist. My heart and soul are forever bound to Loren's magnificent writing and storytelling. A moth's life may not be long, but I would gladly give whatever time I have in exchange for reliving this experience over and over again.
The Pythonist grabbed me, squeezed me, and never let me go. From the first to the last sentence, I was glued to its pages, waiting, no, needing to know what happens next. For this is no mere dark romance, no mere paranormal story. This is a story of darkness, loss, and hurt. It is a story of the forgotten, the damned, the lost. Yet it is also a story of kindness, however unusual that may seem to some. A story of forgiveness, redemption, and rediscovering one's soul.
The Pythonist is dark and eerie. And still, it shows us that demons take different forms, for they don't come in incorporeal forms only. No, sometimes we find them where we least expect to. And those deemed demons by some may turn out to be saviors to others.
Are you ready to find out who the true demons around us are?
Thank you, Loren, for allowing me to read The Pythonist early.
The Pythonist grabbed me, squeezed me, and never let me go. From the first to the last sentence, I was glued to its pages, waiting, no, needing to know what happens next. For this is no mere dark romance, no mere paranormal story. This is a story of darkness, loss, and hurt. It is a story of the forgotten, the damned, the lost. Yet it is also a story of kindness, however unusual that may seem to some. A story of forgiveness, redemption, and rediscovering one's soul.
The Pythonist is dark and eerie. And still, it shows us that demons take different forms, for they don't come in incorporeal forms only. No, sometimes we find them where we least expect to. And those deemed demons by some may turn out to be saviors to others.
Are you ready to find out who the true demons around us are?
Thank you, Loren, for allowing me to read The Pythonist early.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Pythonist is a dark romance with a supernatural edge, and a dash of spice. I was completely immersed from the very first page.
Cathleen, Catty, carries a deep loneliness that feels almost tangible. The weight of her world, the bargains she has made, and the responsibilities tied to her life press in from every direction. You can feel how tired she is, caught between longing for something more and believing she is bound to a fate she chose long ago. That tension sits heavy and real.
Sam enters the story already morally grey, yet not in the way you might expect. As he becomes more involved, layer after layer unfolds. I loved how each revelation didn’t just answer questions, it created new ones. The pacing of those discoveries kept me leaning forward, wanting to understand more about both of them and the forces at play.
There are multiple themes woven together seamlessly, darkness, longing, secrecy, obligation, and desire. The atmosphere is rich and consuming, and the manor itself feels alive in the most haunting way.
The conclusion does not simply tie things up neatly. It builds, it unravels, and it lands with adrenaline and intensity. I loved every moment inside this world.
I received this book as an ARC, and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings, shared voluntarily.
Cathleen, Catty, carries a deep loneliness that feels almost tangible. The weight of her world, the bargains she has made, and the responsibilities tied to her life press in from every direction. You can feel how tired she is, caught between longing for something more and believing she is bound to a fate she chose long ago. That tension sits heavy and real.
Sam enters the story already morally grey, yet not in the way you might expect. As he becomes more involved, layer after layer unfolds. I loved how each revelation didn’t just answer questions, it created new ones. The pacing of those discoveries kept me leaning forward, wanting to understand more about both of them and the forces at play.
There are multiple themes woven together seamlessly, darkness, longing, secrecy, obligation, and desire. The atmosphere is rich and consuming, and the manor itself feels alive in the most haunting way.
The conclusion does not simply tie things up neatly. It builds, it unravels, and it lands with adrenaline and intensity. I loved every moment inside this world.
I received this book as an ARC, and this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings, shared voluntarily.
February 27, 2026
✨The Pythonist✨
Loren may have officially turned me into a dark romance reader. 🤭 I’ve always enjoyed it when I dabbled, but pair it with a gothic setting, an obsessed MMC, and a friends to lovers second chance romance… I AM SOLD. Not to mention the hauntings, the mystery, and the plot twists!
We get a dual POV in TP from The Damned and The Dreamer. Our Damned, Catty, has bargained her life to a daemon and her haunted house where she harbors other young women who experience the same psychic night terrors as she does. But when her enemy sends his son to claim the Estate she’s been trying to keep in her name, the past throttles to the present and darkness comes to the light. Our Dreamer, Sam, has spent his life trying to make his father proud in questionable ways, but when his latest mission brings him face to face with a ghost from the past, he finds himself seeking lost memories and nursing a new & seductive obsession.
I absolutely adored Sam. He was unhinged for Catty and gave me some Heathcliff vibes that I loved. His dedication and open mind was refreshing and made me smile and feel safe through the pages. Catty is a precious, tormented soul. My heart aches for all she went through! I am SO intrigued to know more about Marco! And I love loved the plot twists.
Tropes you may find are second chance, friends to lovers, haunted house, morally black characters, gothic paranormal setting, slow burn to medium spice (check TW), bargains, touch her and ☠️, age gap, and an ending that leaves you content but also excited.
Loren, thank you so much for this gifted arc. I CANNOT WAIT to read more from you and from this trilogy.
Loren may have officially turned me into a dark romance reader. 🤭 I’ve always enjoyed it when I dabbled, but pair it with a gothic setting, an obsessed MMC, and a friends to lovers second chance romance… I AM SOLD. Not to mention the hauntings, the mystery, and the plot twists!
We get a dual POV in TP from The Damned and The Dreamer. Our Damned, Catty, has bargained her life to a daemon and her haunted house where she harbors other young women who experience the same psychic night terrors as she does. But when her enemy sends his son to claim the Estate she’s been trying to keep in her name, the past throttles to the present and darkness comes to the light. Our Dreamer, Sam, has spent his life trying to make his father proud in questionable ways, but when his latest mission brings him face to face with a ghost from the past, he finds himself seeking lost memories and nursing a new & seductive obsession.
I absolutely adored Sam. He was unhinged for Catty and gave me some Heathcliff vibes that I loved. His dedication and open mind was refreshing and made me smile and feel safe through the pages. Catty is a precious, tormented soul. My heart aches for all she went through! I am SO intrigued to know more about Marco! And I love loved the plot twists.
Tropes you may find are second chance, friends to lovers, haunted house, morally black characters, gothic paranormal setting, slow burn to medium spice (check TW), bargains, touch her and ☠️, age gap, and an ending that leaves you content but also excited.
Loren, thank you so much for this gifted arc. I CANNOT WAIT to read more from you and from this trilogy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Woah. this was such a good read. I loved Catty and Sam's story. I loved reading them coming together. The ending was INSANE!!! I highly recommend picking this one up.
Did Not Finish
March 16, 2026Review of advanced copy recieved from author.
I DNF'd this at 50% unfortunately. While I was intrigued by the concept I felt a little confused when starting this book and there was refrence to "doom scrolling" and other modern references, only to find out that it is set in modern day and the love interest is the son of a CEO trying to demolish her house.
I pushed past this as now that I knew it was modern day I wasn't too bothered, but the writing felt very stilted to me and I couldn't get myself to feel anything about the characters and I couldn't feel any chemistry between them.
from looking at other reviews it looks like it takes a while for the plot to pick up and a lot of readers feel that the last 20% is really good. I was hoping to push through to this but I was finding myself not engaging in the book and putting it down constantly to do other things.
There is a very interesting concept and the characters do have potential but perhaps this just wasn't for me.
Some tropes in this are some of my favourite (stalker, hitman, nightmares, haunted house, found family) and if these tropes interest you I do implore you to pick this one up as reviews do show that this book is well loved!
I don't believe that this book is bad at all, it does have potential to be a very good story. However, this is not something I enjoyed whole heartedly and will not be finishing as of now.
The book comes out in October 13th and if those tropes interest you and you are looking for a modern gothic dark romance set in a haunted house where hes a stalker/hitman and shes a psychic then definitely give this one a go!
I DNF'd this at 50% unfortunately. While I was intrigued by the concept I felt a little confused when starting this book and there was refrence to "doom scrolling" and other modern references, only to find out that it is set in modern day and the love interest is the son of a CEO trying to demolish her house.
I pushed past this as now that I knew it was modern day I wasn't too bothered, but the writing felt very stilted to me and I couldn't get myself to feel anything about the characters and I couldn't feel any chemistry between them.
from looking at other reviews it looks like it takes a while for the plot to pick up and a lot of readers feel that the last 20% is really good. I was hoping to push through to this but I was finding myself not engaging in the book and putting it down constantly to do other things.
There is a very interesting concept and the characters do have potential but perhaps this just wasn't for me.
Some tropes in this are some of my favourite (stalker, hitman, nightmares, haunted house, found family) and if these tropes interest you I do implore you to pick this one up as reviews do show that this book is well loved!
I don't believe that this book is bad at all, it does have potential to be a very good story. However, this is not something I enjoyed whole heartedly and will not be finishing as of now.
The book comes out in October 13th and if those tropes interest you and you are looking for a modern gothic dark romance set in a haunted house where hes a stalker/hitman and shes a psychic then definitely give this one a go!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
From the start of this book I was completely immersed with the gothic atmosphere and the haunting of Kingsley Manor. The tension and yearning between the MMC and FMC was so angsty with all of the secrets and unresolved feelings they have for each other since they were childhood friends.
Throw in deals with daemons, curses, and heart shattering plot twists, this story pulls you in like no other! I loved the mystery elements that were woven into the story, getting glimpses of the past and seeing everything unravel. This story was seriously poetic and beautiful.
And the spice?!? Yeah that was hot. We got a morally grey, obsessive MMC with stalking and major yearning. Kinks from the FMC that made me question my own sanity 😅🥵
I couldn’t recommend a more perfect book for your Halloween tbr 🖤
Thankyou so much Loren for the arc!!! I completely devoured this story with all of my being!
From the start of this book I was completely immersed with the gothic atmosphere and the haunting of Kingsley Manor. The tension and yearning between the MMC and FMC was so angsty with all of the secrets and unresolved feelings they have for each other since they were childhood friends.
Throw in deals with daemons, curses, and heart shattering plot twists, this story pulls you in like no other! I loved the mystery elements that were woven into the story, getting glimpses of the past and seeing everything unravel. This story was seriously poetic and beautiful.
And the spice?!? Yeah that was hot. We got a morally grey, obsessive MMC with stalking and major yearning. Kinks from the FMC that made me question my own sanity 😅🥵
I couldn’t recommend a more perfect book for your Halloween tbr 🖤
Thankyou so much Loren for the arc!!! I completely devoured this story with all of my being!
March 2, 2026
***ARC Review***
Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: Yes
This is a dark romance, with a paranormal twist and it was enjoyable! I’ll be honest it was a bit hard for me to get into at first but I’m glad I stuck it out.
This is a dual POV following Sam and Catty. I loved these two! The chemistry between them was great! It was a bit of a slow burn and most of the spice happened towards the end.
What really helped bump up the rating was the ending my goodness the last like 20% was an absolute roller coaster and I was holding on for dear life the entire time cause it was just hit after hit phew! I will say Loren did an absolutely great job at keeping that twist pretty under wraps!
I do wish all the crazy parts weren’t just left for the end, sure we got some action here and there but it felt like for the most part it was just coasting along, which isn’t necessarily bad but it did make some parts feel a bit draggy.
Over all it was a pretty good read and I definitely recommend checking it out!
Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: Yes
This is a dark romance, with a paranormal twist and it was enjoyable! I’ll be honest it was a bit hard for me to get into at first but I’m glad I stuck it out.
This is a dual POV following Sam and Catty. I loved these two! The chemistry between them was great! It was a bit of a slow burn and most of the spice happened towards the end.
What really helped bump up the rating was the ending my goodness the last like 20% was an absolute roller coaster and I was holding on for dear life the entire time cause it was just hit after hit phew! I will say Loren did an absolutely great job at keeping that twist pretty under wraps!
I do wish all the crazy parts weren’t just left for the end, sure we got some action here and there but it felt like for the most part it was just coasting along, which isn’t necessarily bad but it did make some parts feel a bit draggy.
Over all it was a pretty good read and I definitely recommend checking it out!
September 30, 2026
I’m about as obsessed with this book as sam is obsessed with catty 🖤🥀🦇👻
“I’d let him call me anything he liked if he’d only douse the inferno on my skin with his touch.”
One of my favorite dark & gothic romances i’ve ever read! there’s nothing more thrilling and captivating than a story that feels like stepping into a beautiful, daring and haunting nightmare that leaves you constantly looking over your shoulder and questioning everything you thought you knew, and The Pythonist absolutely delivered with that, and honestly more!
With its haunting atmosphere, dark secrets, questionable characters, and a romance that feels as exhilarating as it is intoxicating, I was completely swept away into the darkness that is haunted kingsley manor (and sam hehehe) 🥀
If you know me as a reader, you know gothic romance is one of my sweet spots for books. Along with the uncanny small town & gothic setting, the romance & mystery plot itself was beautifully twisted, full of longing, obsession, daring second chances and the kind of chemistry that makes you want to throw your book across the room until things come to fruition while at the same time you feel like you can’t look away, you NEED find out what’s /really/ going on. With that being said — THE PLOT TWISTS? absolutely insane. did not see that coming in the slightest. i loved it & i love everything about this book. i beg, anyone reading this, pick up the pythonist IMMEDIATELY!
“Go ahead and sink those pretty white teeth into me again,” he dared me. “See what fucking happens.”
The Pythonist is a dark, decadent, and deliciously twisted gothic romance novel, that i feel is for the readers that want their romance wrapped in secrets, dark shadows, and a love that borders on madness entirely. GO READ THIS RIGHT NEOWWWWW
Thank you to Loren Little for gifting me an advanced review copy of The Pythonist & biggest of congratulations on the release of this amazing novel!! I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
“I’d let him call me anything he liked if he’d only douse the inferno on my skin with his touch.”
One of my favorite dark & gothic romances i’ve ever read! there’s nothing more thrilling and captivating than a story that feels like stepping into a beautiful, daring and haunting nightmare that leaves you constantly looking over your shoulder and questioning everything you thought you knew, and The Pythonist absolutely delivered with that, and honestly more!
With its haunting atmosphere, dark secrets, questionable characters, and a romance that feels as exhilarating as it is intoxicating, I was completely swept away into the darkness that is haunted kingsley manor (and sam hehehe) 🥀
If you know me as a reader, you know gothic romance is one of my sweet spots for books. Along with the uncanny small town & gothic setting, the romance & mystery plot itself was beautifully twisted, full of longing, obsession, daring second chances and the kind of chemistry that makes you want to throw your book across the room until things come to fruition while at the same time you feel like you can’t look away, you NEED find out what’s /really/ going on. With that being said — THE PLOT TWISTS? absolutely insane. did not see that coming in the slightest. i loved it & i love everything about this book. i beg, anyone reading this, pick up the pythonist IMMEDIATELY!
“Go ahead and sink those pretty white teeth into me again,” he dared me. “See what fucking happens.”
The Pythonist is a dark, decadent, and deliciously twisted gothic romance novel, that i feel is for the readers that want their romance wrapped in secrets, dark shadows, and a love that borders on madness entirely. GO READ THIS RIGHT NEOWWWWW
Thank you to Loren Little for gifting me an advanced review copy of The Pythonist & biggest of congratulations on the release of this amazing novel!! I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
October 21, 2026
This one took me a little while to get into, as the beginning was quite slow, but there was enough to keep me curious and wanting to know where things were headed.
Around the 30% mark, things started to pick up, and that final 20% was an absolute rollercoaster! 😳 I ended up staying up way too late just to finish it, and I was genuinely not expecting things to play out the way they did.
The dark, eerie atmosphere and the mystery surrounding Kingsley Manor kept me intrigued, but the last part of the book really sealed the deal for me. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story took a turn I didn’t see coming!
A slower start, but definitely worth pushing through.
Around the 30% mark, things started to pick up, and that final 20% was an absolute rollercoaster! 😳 I ended up staying up way too late just to finish it, and I was genuinely not expecting things to play out the way they did.
The dark, eerie atmosphere and the mystery surrounding Kingsley Manor kept me intrigued, but the last part of the book really sealed the deal for me. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story took a turn I didn’t see coming!
A slower start, but definitely worth pushing through.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had to stop and think for a moment on how to review this one because I was GOBSMACKED. I adore Loren’s writing style and her mash of genres. It’s unique and captivating and I cannot wait to see what she does next.
The one thing about this book, it had me questioning everything to a point I was like am I even sure the sky is blue? The way you think you know something, but don’t at the same time?
The pacing for this book was perfect. No notes.
The characters, oh my heart, I love them and I sobbed.
10/10 obsessed.
Bring tissues for this one.
The one thing about this book, it had me questioning everything to a point I was like am I even sure the sky is blue? The way you think you know something, but don’t at the same time?
The pacing for this book was perfect. No notes.
The characters, oh my heart, I love them and I sobbed.
10/10 obsessed.
Bring tissues for this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this story! It gives you gothic, romance, paranormal, and a dark lore all wrapped up into one package with a twist on top. Sam had one mission to carry out his father’s plan and Catty came along to turn it all upside down. I love a possessive MMC and we get every bit of that. I had a hard time putting this one down to go to sleep at night because I needed to know what happened next. Each chapter left at a point that you were called to flip just one more page and then the cycle repeated. Thank you Loren for the arc!
Did Not Finish
October 5, 2026*Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!*
RTC… *sad face*
RTC… *sad face*
March 21, 2026
The Pythonist is an intoxicating gothic dark romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
The book follows Catty, an inhabitant of the haunted Kingsley Manor, and Sam, the man inexplicably drawn to her due to a shared past he cannot remember.
This was an absolutely fantastic read. The paranormal, moody elements of the book really drew me in, and the twists and turns threw me totally off guard. I have truly not read anything like it before and it is definitely a book that’s going to stick with me for a long time.
The book follows Catty, an inhabitant of the haunted Kingsley Manor, and Sam, the man inexplicably drawn to her due to a shared past he cannot remember.
This was an absolutely fantastic read. The paranormal, moody elements of the book really drew me in, and the twists and turns threw me totally off guard. I have truly not read anything like it before and it is definitely a book that’s going to stick with me for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Pythonist by Loren Little is not a story you simply read—it’s one that lingers, wraps tight around your ribs, and refuses to let go. Dark, gothic, and achingly emotional, this first installment in the Weary Souls Trilogy delivers a romance steeped in longing, regret, and the kind of connection that feels both dangerous and inevitable.
Built on a second-chance, friends-to-lovers foundation, the story leans hard into yearning—into everything left unsaid, everything broken, and everything that still dares to hope. The tension isn’t loud; it’s suffocating in the quietest ways. Every glance, every hesitation, every almost feels like it carries the weight of a past neither of them can escape. And that’s where this book shines—it understands that love, especially the kind born from ruin, is rarely gentle.
Loren Little’s signature style is unmistakable here: dark, sensual, and emotionally charged, with themes of redemption and the cost of letting go threading through every page . The atmosphere is thick with gothic undertones—haunting, intimate, and just a little bit suffocating in the best way. It feels like walking through shadows where something beautiful and devastating waits for you in equal measure.
The characters are where this story truly sinks its teeth in. They are messy, fractured, and painfully human—carrying their pasts like open wounds. Watching them circle each other, pulled together by something deeper than logic, is both intoxicating and quietly heartbreaking. The chemistry burns slow, but when it ignites, it feels earned—raw and consuming without ever losing its emotional depth.
What elevates this to a five-star read is the way it balances darkness with vulnerability. It doesn’t shy away from the heavier emotions—the grief, the guilt, the ache of what could have been—but it also allows space for something softer to grow in between. Something fragile. Something worth fighting for.
If there’s anything to note, it’s that this isn’t a light read—it demands you sit in its shadows, feel its weight, and embrace the slow unraveling. But for readers who crave moody, character-driven romance with a gothic edge, that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable.
Built on a second-chance, friends-to-lovers foundation, the story leans hard into yearning—into everything left unsaid, everything broken, and everything that still dares to hope. The tension isn’t loud; it’s suffocating in the quietest ways. Every glance, every hesitation, every almost feels like it carries the weight of a past neither of them can escape. And that’s where this book shines—it understands that love, especially the kind born from ruin, is rarely gentle.
Loren Little’s signature style is unmistakable here: dark, sensual, and emotionally charged, with themes of redemption and the cost of letting go threading through every page . The atmosphere is thick with gothic undertones—haunting, intimate, and just a little bit suffocating in the best way. It feels like walking through shadows where something beautiful and devastating waits for you in equal measure.
The characters are where this story truly sinks its teeth in. They are messy, fractured, and painfully human—carrying their pasts like open wounds. Watching them circle each other, pulled together by something deeper than logic, is both intoxicating and quietly heartbreaking. The chemistry burns slow, but when it ignites, it feels earned—raw and consuming without ever losing its emotional depth.
What elevates this to a five-star read is the way it balances darkness with vulnerability. It doesn’t shy away from the heavier emotions—the grief, the guilt, the ache of what could have been—but it also allows space for something softer to grow in between. Something fragile. Something worth fighting for.
If there’s anything to note, it’s that this isn’t a light read—it demands you sit in its shadows, feel its weight, and embrace the slow unraveling. But for readers who crave moody, character-driven romance with a gothic edge, that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC! The Pythonist is a gothic romance with all the dark elements; demons, spirits, twists and turns. Cathleen Kingsley has just turned 25, which means her trust and her house should be belong to her. Yet, the CEO of her deceased father's company is desperately trying to push her out of the house so he can sell the land to the government. He sends his son, Sam, to Catty to either get her to leave willingly or...not. Sam knows he has a history at this house...there are pieces of memories there. But why doesn't he remember them? And why is this house so hellbent on keeping him out? As his memories start to fall back into place, he falls further and further into obsession with Catty. When he moves into the house to keep her safe from his father, he realizes that the other occupants of the house are just as obsessed with her as he is.
This is a solid read. There are some great parts of this book. The writing is solid. The plot is interesting. I love Catty and her entire arc. Sam is...damn. That man has the dirtiest mouth I have ever heard on an MMC and I am here for it. I loved watching his evolution over the book as his memories returned. He is so protective of Catty and I loved their relationship. I also loved the titles the author gave them to let the reader know whose POV we were reading, the dreamer and the damned. That was genius. The twist at around 70% was well done as well.
This takes a minute to get into. It really picks up around 30% of the way through. Stick with it. The one part that just wasn't for me was the early relationship between Catty and Sam. There is a 5 year age gap and she was 13 the last time he saw her. So all of *that* happens when she is a teenager and he is an adult. They are "childhood" friends, but that age gap is significant when you are 13 and 18. Also, Marco's role in all of this was confusing and I struggled to figure out his deal at the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this. If you like obsessed, filthy-mouthed MMCs, haunted FMCs, and possessed houses, this is for you. 3.5 rounded up.
This is a solid read. There are some great parts of this book. The writing is solid. The plot is interesting. I love Catty and her entire arc. Sam is...damn. That man has the dirtiest mouth I have ever heard on an MMC and I am here for it. I loved watching his evolution over the book as his memories returned. He is so protective of Catty and I loved their relationship. I also loved the titles the author gave them to let the reader know whose POV we were reading, the dreamer and the damned. That was genius. The twist at around 70% was well done as well.
This takes a minute to get into. It really picks up around 30% of the way through. Stick with it. The one part that just wasn't for me was the early relationship between Catty and Sam. There is a 5 year age gap and she was 13 the last time he saw her. So all of *that* happens when she is a teenager and he is an adult. They are "childhood" friends, but that age gap is significant when you are 13 and 18. Also, Marco's role in all of this was confusing and I struggled to figure out his deal at the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this. If you like obsessed, filthy-mouthed MMCs, haunted FMCs, and possessed houses, this is for you. 3.5 rounded up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
⚡️Haunted mansion
⚡️Thrilling mystery
⚡️Lightly spiced dark romance
⚡️Realistic and likeable characters
⚡️No cliffhanger and a complete story
Wow, this book kept me guessing to the very end! Another brilliant book from the mind of Loren Little. Written in a slightly different style to her previous works, The Gift War series, The Pythonist is the first book in her new Weary Souls Trilogy, a spooky paranormal mystery with a nice touch of dark romance sprinkled in. I was drawn in immediately with her alluring prologue with prose that feels lyrical and the reading experience continued with imaginitive writing and a great use of figurative language to create the perfect atmosphere for an almost dark, gothic feel set in the mountains of Victoria.
The characters were so immersive and well rounded they felt realistic which made the story jump of the page and into reality, which if you are a bit of a chicken like me, means you probably shouldn't read this at night lol. This would be the absolute perfect spooky read for October to get in the halloween spirit, pun intended!
There is enough spicy goodness for this to be classified as a romance but the mystery/thriller aspects is really what stuck out for me. I absolutely adored attempting to figure it all out before the end, my detective skills got a great workout, but damn... this book got me so good a few times, and i loved it! It was layer upon layer of carefully crafted questions and reveals that lead to more questions, and the plot twists!!! I honestly can't wait to reread to see all the clues I may have missed!
I did still enjoy the romance between Catty and Sam. I loved her fire and strength and his morally grey obsessiveness. There is 1 (maybe 2) scenes that classify this as a dark romance, but I would place this on the lighter end of the spectrum so would be perfect for those just branching out, but please, as always; if you have triggers, don't skip the trigger warnings.
I 100% reccomend this book because I cant see many people picking this up and not loving it!
⚡️Haunted mansion
⚡️Thrilling mystery
⚡️Lightly spiced dark romance
⚡️Realistic and likeable characters
⚡️No cliffhanger and a complete story
Wow, this book kept me guessing to the very end! Another brilliant book from the mind of Loren Little. Written in a slightly different style to her previous works, The Gift War series, The Pythonist is the first book in her new Weary Souls Trilogy, a spooky paranormal mystery with a nice touch of dark romance sprinkled in. I was drawn in immediately with her alluring prologue with prose that feels lyrical and the reading experience continued with imaginitive writing and a great use of figurative language to create the perfect atmosphere for an almost dark, gothic feel set in the mountains of Victoria.
The characters were so immersive and well rounded they felt realistic which made the story jump of the page and into reality, which if you are a bit of a chicken like me, means you probably shouldn't read this at night lol. This would be the absolute perfect spooky read for October to get in the halloween spirit, pun intended!
There is enough spicy goodness for this to be classified as a romance but the mystery/thriller aspects is really what stuck out for me. I absolutely adored attempting to figure it all out before the end, my detective skills got a great workout, but damn... this book got me so good a few times, and i loved it! It was layer upon layer of carefully crafted questions and reveals that lead to more questions, and the plot twists!!! I honestly can't wait to reread to see all the clues I may have missed!
I did still enjoy the romance between Catty and Sam. I loved her fire and strength and his morally grey obsessiveness. There is 1 (maybe 2) scenes that classify this as a dark romance, but I would place this on the lighter end of the spectrum so would be perfect for those just branching out, but please, as always; if you have triggers, don't skip the trigger warnings.
I 100% reccomend this book because I cant see many people picking this up and not loving it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
You know when you’re not really in the mood for the genre, but you’ve signed up to read the ARC so you have to? That was me here and why it took until 20% in my read for my attention to be fully caught but then I couldn’t put the book down!
The whole premise of the damned, a young psychic woman who struck a deal with a daemon who is trapped to the manor, and the dreamer, a hitmen hired to kill her who finds himself falling for her instead…. What’s a dark romance girly not to love?!
It’s got the predatory thrill of a chase, the spice of a hot age gap romance, and the gothic haunting atmosphere sets the mood with the perfect touch of macabre jokes to create warm fuzzy feelings.
Reading this story gave me the heebie jeebies right away and during multiple parts of my read. Then it made me laugh out loud with witty dialogue before I found unexpected tears streaking down my face and I knew then, “this is a great book!”
It was on the track of being predictable and then had twists I didn’t see coming and the end was spectacular! There are so many unanswered questions, weird statements left hanging between characters, and spooky hauntings that gave me perpetual goosebumps the entire read.
Cathleen is a tough cookie on the outside who is not afraid to be rude or snarky. But on the inside she’s a marshmallow, soft, goey, and she cares so much.
Samuel came off the page with his charisma and one line dialogues that even left me breathless and shocked by a couple. The smoothest delivery and swagger to back it up where I’m a little jealous Catty got to him first! If he tossed me over his shoulder, I would go anywhere he wanted!
This is going to be the perfect story to read when the vibes are set this fall. Changing leaves, cooler weather, and dark auspicious nights where the mind finds itself open to possibilities of paranormal events. When it does, I promise you’ll want to be reading this book.
Thank you Loren Little for the ARC opportunity!
The whole premise of the damned, a young psychic woman who struck a deal with a daemon who is trapped to the manor, and the dreamer, a hitmen hired to kill her who finds himself falling for her instead…. What’s a dark romance girly not to love?!
It’s got the predatory thrill of a chase, the spice of a hot age gap romance, and the gothic haunting atmosphere sets the mood with the perfect touch of macabre jokes to create warm fuzzy feelings.
Reading this story gave me the heebie jeebies right away and during multiple parts of my read. Then it made me laugh out loud with witty dialogue before I found unexpected tears streaking down my face and I knew then, “this is a great book!”
It was on the track of being predictable and then had twists I didn’t see coming and the end was spectacular! There are so many unanswered questions, weird statements left hanging between characters, and spooky hauntings that gave me perpetual goosebumps the entire read.
Cathleen is a tough cookie on the outside who is not afraid to be rude or snarky. But on the inside she’s a marshmallow, soft, goey, and she cares so much.
Samuel came off the page with his charisma and one line dialogues that even left me breathless and shocked by a couple. The smoothest delivery and swagger to back it up where I’m a little jealous Catty got to him first! If he tossed me over his shoulder, I would go anywhere he wanted!
This is going to be the perfect story to read when the vibes are set this fall. Changing leaves, cooler weather, and dark auspicious nights where the mind finds itself open to possibilities of paranormal events. When it does, I promise you’ll want to be reading this book.
Thank you Loren Little for the ARC opportunity!
Review of advance copy received from Author
📖 : 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆
Genre : Dark Gothic Romance
👻 Second Chance
👻 Friends To Lovers
👻 Hauntings
“What does the darkness have on a haunted young psychic?”
👻 Catty with the pale complexion and blood shot eyes, has always lived in Kingsley Manor. The bargain she made with a daemon as a child has stopped her from leaving but Sam doesn’t know that. He’s trying to get her out but what he doesn’t know is that if she leaves she’ll die.
“I’m not scared of your daemons, Terror,”
👻 Sam with the fawn coloured eyes, the handsome face and body, was never meant to come back. Yet here he is standing outside the gates to Kingsley Manor. He’s been sent to burn it down and get rid of the melancholy girl, but something draws him in and he wants answers to why. Will he find them or will the manor keep him so the secrets stay hidden?.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
👻 Where do I start? The haunting manor? The girl who screams through the night? Or maybe the 12 girls who, as soon as the sun sets drop in a sleep like trance? Because all of this makes up the story of the pythonist.
I’m not gonna lie I’m a lil pusio when it comes to horror like things especially hauntings🤣 does it stop me from watching/reading? No I’ll take the nightmares 😂 The Pythonist gave me the heebie jeebies, it was written in a way I could picture it like a movie so I’m over here reading with the lights on🤣
Sam and Catty’s relationship gives all the yearnings, the blushes and the omg moments. A second chance at making it right and finding out the truth. The Plot Twist!! I knew someone or something wasn’t right BUT to find out like that?? My brain is shook and I love it!. That ending I’m hoping we get book two! Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend especially for the spooky season 🤭
Genre : Dark Gothic Romance
👻 Second Chance
👻 Friends To Lovers
👻 Hauntings
“What does the darkness have on a haunted young psychic?”
👻 Catty with the pale complexion and blood shot eyes, has always lived in Kingsley Manor. The bargain she made with a daemon as a child has stopped her from leaving but Sam doesn’t know that. He’s trying to get her out but what he doesn’t know is that if she leaves she’ll die.
“I’m not scared of your daemons, Terror,”
👻 Sam with the fawn coloured eyes, the handsome face and body, was never meant to come back. Yet here he is standing outside the gates to Kingsley Manor. He’s been sent to burn it down and get rid of the melancholy girl, but something draws him in and he wants answers to why. Will he find them or will the manor keep him so the secrets stay hidden?.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
👻 Where do I start? The haunting manor? The girl who screams through the night? Or maybe the 12 girls who, as soon as the sun sets drop in a sleep like trance? Because all of this makes up the story of the pythonist.
I’m not gonna lie I’m a lil pusio when it comes to horror like things especially hauntings🤣 does it stop me from watching/reading? No I’ll take the nightmares 😂 The Pythonist gave me the heebie jeebies, it was written in a way I could picture it like a movie so I’m over here reading with the lights on🤣
Sam and Catty’s relationship gives all the yearnings, the blushes and the omg moments. A second chance at making it right and finding out the truth. The Plot Twist!! I knew someone or something wasn’t right BUT to find out like that?? My brain is shook and I love it!. That ending I’m hoping we get book two! Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend especially for the spooky season 🤭
September 28, 2026
If you’re looking for a spooky romance filled with nighttime hauntings and a guy who can’t seem to stay away from her no matter how terrifying it is, check this one out!
After over a decade apart, the man she sacrificed her own freedom for and saved as a child comes knocking on her door, and she isn’t sure why he won’t leave her alone. For him, he has very little knowledge of her other than the information on her for the mission his father sent him on, but for some reason he can’t seem to want to burn her mansion to the ground with her in it like his father asked, and is instead drawn to want to keep her for himself. Her deal with a daemon allowed him to walk away with his life but his memories gone and she was trapped in this house with all the other lost souls, but the more time he spends there, the less she wants to stay locked up and the more memories of her come back to him.
I adored the relationship between the FMC and MMC in this book and even when he didn’t know why, he felt the urge to defend and protect her from as much as he could. With the mystery of why this house was haunted and what truly was happening to its residents unfolded as the MMC learned more, it was exciting to figure out which truth that the FMC had hidden would come out next. I also liked the dual POV element of this and seeing both of them war with their sense of responsibility and the feelings and desire that they have for one another now that they aren’t just childhood friends. I felt so terrible for the FMC and all she went through to end up trapped in this home and with the struggling found family she had built around herself to help get through it. And with a few reveals and more deals with a daemon, it was an exciting and haunting story I couldn’t put down! My rating 4.4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
After over a decade apart, the man she sacrificed her own freedom for and saved as a child comes knocking on her door, and she isn’t sure why he won’t leave her alone. For him, he has very little knowledge of her other than the information on her for the mission his father sent him on, but for some reason he can’t seem to want to burn her mansion to the ground with her in it like his father asked, and is instead drawn to want to keep her for himself. Her deal with a daemon allowed him to walk away with his life but his memories gone and she was trapped in this house with all the other lost souls, but the more time he spends there, the less she wants to stay locked up and the more memories of her come back to him.
I adored the relationship between the FMC and MMC in this book and even when he didn’t know why, he felt the urge to defend and protect her from as much as he could. With the mystery of why this house was haunted and what truly was happening to its residents unfolded as the MMC learned more, it was exciting to figure out which truth that the FMC had hidden would come out next. I also liked the dual POV element of this and seeing both of them war with their sense of responsibility and the feelings and desire that they have for one another now that they aren’t just childhood friends. I felt so terrible for the FMC and all she went through to end up trapped in this home and with the struggling found family she had built around herself to help get through it. And with a few reveals and more deals with a daemon, it was an exciting and haunting story I couldn’t put down! My rating 4.4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love when a new book captures your attention so much that you can't put it down and The Pythonist absolutely floored me and left me reading until the wee hours of the night (zero regrets).
The way Loren has managed to write this book with gothic vibes from the 1800s but woven the modern world throughout seamlessly is a special kind of talent. I adored how the world unfolded and the life behind each of the characters unravelled as you read, and you can absolutely tell that Loren's whole heart and soul are in the pages. It's a phenomenal read.
We start with meeting the Damned and the Dreamer, Catherine and Samuel respectively, and their introduction is a tantalising view into what will unfold in the future.
Catty (Catherine) lives in her families gothic old mansion in country Victoria, an orphan, a pariah, shunned and labelled a witch by the locals, her house full of mysterious women who never leave the grounds. But for good reason. Catty is carrying the weight of an affliction, one her mother suffered and she can never live a normal life as the daemons won't let her go.
But someone wants them out of the way, and will stop at nothing to eradicate any trace of them.
Sam (Samuel) has been tasked by his father to remove Catty and the girls by any means possible... and he means any.
But Sam was not expecting to find a haunted house with equally haunted women and when he falls into his childhood friend, Catty's, orbit, his past begins to unravel.
This book is something special, it's dark, compelling, mysterious and unputtadownable.
If you love:
- second chance
- dark romance
- gothic setting
- hauntings and the supernatural
- he fell first and hard
- based in Australia
- complicated family issues
- secrets and betrayals
- mystery and murder
Then read the triggers and jump on in, it was incredible! I read this prior to official release day.
The way Loren has managed to write this book with gothic vibes from the 1800s but woven the modern world throughout seamlessly is a special kind of talent. I adored how the world unfolded and the life behind each of the characters unravelled as you read, and you can absolutely tell that Loren's whole heart and soul are in the pages. It's a phenomenal read.
We start with meeting the Damned and the Dreamer, Catherine and Samuel respectively, and their introduction is a tantalising view into what will unfold in the future.
Catty (Catherine) lives in her families gothic old mansion in country Victoria, an orphan, a pariah, shunned and labelled a witch by the locals, her house full of mysterious women who never leave the grounds. But for good reason. Catty is carrying the weight of an affliction, one her mother suffered and she can never live a normal life as the daemons won't let her go.
But someone wants them out of the way, and will stop at nothing to eradicate any trace of them.
Sam (Samuel) has been tasked by his father to remove Catty and the girls by any means possible... and he means any.
But Sam was not expecting to find a haunted house with equally haunted women and when he falls into his childhood friend, Catty's, orbit, his past begins to unravel.
This book is something special, it's dark, compelling, mysterious and unputtadownable.
If you love:
- second chance
- dark romance
- gothic setting
- hauntings and the supernatural
- he fell first and hard
- based in Australia
- complicated family issues
- secrets and betrayals
- mystery and murder
Then read the triggers and jump on in, it was incredible! I read this prior to official release day.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from Loren in exchange for an honest review.
H O L Y S H I T
If I wasn't already fully convinced that anything written by Loren Little will be an auto 5 Stars.. this book definitely solidified that idea for me.
It took me a minute to finish because life has been nutso wild for me lately, but as I finished the last 10%(ish) of the book today while cozied up with my sleepy little couch lion, Pabu I literally could not set my kindle down! The last hundred or so pages (the beginning was fantastic as well but THE REVEALS.. *chef's kiss* ) were so twisty and delicious and the turns that were taken completely surprised me! I don't think I've been so shocked by a reveal in a fat minute. This was just so spectacularly written.. GAH!
I am absolutely head over heels for Sam. That mouth. The way he stands on business for Catty and will do literally anything for her.. UGH. I can't wait to see what the world has to say about my new favorite book bf. And Catty being bratty is basically my spirit animal. Her attitude the whole book had me audibly laughing which has been such a welcome surprise. I can't wait to see what else Loren has in store. Perhaps more Marco? I need more of him. I'm not typically into blondes but.. if Wren can make it into the top tier list of my of blonde book boyfriends with the likes of Peeta Mellark, Draco Malfoy, and *very* TEMPORARILY Tamlin, then certainly Marco has a shot. I mean, who isn't a sucker for a British accent?
I don't want to give too much away since this doesn't release until October, but know that this will be among your top reads of 2026 whether this is your first dark/gothic romance or not! I'd bargain the remaining years of my life away in support of that statement. ;)
H O L Y S H I T
If I wasn't already fully convinced that anything written by Loren Little will be an auto 5 Stars.. this book definitely solidified that idea for me.
It took me a minute to finish because life has been nutso wild for me lately, but as I finished the last 10%(ish) of the book today while cozied up with my sleepy little couch lion, Pabu I literally could not set my kindle down! The last hundred or so pages (the beginning was fantastic as well but THE REVEALS.. *chef's kiss* ) were so twisty and delicious and the turns that were taken completely surprised me! I don't think I've been so shocked by a reveal in a fat minute. This was just so spectacularly written.. GAH!
I am absolutely head over heels for Sam. That mouth. The way he stands on business for Catty and will do literally anything for her.. UGH. I can't wait to see what the world has to say about my new favorite book bf. And Catty being bratty is basically my spirit animal. Her attitude the whole book had me audibly laughing which has been such a welcome surprise. I can't wait to see what else Loren has in store. Perhaps more Marco? I need more of him. I'm not typically into blondes but.. if Wren can make it into the top tier list of my of blonde book boyfriends with the likes of Peeta Mellark, Draco Malfoy, and *very* TEMPORARILY Tamlin, then certainly Marco has a shot. I mean, who isn't a sucker for a British accent?
I don't want to give too much away since this doesn't release until October, but know that this will be among your top reads of 2026 whether this is your first dark/gothic romance or not! I'd bargain the remaining years of my life away in support of that statement. ;)
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so grateful to have recieved this arc which has introduced me to Loren Little and now I am a fan 🙌
Okay so this was 100% what I needed after reading back to back fantasy books. It was different and perfect. I loved the gothic dark vibes and the Pov titles. The Dreamer and The Damned were amazing!!
So Kathleen has been living in what seems to be a haunted manor for years after her parents' deaths, except she's not alone and lives with 11 other girls who seem to be affiliated with the same condition she has of intense nightmares that leave them screaming. The local village thinks of them as being witches and generally stay clear.
Samuel on the other hand had been sent to this manor by his father to kick Catty out the house so he could take it over but he never expected to find all the other girls living there too. He also seems to think there's more to Catty than he thinks.
I'll leave that there so I dont venture into spoiler territory plotwise but characters wise, I was blown away by them all. Catty was such a selfless girl who was trying her best to live with the strange entities within the manor and to keep it under her name. Sam was obsessively in love from the start and hes so perfect 🥰
The way he supported her with everything even when things didn't add up in his mind. He helped Catty heal and she was just as obsessed with him as he was with her. They matched eachothers energy 🙌
The plot twists were insane when the history between the characters and the manor were revealed and I ate it all up.
Marco was one character I didnt think I would love to the extent that I did 🙊 what a guy. He also made it really enjoyable.
Okay so this was 100% what I needed after reading back to back fantasy books. It was different and perfect. I loved the gothic dark vibes and the Pov titles. The Dreamer and The Damned were amazing!!
So Kathleen has been living in what seems to be a haunted manor for years after her parents' deaths, except she's not alone and lives with 11 other girls who seem to be affiliated with the same condition she has of intense nightmares that leave them screaming. The local village thinks of them as being witches and generally stay clear.
Samuel on the other hand had been sent to this manor by his father to kick Catty out the house so he could take it over but he never expected to find all the other girls living there too. He also seems to think there's more to Catty than he thinks.
I'll leave that there so I dont venture into spoiler territory plotwise but characters wise, I was blown away by them all. Catty was such a selfless girl who was trying her best to live with the strange entities within the manor and to keep it under her name. Sam was obsessively in love from the start and hes so perfect 🥰
The way he supported her with everything even when things didn't add up in his mind. He helped Catty heal and she was just as obsessed with him as he was with her. They matched eachothers energy 🙌
The plot twists were insane when the history between the characters and the manor were revealed and I ate it all up.
Marco was one character I didnt think I would love to the extent that I did 🙊 what a guy. He also made it really enjoyable.
October 21, 2026
This book was honestly the perfect read for the Halloween season! It was creepy, eerie, and had me questioning everything that was happening at Kingsley Manor. And let me tell you, the truth was not what I expected!
The writing is so descriptive and immersive that reading this late at night had me looking over my shoulder, peering into dark shadows, and listening to every creak in my house. I was genuinely weirded out at times, and I absolutely loved that feeling!
We follow Catty and Sam, childhood friends who have since become strangers. When Sam is sent by his father to convince Catty to vacate the manor she is living in, he has every intention of getting the job done. But once they reunite, Sam simply cannot bring himself to let her go, and that is where the story begins.
Their banter was amazing! Catty is determined to keep him at arm’s length, even though their chemistry is undeniable. Their dynamic also provided some much-needed relief from the otherwise suffocating atmosphere of those eerie nights.
I was expecting him to be the damned one and her to be the dreamer, so having those roles switched around was a refreshing surprise! I really enjoyed that unexpected dynamic and how it played with my expectations.
I’ve been loving standalones lately, so discovering that this book is part of a series of interconnected standalones was a bonus. I also appreciated that we got a sense of an ending, even if it wasn’t entirely definitive.
If you’re looking for a book to creep you out this Halloween while giving you a compelling romance to sink your teeth into, The Pythonist is the perfect pick!
The writing is so descriptive and immersive that reading this late at night had me looking over my shoulder, peering into dark shadows, and listening to every creak in my house. I was genuinely weirded out at times, and I absolutely loved that feeling!
We follow Catty and Sam, childhood friends who have since become strangers. When Sam is sent by his father to convince Catty to vacate the manor she is living in, he has every intention of getting the job done. But once they reunite, Sam simply cannot bring himself to let her go, and that is where the story begins.
Their banter was amazing! Catty is determined to keep him at arm’s length, even though their chemistry is undeniable. Their dynamic also provided some much-needed relief from the otherwise suffocating atmosphere of those eerie nights.
I was expecting him to be the damned one and her to be the dreamer, so having those roles switched around was a refreshing surprise! I really enjoyed that unexpected dynamic and how it played with my expectations.
I’ve been loving standalones lately, so discovering that this book is part of a series of interconnected standalones was a bonus. I also appreciated that we got a sense of an ending, even if it wasn’t entirely definitive.
If you’re looking for a book to creep you out this Halloween while giving you a compelling romance to sink your teeth into, The Pythonist is the perfect pick!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC review*
Beautifully written story of a woman, haunted by the dead with a bargain written in sin and Blood, an oath to a being not of this world.
"ᴍɪʀʀᴏʀꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴘᴏʀᴛᴀʟꜱ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟꜱ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴀʏ ɢᴀᴍᴇꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ."
A man, obsessed with a woman he can not remember...Obsession so addicting it will unravel the hidden secrets that lurk in the dark of the infamous Kingsley Manor.
"ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴍɪɴᴇ ʏᴇᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ".
The Book is a second chance romance - childhood friends to lovers. Generally speaking, I cringe reading about Australia, but Loren has incorporated Australian suburbs/Government Authorities (like AFP) without making me want to throw up in a corner.
There were moments were I felt I was not following, or that it was maybe missing a bit of detail to understand the actual hauntings themselves, or what exactly Catty was. The story line, however, was quite addictive and found myself simply not giving a fuck that I couldn't understand at first.. I was buckled in for the ride regardless.
The plot twist at the end???? I was crying. Throwing up. Happy. I was feeling everything, for everyone.. the torment Catty went through, the horrors those around her faced, UGH. There was a moment where I thought some of the plot reminded me of a *very* well known criminal case right here in Australia and for spoilers sake, I won't name which one as I think it may give away a bit of the plot if you're familiar with the case!
something unusual and different. 10/10 love! 🖤
Beautifully written story of a woman, haunted by the dead with a bargain written in sin and Blood, an oath to a being not of this world.
"ᴍɪʀʀᴏʀꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴘᴏʀᴛᴀʟꜱ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟꜱ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴀʏ ɢᴀᴍᴇꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ."
A man, obsessed with a woman he can not remember...Obsession so addicting it will unravel the hidden secrets that lurk in the dark of the infamous Kingsley Manor.
"ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴍɪɴᴇ ʏᴇᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ".
The Book is a second chance romance - childhood friends to lovers. Generally speaking, I cringe reading about Australia, but Loren has incorporated Australian suburbs/Government Authorities (like AFP) without making me want to throw up in a corner.
There were moments were I felt I was not following, or that it was maybe missing a bit of detail to understand the actual hauntings themselves, or what exactly Catty was. The story line, however, was quite addictive and found myself simply not giving a fuck that I couldn't understand at first.. I was buckled in for the ride regardless.
The plot twist at the end???? I was crying. Throwing up. Happy. I was feeling everything, for everyone.. the torment Catty went through, the horrors those around her faced, UGH. There was a moment where I thought some of the plot reminded me of a *very* well known criminal case right here in Australia and for spoilers sake, I won't name which one as I think it may give away a bit of the plot if you're familiar with the case!
something unusual and different. 10/10 love! 🖤
October 14, 2026
Favorite this year
Gothic vibes. Haunted house. Daemon bargains. Mystery. And a man with a mouth that should be illegal. What's not to be intrigued by?!
What did I just read?! I don't know, but I'm OBSESSED! Seriously, completely addicted! I don't know if it was the writing style or what, but something about this book just spoke to me, and I absolutely DEVOURED it!
The gothic atmosphere, the mystery, the constant guessing, and THE SPICE! Holy hell, the spice!
It's honestly so hard to write a review for this book because I don't want to spoil anything, but at the same time, I want to talk about EVERYTHING. Especially pretty much anything that came out of Sam's mouth. That man has officially earned himself a spot on my favorite MMCs list. The obsession? The things he says? The way he talks to Catty?! I need a man to be that obsessed with me and speak to me like THAT!
And Sam being so completely convinced that Catty is going to be his girlfriend before he's even bothered to inform her? I LOVE IT! Meanwhile, poor Catty has much bigger problems to deal with, but her handsome childhood crush is making it nearly impossible to focus. Girl, SAME. I'd be distracted by Sam too!
Also, can we talk about why I was so attracted to Marco Fox?! Because I was, and I'm really hoping we get to see more of him in the future!
Anyway, BRB. I'm going to reread all my annotations, obsess over Sam some more, and sit in my feelings because apparently this book has taken over my entire personality.
Gothic vibes. Haunted house. Daemon bargains. Mystery. And a man with a mouth that should be illegal. What's not to be intrigued by?!
What did I just read?! I don't know, but I'm OBSESSED! Seriously, completely addicted! I don't know if it was the writing style or what, but something about this book just spoke to me, and I absolutely DEVOURED it!
The gothic atmosphere, the mystery, the constant guessing, and THE SPICE! Holy hell, the spice!
It's honestly so hard to write a review for this book because I don't want to spoil anything, but at the same time, I want to talk about EVERYTHING. Especially pretty much anything that came out of Sam's mouth. That man has officially earned himself a spot on my favorite MMCs list. The obsession? The things he says? The way he talks to Catty?! I need a man to be that obsessed with me and speak to me like THAT!
And Sam being so completely convinced that Catty is going to be his girlfriend before he's even bothered to inform her? I LOVE IT! Meanwhile, poor Catty has much bigger problems to deal with, but her handsome childhood crush is making it nearly impossible to focus. Girl, SAME. I'd be distracted by Sam too!
Also, can we talk about why I was so attracted to Marco Fox?! Because I was, and I'm really hoping we get to see more of him in the future!
Anyway, BRB. I'm going to reread all my annotations, obsess over Sam some more, and sit in my feelings because apparently this book has taken over my entire personality.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Pythonist leans hard into dark gothic romance with a paranormal twist, and the atmosphere? So moody and immersive. The story brings two estranged friends, Sam and Catty, back together in the haunting setting of Kingsley Manor. From the start there’s tension, history, and a whole lot of unresolved feelings bubbling under the surface. Add in a generational curse and some dangerous secrets, and it’s the kind of book that quietly pulls you deeper with every chapter.
I really loved how flawed and messy all the characters were - it made everything feel more real and emotionally charged. The relationship development had that slow-burn, second chance energy that kept me hooked, and while things get intense, it never felt overdone. And that BIG plot twist?! I genuinely did not see it coming at all and it completely caught me off guard in the best way.
Overall, it’s such a moody, slightly haunting, character-driven read that’s perfect if you love your romance on the darker side with a bit of mystery woven through. Definitely one that lingers after you finish.
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it early. It’s due for release this October, and pre-orders are already available - definitely one to keep on your radar
If you’re into gothic romance, paranormal elements, second chance love, and emotionally messy characters, this is one to add to your list.
I really loved how flawed and messy all the characters were - it made everything feel more real and emotionally charged. The relationship development had that slow-burn, second chance energy that kept me hooked, and while things get intense, it never felt overdone. And that BIG plot twist?! I genuinely did not see it coming at all and it completely caught me off guard in the best way.
Overall, it’s such a moody, slightly haunting, character-driven read that’s perfect if you love your romance on the darker side with a bit of mystery woven through. Definitely one that lingers after you finish.
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it early. It’s due for release this October, and pre-orders are already available - definitely one to keep on your radar
If you’re into gothic romance, paranormal elements, second chance love, and emotionally messy characters, this is one to add to your list.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely adored every single second of this book. If you are a lover of dark gothic romance then this is the book for you. I instantly fell in love with Sam and Catty’s dynamic and banter throughout the story. Fell in love with Sam Parkerson in general. He’s a “that’s MY girl” type a guy. And Marco Fox (Sam’s serial killer best friend) is downright hilarious and relatable in the best ways throughout the story. He’s the perfect mix of ominous and hilarious. The creepy vibes and theme of the story and the manor in which the story takes place around is SO GOOD. Different from anything I’ve read thus far and totally threw me for a loop when I figured out what was going on near the end of the book. Such a great story … the characters were easy to fall in love with… the story was gripping and kept me wanting more and more. I even delayed the ending and paced myself with finishing the last 25 min of the book because I wasn’t ready for it to end. The spice was spicing… perfectly placed to add just enough yearning and longing and desire built up to a perfectly narrated climax. This book had me giggling, gripping my seat, re-reading previous parts over and over just to wrap my head around things… tearing up and downright enthralled throughout the entire book. AND THEN THE VERY ENDING THE FINAL PLOT TWIST CLIFF HANGER the author leaves you on… oh my gosh you’ll be feral for book two just like me. A definite 5 star must read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Pythonist by Loren Little is a moody, gothic romance with eerie paranormal elements, blending emotional tension with an unsettling, atmospheric setting. The story leans into both darkness and intimacy, creating a world that feels as haunting as it is emotionally layered.
What stood out to me most was the relationship between Catty and the girls of Kensley Manor. Their bond feels raw, protective, and deeply human, especially against the strange and paranormal backdrop surrounding them. It adds such a strong found-family element that grounds the story, even when everything else feels uncertain.
I also really loved Sam’s devotion to Catty. His desire to love and protect her brings a softness that contrasts beautifully with the darker, more eerie elements of the plot. Their connection has that slow, emotional pull that fits perfectly within the gothic tone.
The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me is that the pacing and emotional transitions felt a bit uneven at times, especially when balancing the romance with the heavier paranormal aspects. I found myself wanting a little more clarity and development in certain moments.
Overall, this is a haunting, emotional read with strong character relationships, a chilling atmosphere, and just the right touch of paranormal intrigue. If you enjoy gothic romance with found family, protective love interests, and a dark, supernatural edge, this is definitely worth picking up. I look forward to the next book!
What stood out to me most was the relationship between Catty and the girls of Kensley Manor. Their bond feels raw, protective, and deeply human, especially against the strange and paranormal backdrop surrounding them. It adds such a strong found-family element that grounds the story, even when everything else feels uncertain.
I also really loved Sam’s devotion to Catty. His desire to love and protect her brings a softness that contrasts beautifully with the darker, more eerie elements of the plot. Their connection has that slow, emotional pull that fits perfectly within the gothic tone.
The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me is that the pacing and emotional transitions felt a bit uneven at times, especially when balancing the romance with the heavier paranormal aspects. I found myself wanting a little more clarity and development in certain moments.
Overall, this is a haunting, emotional read with strong character relationships, a chilling atmosphere, and just the right touch of paranormal intrigue. If you enjoy gothic romance with found family, protective love interests, and a dark, supernatural edge, this is definitely worth picking up. I look forward to the next book!
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