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Elegy
Book One of The Grief Sequence Trilogy
This is the mourning book. The beginning of the end.
"Say it, Kade. Say you hate me."
"If I hated you, I'd be free."
Kade Ryland disappeared into a world no one talks about. Off at school. Maybe traveling. That's what everyone thinks. But the truth? He vanished into something darker-something no one comes back the same from.
Juliet Rowe is still the perfect daughter in the perfect house. Still smiling. Still pretending. But now Kade's back-on a leash disguised as freedom-and the cracks in her mask are starting to show.
They're both fucked up beyond repair-but they keep crawling back, like choosing each other won't cost them everything.
This is the mourning book. The beginning of the end.
"Say it, Kade. Say you hate me."
"If I hated you, I'd be free."
Kade Ryland disappeared into a world no one talks about. Off at school. Maybe traveling. That's what everyone thinks. But the truth? He vanished into something darker-something no one comes back the same from.
Juliet Rowe is still the perfect daughter in the perfect house. Still smiling. Still pretending. But now Kade's back-on a leash disguised as freedom-and the cracks in her mask are starting to show.
They're both fucked up beyond repair-but they keep crawling back, like choosing each other won't cost them everything.
- GenresDark RomanceAmazon
506 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2025
38 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 22, 2026
Drawing you into a world of control and mourning the loss of love 😬
Juliet, adopted daughter to the Carringtons’, friendships formed from a young age, one that leads to young love but is destroyed by disillusion and voices lost. Kane, found a life beyond her, a hate built on betrayal and deceit but his new found life is not all sunshine and kittens, no it’s control, obedience and deleting. Similar, Juliet’s life is not a bed of roses, she hides behind a smile that never reaches her eyes, subtle training leading to her body covered in bruises but worst is to come…
𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚛.
𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚢.
𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.
I would have finished this sooner but I got lost along the way 🤣 The story builds giving us insights into the MCs present life and chapters give us glimpses into their past, stacking the love, their relationship, spice, hate, violence, abuse until the bricks come tumbling down around them. It’s a descriptive narrative, in some places it’s a little repetitive but within the parameters of building the angst to ensure you feel their world falling apart. Looking forward to the next one to find out what happens to them after leaving us teetering on the edge 🤭
Juliet, adopted daughter to the Carringtons’, friendships formed from a young age, one that leads to young love but is destroyed by disillusion and voices lost. Kane, found a life beyond her, a hate built on betrayal and deceit but his new found life is not all sunshine and kittens, no it’s control, obedience and deleting. Similar, Juliet’s life is not a bed of roses, she hides behind a smile that never reaches her eyes, subtle training leading to her body covered in bruises but worst is to come…
𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚛.
𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚢.
𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.
I would have finished this sooner but I got lost along the way 🤣 The story builds giving us insights into the MCs present life and chapters give us glimpses into their past, stacking the love, their relationship, spice, hate, violence, abuse until the bricks come tumbling down around them. It’s a descriptive narrative, in some places it’s a little repetitive but within the parameters of building the angst to ensure you feel their world falling apart. Looking forward to the next one to find out what happens to them after leaving us teetering on the edge 🤭
January 15, 2026
5 stars wow!!! the writing in this is so beautiful all throughout and the characters mean everything to me I felt like I was going through everything with them instead of just reading it 🥹
The romance in this is the best enemies to lovers I've ever seen!! I've never felt so angry and heartbroken seeing two characters interact before. this isn't a 'they kiss after 20 pages and everythings back to lovers'. the reader has to go THROUGH IT with them, all their emotions, their actions, the consequences of their love and their struggles. I can't tell you how many times I highlighted beautiful but devastating quotes from this book.
Their relationship and them as people is so complex that they feel so real. Their pain and silent suffering is palpable through the page. I'm sitting there reading them get their heartbroken and feel mine shatter at the same time 😭
Just found a new favourite author and will read ANYTHING she writes!! give me your grocery list 🫶🫶 this book is so underhyped when it's one of the best dark romances I've ever read!!!!
The romance in this is the best enemies to lovers I've ever seen!! I've never felt so angry and heartbroken seeing two characters interact before. this isn't a 'they kiss after 20 pages and everythings back to lovers'. the reader has to go THROUGH IT with them, all their emotions, their actions, the consequences of their love and their struggles. I can't tell you how many times I highlighted beautiful but devastating quotes from this book.
Their relationship and them as people is so complex that they feel so real. Their pain and silent suffering is palpable through the page. I'm sitting there reading them get their heartbroken and feel mine shatter at the same time 😭
Just found a new favourite author and will read ANYTHING she writes!! give me your grocery list 🫶🫶 this book is so underhyped when it's one of the best dark romances I've ever read!!!!
May 24, 2025
This book is unhinged in the best way. So raw, so real. Edge of your seat all the way through. I could not put it down. Can’t wait to read more of Jules and Kade’s story. And bring on more Isaac!!! 🖤🫶🏻🔥
June 11, 2025
Elegy started off strong, immediately getting me hooked. However, I found that the writing often felt repetitive, frequently using similar phrases or continuously discussing the same feelings and frictions.
June 9, 2025
Kade watches her through her window like his done before. Juliet the girl who torn him opened after he believe he could be something better. She moved on quickly like what they had didn’t matter but he still remembers that it does to him and he still wants her. But in him there is this feeling of wanting her touch and that no one’s gets her. Who ever dares to will be dead, she’s his and no one else. Kade left but now his back even worse than before and more of a man. Juliet finds out that his back and she is a trying to keep her composure. She remembers some moments that they had and also wounds that are reopening. She wanted to explain to him what he saw and tell him the hell she has been living. Her step dad could probably kill him and she didn’t want Kade to know her hell. Kade was also fighting to keep his family safe from the people he works for. He has to do what they say. They are both dealing with a lot of secrets. Evie threw a party for Kade being back home. The party was heavy a lot of people and the music too loud. Kade saw the way Juliet was dress he didn’t want her to see that he saw her. Evie told Kade, Juliet and Noah to go to the basement like they used to do to play games. They went down, Kade sat on the far corner of the room. Everything was ok til Noah truth Kade and asked him what really happened between Juliet and him. Kade got up and started to walk away when he heard Evie call him. He stood still but didn’t look her way then he heard the slap. Evie slapped Noah for asking him that question,then Kade left. She followed and he was already up the stairs towards his room when some guy came to talk to her. She didn’t know him but he was a little to friendly, when he touched her arm all Kade saw was red. He went down the stairs and told the guy to keep his hands off her before he brakes his wrist. The guy left and Kade was walking back up the stairs to his room and Juliet followed him. They exchanged some words and he even asked her what really happened with the guy he saw her with. ( it wouldn’t come out her mouth to tell him she was being sold to that guy, that there was nothing she could of done). She stood quiet and that is when he walked towards her and back her to the wall. They just stared in each other’s eyes until she couldn’t help herself and she kissed him. They kissed but then he pulled away and looked at her. She thought he was going to walk away but no he kissed her back with rage and more. He ended up taking her to his bedroom where they finished what they started. He broke her and then told her to get out his room. She got home and went to her room. Then minutes later her hell enter her room, they shame called her names and that she’s like her mom a whore. Her stepdad hit her and grabbed her by the throat. She will have bruises the next day, they don’t love her they just use her. Kade left the next day, he only said goodbye to Evie. He went back to the people who controls him. Now they know about his friend Noah and are threatening him, that he must do as told if not they will bring Noah into their little circle. Kade told them to leave him alone that he will keep doing as he is told. Kade left to go to his apartment but detour to his house. He watched his sister and Juliet through her window while he set in his car. Noah got in his car and Kade told him to keep his sister and Juliet save and for his dad to bring in more security to their home. He told Noah don’t ask questions just do it. Noah looked at him then he nob ok. He told Kade that he has his back and he didn’t need to do it alone. Kade still didn’t tell him what was going on. He didn’t want them to deal with what he has going on. I will stop writing and suggest you read this book and find out. Will Juliet be free? Will her and Kade be together again? What will happen to all of them? Will they survive the torture that will come? This book left me wanting to kill the people in this book, need book 2 ASAP please!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2026
This one hurts, and I’m ready for more.
If you like screaming at characters who just keep making mistakes, all the while sobbing because those mistakes make perfect sense, this is the book for you.
Kade Ryland is one of the hottest, most unhinged, most emotionally volatile MMCs I’ve ever read. His darkness isn’t just a feature, it’s a core defining trait that leaks poison all over everything, all the time. His narration is luxuriously self-deluded as he clings to rage like a security blanket yet falls over backwards every time Juliet has the absolute audacity to breathe in his general area. His love is visceral, violent, unrepentantly toxic, unflinchingly devoted, and eternal in a way that most MMCs only dream of loving. He is the king of gaslighting himself, the prince of covering his ears and singing a lullaby when confronted with his misconceptions, and the jester of letting go. Kade Ryland does not let go, and if I’m not screaming at him, I’m melting for him.
Juliet Rowe needs to be protected. Not just now. Not just in the rest of the Grief Sequence. Someone needs to go back in time and protect her, constantly, consistently, and forever. Her psychology is so rich and relatable and absolutely brutal to read. Have you ever watched a friend minimize themself, over and over again, in order to fit into a box they feel they need to fit into? Have you ever wanted to scream, and cry, and toss a fictional character over your shoulder so that you can bring her somewhere safe? Juliet is written with such incredible nuance that she manages to be a damsel who needs to be saved without ever seeming weak or helpless. She IS helpless, she IS weak, she IS broken, but everything about her is so meticulously designed to highlight what constant, unceasing abuse can do to a person that I never, ever thought she was anything other than a perfect character - yes, even while I was BEGGING her to SPEAK OUT.
Em has done some really impressive things with Elegy: she’s created a relationship that is as toxic as it is meant to be, characters that are extremely frustrating to read without that frustration ever turning into off-the-page disbelief, and a story that blends psychology, morality, spice, love, and corruption into one brutal and delicious meal that I devoured.
Something I especially loved was the way the tenses were subverted from what you might expect: present day scenes were written in past tense, while flashbacks were written in present tense. This was such a compelling style choice, because it turned the flashbacks into more fervent, intense inhabitations of the past while the standard narration, in past tense, led inexorably forward to a breaking point.
Unreliable narration is still one of my favourite elements to read, and it works excellently here. Juliet and Kade keep secrets from each other and from us, and we get caught in so many traps of dramatic irony and foreshadowed revelations that we’re constantly on our toes.
The spice in this book is wild, dangerous, and electric. Do not read this in public; it may unlock some tastes you never knew you had.
There were a handful of editing mishaps that led to lines being repeated verbatim a few sentences later, or revelations coming about twice in quick succession. This is one of the things that pulls me out of a story the most: if I have to flip back to verify my own memory because I was certain that something was already said, I lose my immersion instantly. There weren’t many of these moments, but enough that I noticed the pattern.
THERE IS A CLIFFHANGER ENDING! But have no fear: book two comes out in April! We don’t have to wait too long before we get at least some resolution. But I anticipate a lot more pain before Kade and Juliet find anything close to peace; and I’m here for all of it.
If you like screaming at characters who just keep making mistakes, all the while sobbing because those mistakes make perfect sense, this is the book for you.
Kade Ryland is one of the hottest, most unhinged, most emotionally volatile MMCs I’ve ever read. His darkness isn’t just a feature, it’s a core defining trait that leaks poison all over everything, all the time. His narration is luxuriously self-deluded as he clings to rage like a security blanket yet falls over backwards every time Juliet has the absolute audacity to breathe in his general area. His love is visceral, violent, unrepentantly toxic, unflinchingly devoted, and eternal in a way that most MMCs only dream of loving. He is the king of gaslighting himself, the prince of covering his ears and singing a lullaby when confronted with his misconceptions, and the jester of letting go. Kade Ryland does not let go, and if I’m not screaming at him, I’m melting for him.
Juliet Rowe needs to be protected. Not just now. Not just in the rest of the Grief Sequence. Someone needs to go back in time and protect her, constantly, consistently, and forever. Her psychology is so rich and relatable and absolutely brutal to read. Have you ever watched a friend minimize themself, over and over again, in order to fit into a box they feel they need to fit into? Have you ever wanted to scream, and cry, and toss a fictional character over your shoulder so that you can bring her somewhere safe? Juliet is written with such incredible nuance that she manages to be a damsel who needs to be saved without ever seeming weak or helpless. She IS helpless, she IS weak, she IS broken, but everything about her is so meticulously designed to highlight what constant, unceasing abuse can do to a person that I never, ever thought she was anything other than a perfect character - yes, even while I was BEGGING her to SPEAK OUT.
Em has done some really impressive things with Elegy: she’s created a relationship that is as toxic as it is meant to be, characters that are extremely frustrating to read without that frustration ever turning into off-the-page disbelief, and a story that blends psychology, morality, spice, love, and corruption into one brutal and delicious meal that I devoured.
Something I especially loved was the way the tenses were subverted from what you might expect: present day scenes were written in past tense, while flashbacks were written in present tense. This was such a compelling style choice, because it turned the flashbacks into more fervent, intense inhabitations of the past while the standard narration, in past tense, led inexorably forward to a breaking point.
Unreliable narration is still one of my favourite elements to read, and it works excellently here. Juliet and Kade keep secrets from each other and from us, and we get caught in so many traps of dramatic irony and foreshadowed revelations that we’re constantly on our toes.
The spice in this book is wild, dangerous, and electric. Do not read this in public; it may unlock some tastes you never knew you had.
There were a handful of editing mishaps that led to lines being repeated verbatim a few sentences later, or revelations coming about twice in quick succession. This is one of the things that pulls me out of a story the most: if I have to flip back to verify my own memory because I was certain that something was already said, I lose my immersion instantly. There weren’t many of these moments, but enough that I noticed the pattern.
THERE IS A CLIFFHANGER ENDING! But have no fear: book two comes out in April! We don’t have to wait too long before we get at least some resolution. But I anticipate a lot more pain before Kade and Juliet find anything close to peace; and I’m here for all of it.
February 16, 2026
Favourite Quote: I want her in the way addicts want poison. In the ways wolves want the thing they're not supposed to touch. She's in my blood and I've been overdosing on her memory since the day she left.
Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋 / 5
Why I read it: After a brief back and forth on threads about a spicy snippet, I immediately downloaded this book on KU. And blessed mother of dark romance, I'm so thankful I did. I was floored by this book. The angst, the broken pieces of the story finally coming together as a bigger picture, the YEARNING. Kade is obsessed with Juliet, wants to make her his and crush those who hurt her, and hates her all in the same breath. I don't read as much MF anymore but this book made me thankful I do, otherwise I'd have missed out big time.
What I loved:
• MEN WHO YEARNNNN
• A FMC who refuses to break
• The alliteration in this book was magical
• The slithery feeling of dread as I realised how much I was enjoying this book and there's no release for book 2 yet
Who it’s for: Readers who like spicy men and battle worn women. The feeling that lurked in my gut from this book is the SAME feeling I got reading Leigh Rivers' Insatiable series, and that series broke me so profoundly I'll never forget it. It's always in my top 3 favourites no matter how many hundreds of books I read, and this book came so close that I immediately fell in love. Alyia has a reader for life now, and I'll be counting every second till that second book.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Please do be mindful, this book does touch on themes of SA/CSA and Trafficking. Your mind is more important, please read responsibly.
Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋 / 5
Why I read it: After a brief back and forth on threads about a spicy snippet, I immediately downloaded this book on KU. And blessed mother of dark romance, I'm so thankful I did. I was floored by this book. The angst, the broken pieces of the story finally coming together as a bigger picture, the YEARNING. Kade is obsessed with Juliet, wants to make her his and crush those who hurt her, and hates her all in the same breath. I don't read as much MF anymore but this book made me thankful I do, otherwise I'd have missed out big time.
What I loved:
• MEN WHO YEARNNNN
• A FMC who refuses to break
• The alliteration in this book was magical
• The slithery feeling of dread as I realised how much I was enjoying this book and there's no release for book 2 yet
Who it’s for: Readers who like spicy men and battle worn women. The feeling that lurked in my gut from this book is the SAME feeling I got reading Leigh Rivers' Insatiable series, and that series broke me so profoundly I'll never forget it. It's always in my top 3 favourites no matter how many hundreds of books I read, and this book came so close that I immediately fell in love. Alyia has a reader for life now, and I'll be counting every second till that second book.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Please do be mindful, this book does touch on themes of SA/CSA and Trafficking. Your mind is more important, please read responsibly.
June 3, 2025
I absolutely love this book. The author manage to capture the complexity of human emotions and vulnerability at stake following the history and relationship of the FMC and MMC respectively. Emotionally charged and visually intense, the writing lingers like a bruise.
One with containing thier feeling, the other with dark background, resulting in trust and communication issues, tainting thier beautiful childhood dreams and what lies ahead of them. Recycled abusive patterns easily become the norms - unless someone is daring, bold and wise enough to break the chain.
Nothing between them is simple. They crash into it, bleeding, clawing, daring each other to survive it, and every moment between them is soaked in tension, obsession, and emotional wreckage. Every step forward is a fight, every touch a scar waiting to happen, every word a weapon, and trust is a currency neither can afford. And waiting for the next book is tormenting!
This book tackles some heavy stuff, so make sure to take the trigger warnings seriously before diving in.
"Some love stories don't end. They just slowly rot in the dark.
Grief has a way of leaving doors open and neither of them learned how to close them properly - not love, not guilt, not the kind of ache that digs into your bones and stays there." - source Author Alyia Em.
Thank you for the ARC opportunity, and im leaving this review voluntarily.
One with containing thier feeling, the other with dark background, resulting in trust and communication issues, tainting thier beautiful childhood dreams and what lies ahead of them. Recycled abusive patterns easily become the norms - unless someone is daring, bold and wise enough to break the chain.
Nothing between them is simple. They crash into it, bleeding, clawing, daring each other to survive it, and every moment between them is soaked in tension, obsession, and emotional wreckage. Every step forward is a fight, every touch a scar waiting to happen, every word a weapon, and trust is a currency neither can afford. And waiting for the next book is tormenting!
This book tackles some heavy stuff, so make sure to take the trigger warnings seriously before diving in.
"Some love stories don't end. They just slowly rot in the dark.
Grief has a way of leaving doors open and neither of them learned how to close them properly - not love, not guilt, not the kind of ache that digs into your bones and stays there." - source Author Alyia Em.
Thank you for the ARC opportunity, and im leaving this review voluntarily.
October 23, 2025
It was an absolute honor to receive an ARC for Elegy. If you enjoy Leigh Rivers, you’ll enjoy this dark romantasy.
“Kade is back. And somehow, the knowing hurts worse than the absence ever did. His return sits in my bones, heavy and raw, dredging up things I’ve spent years trying to bury. Things we both broke and left behind like they weren’t bleeding all over the floor.”
"Even when I’m falling apart, I still make sure she doesn’t. Because that’s the one thing I still know how to do right.”
-
This is a story about two teenagers who fall in love, who are torn to pieces through the years by the lives they’re each forced to live. The way they react to their situations are raw and real, making you feel for these characters in a way that hits hard.
The book jumps between Kade and Juliet’s perspectives, both past and present, slowly revealing the pieces of what brought them to where they are now. Their stubborn obsession with each other is the only thing keeping them afloat in a world that’s trying to drag them under.
I loved the found family aspect, and found myself falling in love with a few of the side characters as well.
It’s a slow burn, but let me tell you, when the spice hits, it HITS. Mind your TWs, this one is wonderfully dark.
I love stories that make you feel something, and I’ll be thinking about Kade and Juliet’s for a long time. I can’t wait for the next one.
What a debut! This is an author to watch.
“Kade is back. And somehow, the knowing hurts worse than the absence ever did. His return sits in my bones, heavy and raw, dredging up things I’ve spent years trying to bury. Things we both broke and left behind like they weren’t bleeding all over the floor.”
"Even when I’m falling apart, I still make sure she doesn’t. Because that’s the one thing I still know how to do right.”
-
This is a story about two teenagers who fall in love, who are torn to pieces through the years by the lives they’re each forced to live. The way they react to their situations are raw and real, making you feel for these characters in a way that hits hard.
The book jumps between Kade and Juliet’s perspectives, both past and present, slowly revealing the pieces of what brought them to where they are now. Their stubborn obsession with each other is the only thing keeping them afloat in a world that’s trying to drag them under.
I loved the found family aspect, and found myself falling in love with a few of the side characters as well.
It’s a slow burn, but let me tell you, when the spice hits, it HITS. Mind your TWs, this one is wonderfully dark.
I love stories that make you feel something, and I’ll be thinking about Kade and Juliet’s for a long time. I can’t wait for the next one.
What a debut! This is an author to watch.
June 17, 2025
🖤 ARC Review 🖤
🌙 Broken People. Sharp Words. Heavy Silences.
⭐️ 4/5 ⭐️
"Say it, Kade. Say you hate me."
"If I hated you, I'd be free."
This book swallowed me whole. Elegy is raw, poetic, and absolutely unafraid of darkness. Kade and Juliet are chaos incarnate, two shattered people who somehow feel whole only in each other’s wreckage. And I couldn’t look away.
💔 The relationship? Chaotic, co-dependent, unhinged, and yet… painfully honest.
💔 The pacing? Dreamy and dangerous. The last 10 chapters? A sharp left turn I did not see coming.
💔 The flashbacks? Stunning. They gave the story emotional weight and resonance that lingered long after I finished.
💔 The writing? Gritty and lyrical. Dual POV done right.
Yes, some parts felt a little repetitive (especially in Kade’s POV), but it kind of worked, like we were inside the obsessive loop of his mind. And if you’ve ever loved someone from your own brokenness… Juliet and Kade will feel like old ghosts.
This is not your typical romance. It’s a grief story dressed as love, and I’m here for the fire walk.
🔥 Favorite things:
• Messy love that doesn’t apologize
• Family secrets (I need more Isaac and Kade’s parents ASAP!)
• That aching hope we might get a happy ending... someday
Book 2 can’t come fast enough.
Thank you @alyiaem for the ARC. I’m still recovering. 🖤
🌙 Broken People. Sharp Words. Heavy Silences.
⭐️ 4/5 ⭐️
"Say it, Kade. Say you hate me."
"If I hated you, I'd be free."
This book swallowed me whole. Elegy is raw, poetic, and absolutely unafraid of darkness. Kade and Juliet are chaos incarnate, two shattered people who somehow feel whole only in each other’s wreckage. And I couldn’t look away.
💔 The relationship? Chaotic, co-dependent, unhinged, and yet… painfully honest.
💔 The pacing? Dreamy and dangerous. The last 10 chapters? A sharp left turn I did not see coming.
💔 The flashbacks? Stunning. They gave the story emotional weight and resonance that lingered long after I finished.
💔 The writing? Gritty and lyrical. Dual POV done right.
Yes, some parts felt a little repetitive (especially in Kade’s POV), but it kind of worked, like we were inside the obsessive loop of his mind. And if you’ve ever loved someone from your own brokenness… Juliet and Kade will feel like old ghosts.
This is not your typical romance. It’s a grief story dressed as love, and I’m here for the fire walk.
🔥 Favorite things:
• Messy love that doesn’t apologize
• Family secrets (I need more Isaac and Kade’s parents ASAP!)
• That aching hope we might get a happy ending... someday
Book 2 can’t come fast enough.
Thank you @alyiaem for the ARC. I’m still recovering. 🖤
January 12, 2026
I loved this so much, i was hooked from the premise and could not put it down! Everything was emotionally charged. Juliet was damaged, abused, tired and by those that were supposed to love and protect her, only holding it together with help from her brother Isaac. Hiding her abuse from her closest friends, learning to lie about the bruises, she just wanted to be cared for. A normal family. Kade wanted destruction, also abused and threatened, he is protecting those he loves by being the perfect puppet for sadistic abusers.
Once childhood sweethearts but pulled apart by the very same abuse, Kade and Juliet are drawn together, always. Not knowing the real truth, Kade continues to feel hate towatds Juliet, but underneath it all, he will always love her. They belong together. Torn apart from the twisted society that they both unknowingly are involved in
Kade finds out too late the real truth, he wants revenge, destruction, to paint everywhere red.
I loved the emotional, unhinged moments he has, the strength of Juliet as she continues to hold it together. I can't wait for book two in this trilogy, love the writing style, a fantastic debut book.
Once childhood sweethearts but pulled apart by the very same abuse, Kade and Juliet are drawn together, always. Not knowing the real truth, Kade continues to feel hate towatds Juliet, but underneath it all, he will always love her. They belong together. Torn apart from the twisted society that they both unknowingly are involved in
Kade finds out too late the real truth, he wants revenge, destruction, to paint everywhere red.
I loved the emotional, unhinged moments he has, the strength of Juliet as she continues to hold it together. I can't wait for book two in this trilogy, love the writing style, a fantastic debut book.
May 28, 2025
I devoured this book and didn’t look back. The main characters are engaging and their relationship is chaotic in the best way. I do hope they find their own little piece of peace, even though I’m low key terrified of the price they’ll have to pay for it. The story kept me on my toes and I didn’t see the switch of pace coming with the last ten chapters. The flashbacks were purposely sprinkled across the book and the true gem among the pages, in my opinion. The dual point of view was smooth and never felt forced. Some events in the book seem at times a bit unrealistic but it didn’t really register until after the fact. Regardless of how they got there, Juliet and Kade’s brokenness -each in their own way, reminded me of how I used to love, in shared brokenness, heavy silences and sharp words I didn’t mean. I hope, in a few books, there is a happy ending for them… as some of us need to walk through fire to learn that we always did deserved to be loved.
March 11, 2026
This debut book by Alyia Em is outstanding. It ticks so many boxes for the makings of a perfect dark romance story.
Told in dual POV and in both past and present tense, this story focuses on Kade and Jules, who meet and fall hard and fast in love, but due to dreadful circumstances and miscommunication, they are torn apart on bad terms for 3 years before Kade returns full of hatred for Jules, but completely unable to rid her from his system.
He has got himself trapped in a dark underworld, and Jules is facing some horrendous battles at home, with only her brother Isaac supporting her.
It’s not long before it becomes clear that Kade can’t stay away from Jules, and the yearning for her is off the scale.
When Kade finds out too late that Jules is in severe danger, he threatens to burn the world down to protect her.
The writing in this book is exceptional. The push and pull between Kade and Jules is just chefs kiss. It is so raw and visceral.
I can’t wait for book 2.
Told in dual POV and in both past and present tense, this story focuses on Kade and Jules, who meet and fall hard and fast in love, but due to dreadful circumstances and miscommunication, they are torn apart on bad terms for 3 years before Kade returns full of hatred for Jules, but completely unable to rid her from his system.
He has got himself trapped in a dark underworld, and Jules is facing some horrendous battles at home, with only her brother Isaac supporting her.
It’s not long before it becomes clear that Kade can’t stay away from Jules, and the yearning for her is off the scale.
When Kade finds out too late that Jules is in severe danger, he threatens to burn the world down to protect her.
The writing in this book is exceptional. The push and pull between Kade and Jules is just chefs kiss. It is so raw and visceral.
I can’t wait for book 2.
December 2, 2025
This dark romance debut from Alyia Em had me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Kade and Juliet were two teenagers who fell in love, but were torn apart because of the lives that are forced upon them. When Kade comes home to visit, they are thrown back together in an emotionally charged story of love, betrayal, secrets, and pain.
Told from Juliet and Kade’s POV, Elegy is a haunting story of two broken souls trying to stay afloat. There was so much emotion packed into this story, and I could not put it down. Their relationship is broken because of lies and secrets, which eventually unravel when it's too late to fix.
The ending of this book left me shook, and I am dying to know where fate will take these characters.
There are a lot of dark themes on this book, so PLEASE check the trigger warnings before reading.
Told from Juliet and Kade’s POV, Elegy is a haunting story of two broken souls trying to stay afloat. There was so much emotion packed into this story, and I could not put it down. Their relationship is broken because of lies and secrets, which eventually unravel when it's too late to fix.
The ending of this book left me shook, and I am dying to know where fate will take these characters.
There are a lot of dark themes on this book, so PLEASE check the trigger warnings before reading.
March 26, 2026
The first half was emotional, slower, calmer. But the second half broke me. I devoured it. The pain, the secrets, the hate and love were there, wanting to open you up, but what came next.... was unraveling. It was devastating. It kept me hanging onto the words until the very end.
Juliet and Kade are not two normal souls or two simple childhood enemies to lovers. No, they are more than that. They keep too much inside of them, let too little to the surface. They are two broken souls, not because of them, but because of the ones who want to profit off of them, who want to succeed through their pain and sufferings. Can't wait for Desolate! I am boiling inside to find out how my heart will break again!
Juliet and Kade are not two normal souls or two simple childhood enemies to lovers. No, they are more than that. They keep too much inside of them, let too little to the surface. They are two broken souls, not because of them, but because of the ones who want to profit off of them, who want to succeed through their pain and sufferings. Can't wait for Desolate! I am boiling inside to find out how my heart will break again!
May 28, 2025
ARC read 4.3 ⭐️ This story was very engaging, the characters, yes unhinged, but wonderfully written. I cant wait to read more of their stories and get to know the families more, like Kade's parents and Isaac. I definitely can't wait to know what Kade's dad actually does. There were several spots that Kade was very repetitive which could be his obsessive nature, but just felt kind of boring to read his same thoughts twice over and over. The story line was heartbreaking but kept you locked in and on the edge of your seat!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2025
This books was amazing from start to finish. Definitely read the trigger warnings. Juliet and Kade are a love story for the ages. Just when they finally get together a video makes Kade think something happened that didn't and both their worlds change, and they become people they don't even recognize. Is it too late when Kade finally realizes the truth about Juliet's life, when she sees the world he really lives in?! You've got to read to find out!
June 12, 2025
Not all love is kind and soft- sometimes it’s difficult and rough- filled with hurt and anger- but it can conquer all- even the devil them selves -
I couldn’t put this book down once I got started- the storyline is not straight and arrow but takes your through a whirlwind of love and hate, deception and anger- that leaves you want more- looking forward to the next book.
I couldn’t put this book down once I got started- the storyline is not straight and arrow but takes your through a whirlwind of love and hate, deception and anger- that leaves you want more- looking forward to the next book.
April 14, 2026
This is plagiarism. This book is exactly like the edge of darkness trilogy. Just few things here and there are changed for example in this book fmc's parents are abusive and in that book it was her step brother. it has the same story line as the edge of darkness trilogy even the mmc's name is same .
June 3, 2025
Ready for book two! I have so many questions that need answered!
June 30, 2025
so good I loved it i cant wait to see what comes next
January 6, 2026
i need a minute to process this book. oh my god, it was fabulous!! it was raw, real and had tears streaming down my face. i cannot WAIT for book 2
February 23, 2026
the writing was beautiful! but for my liking, I'd prefer a tighter plot. there were some mysteries unanswered as well. I wish we had more hints about that.
overall that was a good experience!
overall that was a good experience!
February 28, 2026
wanted to give it a 0 but that's not possible so I gave it a 1
April 25, 2026
2.5 stars. This book could have been a novela for the hundreds of pages of repeated, aimless whining. Read like a very immature individual writing about serious topics. Several bits and pieces of the plot made very little sense. I am not one to give up a series, but I don't know if I'll read the next one.
June 24, 2025
I could not read this book fast enough!!
The characters are so torn up and protective. They try to protect each other as they destroy the other.
The raw emotions are heart wrenching!
I can not wait for book 2!!
Please read trigger warnings!
The characters are so torn up and protective. They try to protect each other as they destroy the other.
The raw emotions are heart wrenching!
I can not wait for book 2!!
Please read trigger warnings!
June 1, 2025
*Elegy* has a compelling story with lots of potential, and the plot kept me engaged from start to finish. While the writing style felt a bit repetitive at times—especially with frequent phrases "like I was..." and "maybe I was this. maybe I was that." to describe characters feelings and the constant I hate yous—the world and characters still drew me in. I’m excited to see how the author grows in the next two books, because the foundation is definitely there for something great.
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