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Souls we rip
Not yet published
Expected 24 Feb 26Romania, the countryside.
In a small village, where houses are spread, where you talk with your neighbour by yelling over a hill, Ana meets the creature from a long-lost story on the night of The Girls Fair.
When she offers her soul in exchange of her father's, she signs for more than one year of servitude for the infamous Goat Men.
While he walks the Earth for centuries, she will be his ripper.
While he falls in love with her, she will be his downfall.
Let the ripping begin.
In a small village, where houses are spread, where you talk with your neighbour by yelling over a hill, Ana meets the creature from a long-lost story on the night of The Girls Fair.
When she offers her soul in exchange of her father's, she signs for more than one year of servitude for the infamous Goat Men.
While he walks the Earth for centuries, she will be his ripper.
While he falls in love with her, she will be his downfall.
Let the ripping begin.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 24, 2026
9 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 14, 2026
I was instantly transported into the book with the legend of the Goat Man drawing me in.
Set in Romania, Ana is 23 and still not wed. Her sister, Angelica, has just turned 18 so it is her first year at the Girls’ Fair, a place where young men & women go to meet their future spouse. Ana is hoping her sister will find a good man & get out of the family home, away from their abusive father. She wishes to escape it herself, taking her mother away with her but she knows that isn’t possible so she will settle for her sister’s happiness.
Whilst at the Girls’ Fair, the Goat Man appears atop his horse. She gives herself for her father, the soul he has come to rip, & ends up under the control of the Goat Man, signing a contract & becoming the Stag Woman.
As their feelings for one another grow, so does the confusion in Ana’s head. She starts to see him as a man rather than a beast, making her question her own faith at times. The Goat Man knows he shouldn’t give into his feelings as he is using her to replace him so he can gain his humanity, but him calling her ‘heart’ & the way she makes him less cold says different.
Learning the Goat Man’s true story was one of my favourite things, I really wasn’t expecting the twist that came along side that.
I really enjoyed how the author brought her culture into her writing, showing her love for her homeland.
This is a story laced in hardship but it has beautiful elements of found family, self discovery & sacrifice, all while remaining faithful through the hardest times. Ripping the souls from evil & vile humans gave me such satisfaction as I read this.
It was a beautiful story, & I thought it was an unusual & different take on The Beauty & The Beast, giving that fairytale feeling in the guise of Romanian culture.
Set in Romania, Ana is 23 and still not wed. Her sister, Angelica, has just turned 18 so it is her first year at the Girls’ Fair, a place where young men & women go to meet their future spouse. Ana is hoping her sister will find a good man & get out of the family home, away from their abusive father. She wishes to escape it herself, taking her mother away with her but she knows that isn’t possible so she will settle for her sister’s happiness.
Whilst at the Girls’ Fair, the Goat Man appears atop his horse. She gives herself for her father, the soul he has come to rip, & ends up under the control of the Goat Man, signing a contract & becoming the Stag Woman.
As their feelings for one another grow, so does the confusion in Ana’s head. She starts to see him as a man rather than a beast, making her question her own faith at times. The Goat Man knows he shouldn’t give into his feelings as he is using her to replace him so he can gain his humanity, but him calling her ‘heart’ & the way she makes him less cold says different.
Learning the Goat Man’s true story was one of my favourite things, I really wasn’t expecting the twist that came along side that.
I really enjoyed how the author brought her culture into her writing, showing her love for her homeland.
This is a story laced in hardship but it has beautiful elements of found family, self discovery & sacrifice, all while remaining faithful through the hardest times. Ripping the souls from evil & vile humans gave me such satisfaction as I read this.
It was a beautiful story, & I thought it was an unusual & different take on The Beauty & The Beast, giving that fairytale feeling in the guise of Romanian culture.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 Stars
This was a Story about Finding yourself and not allowing your beliefs to cloud your judgement with a Romanian culture.
The glossary but a great addition
This started lovely and turned horror really fast. The characters relationship was a slow burn from hate to love.
The cave is nothing but the color Grey, and Ana needed to come in with some color for everyone living inside. Life is Not just white or black and that love was the final thread for each other.
The right people died, but with questioning everyone's nature of right and justice.
Ana had so Many valid questions throughout the book, and her beliefs were held so high, to even have her questioning herself made it all the better. She was raised with the black and white experience.
She volunteered to take her father's place, who was an absolute horrible person in order to save him.
The Goat Man ruthless, selfish person, but then came around once Ana was brought into his life. The emotions he had lingering within himself and what he would share in the end was so powerful.
The characters struggles were real, messy, dangerous, with true emotions brought out of each other.
Everyone got what they wanted. Love concurred all and Evil with always be that with or without a mask.
The detailed descriptions of the faces under the "Masters" was gross and something you would read in a horror, Mummy or Zombie books. Rotten decay over centuries of living really has me.
This was an ARC for free, and this is my review
Thank you for allowing me to read the book
This was a Story about Finding yourself and not allowing your beliefs to cloud your judgement with a Romanian culture.
The glossary but a great addition
This started lovely and turned horror really fast. The characters relationship was a slow burn from hate to love.
The cave is nothing but the color Grey, and Ana needed to come in with some color for everyone living inside. Life is Not just white or black and that love was the final thread for each other.
The right people died, but with questioning everyone's nature of right and justice.
Ana had so Many valid questions throughout the book, and her beliefs were held so high, to even have her questioning herself made it all the better. She was raised with the black and white experience.
She volunteered to take her father's place, who was an absolute horrible person in order to save him.
The Goat Man ruthless, selfish person, but then came around once Ana was brought into his life. The emotions he had lingering within himself and what he would share in the end was so powerful.
The characters struggles were real, messy, dangerous, with true emotions brought out of each other.
Everyone got what they wanted. Love concurred all and Evil with always be that with or without a mask.
The detailed descriptions of the faces under the "Masters" was gross and something you would read in a horror, Mummy or Zombie books. Rotten decay over centuries of living really has me.
This was an ARC for free, and this is my review
Thank you for allowing me to read the book
Review of advance copy received from Author
Souls We Rip begins with Ana and her sister, Angelica, preparing for the Girls Fair—a moment that should be filled with excitement and celebration. That happiness is shattered when the Goat Man arrives, turning the night dark and dangerous. He has come for Ana’s father, but Ana refuses to let her family lose the man they depend on most. Stepping forward in his place, Ana makes a choice that changes everything.
Rather than killing Ana or her father, the Goat Man makes an unexpected decision and takes Ana with him, setting the story on a haunting and unsettling path. From the very first page, this book pulls you in and refuses to let go.
D. M. R. blends supernatural danger with raw, emotional storytelling in a way that feels both gripping and addictive. Ana’s struggles are messy, painful, and deeply real, and the tension remains high throughout the entire story. The mythology woven into the narrative is used in a unique and effective way, adding depth to an already immersive world.
I was completely invested in both the world and the characters that inhabit it. The character development is strong, and the relationships—especially the romance—are woven seamlessly into the dark atmosphere of the story. Everything works together to create a compelling, emotional, and haunting read. Souls We Rip is a dark, engaging novel that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
Rather than killing Ana or her father, the Goat Man makes an unexpected decision and takes Ana with him, setting the story on a haunting and unsettling path. From the very first page, this book pulls you in and refuses to let go.
D. M. R. blends supernatural danger with raw, emotional storytelling in a way that feels both gripping and addictive. Ana’s struggles are messy, painful, and deeply real, and the tension remains high throughout the entire story. The mythology woven into the narrative is used in a unique and effective way, adding depth to an already immersive world.
I was completely invested in both the world and the characters that inhabit it. The character development is strong, and the relationships—especially the romance—are woven seamlessly into the dark atmosphere of the story. Everything works together to create a compelling, emotional, and haunting read. Souls We Rip is a dark, engaging novel that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
Review of advance copy
Ana and her sister attend a festival in hopes of finding a beu and escaping their abusive father. The Goat Man, a nightmarish soul ripper, attends the event to collect the soul of Ana's father. Ana, a pious and pure soul, begs to take her father's place. Tricked into a contract with The Goat Man, Ana is torn between her faith and love.
This was a beautiful story about maintaining faith through hardship, found family, and redemption.
I loved the setting of the novel. The Romanian backdrop and references to cultural traditions, clothing, food, and the use of the language was reflective of the adoration the author has for her homeland.
I appreciated the character of Ana. The traumatizing childhood she experienced and her continued belief in a higher power was admirable. The struggles she underwent when faced with fulfilling her contract, which conflicted with her beliefs, was palpable.
The magic system/occult surrounding the Goat Man and his master was unique and creative. I enjoyed his journey of redemption.
Andrei is the perfect secondary character - I loved his development and the protective role he ended up playing.
Thank you BookSirens and DMR for the opportunity to read this ARC. My review of this novel is voluntary.
This was a beautiful story about maintaining faith through hardship, found family, and redemption.
I loved the setting of the novel. The Romanian backdrop and references to cultural traditions, clothing, food, and the use of the language was reflective of the adoration the author has for her homeland.
I appreciated the character of Ana. The traumatizing childhood she experienced and her continued belief in a higher power was admirable. The struggles she underwent when faced with fulfilling her contract, which conflicted with her beliefs, was palpable.
The magic system/occult surrounding the Goat Man and his master was unique and creative. I enjoyed his journey of redemption.
Andrei is the perfect secondary character - I loved his development and the protective role he ended up playing.
Thank you BookSirens and DMR for the opportunity to read this ARC. My review of this novel is voluntary.
December 7, 2025
ARC read
I am not a very religious person and I do not care so much about traditions, but I enjoyed reading about them in this book.
It was something new for me to read a book in English with a lot of words in Romanian, most of them old ones (I even had to look up some of them). I was very excited every time I saw such words or when was mentioned a tradition or something specific about România that I knew about. I appreciated the mention of my city and the actions that took place there.
The love story between the main characters is a slow burn from hate to love. The Goat Man is the first one to acknowledge his feelings, it took longer for Ana because of her beliefs and black and white vision of the world.
I liked the idea that nothing is entirely black or white, there are shades of gray everywhere and that love is the most powerful thing in the world.
I am not a very religious person and I do not care so much about traditions, but I enjoyed reading about them in this book.
It was something new for me to read a book in English with a lot of words in Romanian, most of them old ones (I even had to look up some of them). I was very excited every time I saw such words or when was mentioned a tradition or something specific about România that I knew about. I appreciated the mention of my city and the actions that took place there.
The love story between the main characters is a slow burn from hate to love. The Goat Man is the first one to acknowledge his feelings, it took longer for Ana because of her beliefs and black and white vision of the world.
I liked the idea that nothing is entirely black or white, there are shades of gray everywhere and that love is the most powerful thing in the world.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Hauntingly Beautiful Blend of Romanian Folklore and Dark Justice
I was completely captivated by Souls We Rip by D.M.R. This dark, atmospheric reimagining is set against a richly textured Romanian backdrop and follows Ana, whose self-sacrifice to save her family leads her into a haunting contract as the Stag Woman. The transition from a traditional folk-fair setting to visceral, high-stakes horror was masterfully executed. I particularly admired how the author used Ana’s journey to explore the grey areas of faith and justice, challenging her black-and-white worldview. The slow-burn romance and the gruesome, detailed descriptions of the "Masters" created a unique tension that stayed with me long after the final page.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was completely captivated by Souls We Rip by D.M.R. This dark, atmospheric reimagining is set against a richly textured Romanian backdrop and follows Ana, whose self-sacrifice to save her family leads her into a haunting contract as the Stag Woman. The transition from a traditional folk-fair setting to visceral, high-stakes horror was masterfully executed. I particularly admired how the author used Ana’s journey to explore the grey areas of faith and justice, challenging her black-and-white worldview. The slow-burn romance and the gruesome, detailed descriptions of the "Masters" created a unique tension that stayed with me long after the final page.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that element that I was looking for from the description. I was invested in the world and the characters that lived in this world. I was invested from the first page and enjoyed getting into this storyline, the characters were so well written and enjoyed the overall feel of them in this world. It uses the mythology elements in a unique way and thought worked overall. I enjoyed the romance of this and how well everything was used to create this storyline. DMR has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this and hope to read more from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is about self sacrifice, discovery and believing in yourself, no matter what. When I read that this was based in Romania and about their culture I didn't know what to expect as it isn't subject I know much about.
I wouldn't classify this as a horror genre but it is quite dark, however to me, I guess it is dark in a ok way and I liked that the people that are soul riped deserve it, well in my opinion and I really like the idea that nasty people get whats coming to them.
This isn't my typical read but I have to say that I did enjoy it and the story was on point so if you're looking for something a bit different, I would definitely add to your TBR and give it a go. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Thank you to Wings and Words for letting have an ARC.
I wouldn't classify this as a horror genre but it is quite dark, however to me, I guess it is dark in a ok way and I liked that the people that are soul riped deserve it, well in my opinion and I really like the idea that nasty people get whats coming to them.
This isn't my typical read but I have to say that I did enjoy it and the story was on point so if you're looking for something a bit different, I would definitely add to your TBR and give it a go. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Thank you to Wings and Words for letting have an ARC.
December 8, 2025
Souls We Rip is a dark, read that grabs you from page one. D. M. R. blends supernatural danger with raw emotion in a way that feels both haunting and addictive. The main character’s struggles are messy and real, and the tension never lets up.
She sacrifices herself for her family and a father who didn’t deserve any of it and The Goat Man ends up falling for her . If you like dark , hate turn to love this book has that cover .
This was given to me as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntarily review.
She sacrifices herself for her family and a father who didn’t deserve any of it and The Goat Man ends up falling for her . If you like dark , hate turn to love this book has that cover .
This was given to me as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntarily review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
an interesting story that helps one dive into old world Romanian culture. at points, felt a little redundant but was enjoyable overall. quick read and a good palate cleanser from too many super spiced books.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book really took care into bringing in Romanian culture. Enemies to lovers romance really turned up the tension. A very original idea of a dark fantasy that is balanced between romance and plot. Well done.
December 15, 2025
Arc reader, loved the immersion in another culture, the journey through religion and beliefs. I really reccomend this book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews