Root & Stem

by B.L. Sparrow

Kieran never intended to tank his NHL career, but sometimes things happen. Unfortunately, being a successful hockey player had let him stay very far away from the family he hates for most of his adult life. Now his career is in the toilet, and his manipulative dad has used that to get him back home, trapped in the childhood home he left a long time ago. With his dad, his stepmother, and his half-brother Theo who is everything he's not: kind, gentle, looking forward to a glorious unblemished hockey career and, most importantly, beloved by everyone around him.

It makes sense for Kieran to be angry. It makes sense for him to want to screw with his brother any way he can. But when their conflict goes from violent to violent but kind of sexy, things start to get weird. Sometimes the last person you expect is ready to match your freak.

Root & Stem is a 25k word taboo brocest novella featuring dark relationship dynamics, dub-con, kink-heavy sex, and an exploration of childhood trauma. It is only suitable for adult readers.

Genres: M M Romance, Novella, Sports, Erotica

110 pages, ebook

Published November 25, 2025

Reviews

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kieran + Theo
Taboo | First times



⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists






Tropes/content:
Half brothers 🩸
Hockey 🏒
Kieran is 28, Theo is 19
Animosity and resentment
Walks in on him jerking off and fingering himself in the shower
Choking
Degredation (slut)
Face fucking
Bareback
Rough sex
First times
Unclear if Theo is a virgin or just never been with a man before. All we know is that the only thing he's ever had in his ass is his own fingers.
Humiliation
"I've got you"
Theo likes pain
Some CBT (squeezing)
Bent over the bathroom counter
Nipple twisting
Cum as lube
Baby
HFN - talks of getting an apartment together



Warnings/icks:
Incest between half brothers
Their first time together Kieran gets off but then freaks out and storms away before Theo can get off. Theo is just left there used on the floor
Mentions of measles as a child and lingering hear loss to this day
Mention of vaccines
Kieran was molested by his coach (his dads friend) as a child as well as hit, forced to exercise until he puked. Even as an adult this man has a hold on him and his dad doesn't give a shit
Pain during sex

[Lauralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hockey and BL Sparrow? Sign me up. I loved this.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hot novella about half brothers. It really left me wanting more.

[angie_bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I NEEDED this to be a full length book. I'm obsessed!!

[Rachel Harrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

B L Sparrow never fails to understand the assignment with taboo novellas but this one hit a little harder than usual.

Childhood trauma has left Kieran angry and broken. His dad emotionally neglected him and his younger half brother Theo is living the NHL dream that could have been his.

But when he accidentally walks in on his brother in a somewhat compromising situation, Kieran finds the type of release he didn’t know he was seeking. And Theo is the perfect partner to make it happen.

✨MM
✨Inc*st (half brothers)
✨Degr*dation kink
✨Dubcon
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

So yeah... I will need a full-length book of Kieran and Theo 😇 And apparently, it's coming at some point? 🤞🏽 It better!

Their dynamics, Kieran's attitude combined with his vulnerability, Theo taking care of him, the spice... 🔥 But since it's only 110 pages, the connection was a little rushed—but ooh boy, as a full-length book? Yes, please.

[Tonya ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filthy taboo goodness 🥵🥵🥵

Definitely need this to be a full length novel.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a full length book for these two 😭🙌🏼

[Madam Ra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, but very intense. Theo and Kieran (half brothers)Kieran is messing his life left and right, we later discover why that is and it brought me to tears. His father can go fuck himself, what a pos. Theo is seemingly the golden child, but still hides a lot of things about himself. When they “ get together” it was like a bomb exploding. I am not much into degradation, also their first time together was too much cnc for my taste, they don’t communicate things at all. So yeah, perhaps if we get a second novella, that’s more like a longer epilogue that would be nice.

[Ashley Dead.inside_but_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Tab00 story with 🩸 Brothers. They are half brothers in this story but yes still 🩸...so if that's not your thing I suggest you skip this one...and if it is....😈

There are also some heavier topics in this one so make sure you check the CWs before heading in.

🌶🌶🌶

Kieran has come back home after his NHL career didn't go as planned. Kieran's father was also in the hockey world so gave him a deal...come home where he will live under his roof following his rules and he will pull some strings to keep Kieran's career going. Kieran reluctantly agreed and moved to live with his Father, Step-Mother, and half brother. Kieran always resented his younger half brother Theo as due to a health condition when Theo was a child any attention from the parents went to him. Now much older and definitely not sickly anymore Theo is a junior hockey star which also rubs Kieran wrong because yet again Theo is getting the attention Kieran craved.
Theo never understood the animosity between his father and brother which then fueled the hatred Kieran had for him. Now that he isn't an oblivious kid anymore he is catching some undertones he definitely missed years before and once the truth spills out Kieran is expecting to be alone again but there Theo is...standing in his corner.
Um I could have easily read a full 300-400 page book on these two. I absolutely need more! The brief Protective flare from Theo..um yesSsSs gimme all of that! This story turned out to be so much more then I thought and it's one you need to read!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶️ From Root to Tip: Absolutely Feral 🌶️

Holy fucking wow… this book straight up knocked me on my ass 🤯 I finished it in one sitting and I’m still lying here like 🫠 trying to recover. B.L. Sparrow doesn’t ease you in—oh no—they GRAB you from page one and refuse to let go. It was hot, hot, HOT. 🔥🔥🔥

Kieran and Theo? Perfection in chaotic, forbidden form. Their dynamic? Pure magic ✨ I was obsessed from the start—even when Kieran was throwing out his best “don’t-touch-me” vibes. You knew there was something deeper under that tough exterior. And Theo… baby Theo 🥺 secretly craving to be controlled while hiding his true desires. The pressure to conform? Crushing. Their connection? Liberating.

The tension. The push-and-pull. That forbidden pull they tried to resist but never stood a chance against… I devoured the pages, hungry for every second they spent together 😵‍💫 Every encounter had me feral. Like… FERAL.

And when they finally let go? SCORCHING. I’m talking melt-your-Kindle levels of heat 🔥 Somehow, B.L. Sparrow still builds a fully fleshed-out, emotionally layered story—with depth and steam—in such a short novella. Actual genius. I could’ve read another 200 pages, easy.

⚠️ Definitely check the CWs—there are some heavy topics, and of course it is a taboo read. But if that’s your thing? Add it to your TBR immediately.

I was ALL IN, fully invested, and I need more like… right this second 🥵 An absolute must-read.

[Canadian Girl Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🍁🍁🍁🍁⁣
⁣
Take a chance and join Kieran and Theo on their journey if you vibe with…⁣
⁣
🏒 MM⁣
🖤 Taboo | Half-Brothers⁣
🏒 Sports | Hockey⁣
🖤 Size Difference⁣
🏒 Enemies⁣
🖤 Close | Forced Proximity⁣
⁣
Kieran is angry at the world, and when his father summons him back to the place of his nightmares, he takes his anger out on his half-brother, Theo, until things between them shift from anger to something more.⁣
⁣
Kieran has demons from his past, and once Theo figures them out, he takes Kieran’s side, and it completely changes their dynamic. I felt for Kieran and what he went through, and I love how patient Theo was.

[Jessica Prince-Campbell]

This is hard for me to rate. I generally don’t read Novellas & I know that won’t change, especially after this book. It felt like reading an excerpt from a much longer story that I would enjoy. It was emotional, angsty & spicy, things I love in my books but I didn’t have time to feel attached to the MMC. So with that in mind, I just don’t know 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Malin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was way to good to be this short, it’s literally edging me not knowing if/when we get more.

Writing short novellas just isn’t for them, they write way too good to be so short.. Love this, love everything!

[NicoleReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know HOW this author keeps making me like stuff I would find questionable in any other scenario. It's a talent, really.

Ate this up.
Would recommend for my tab00 loving peeps.

[Ken Terp · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only complaint is that it was way too short! Should have been a full length novel.

[VicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taboo AF.
HOT AF.

throw in a bit of plot and degradation and you have a recipe for a book that I quickly devoured.

I need more on these two. I neeeeeeeeed a full length book.

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kieran + Theo

-mm taboo (half bros)
-hockey romance
-age gap
-bully/dubcob
-forced proximity

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew a few pages in, that I didn’t want this book to end so soon. I kept looking at the page count wishing this story was longer. Broken boys have my heart.

[Nicole Greene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes❤️

🖤Taboo 🩸(half siblings)
🖤Brothers play hockey
🖤Family Drama
🖤Enemies to lovers
🖤HFN

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐(3.5)
Steamy:🌶️🌶️
POV: Dual
Type📣: Standalone
⚠️Check TW⚠️

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a TABOO romance! BL Sparrow writes some of the best k!nky spicy taboo stories. If that’s your kind of thing then read on!

Root & Stem focuses on two half-brothers, 9 years apart in age, both hockey players. There’s a lot of unpacking of childhood trauma, angst and hurt/comfort moments. But there’s also plenty of spice and lots of spice.

If you like taboo romance more on the angsty side, this is definitely a good one to go for.

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What I've Been Reading" ARC Review Root & Stem by BL Sparrow
05/12/2025 - I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, BL Sparrow for this gift. 🥰

—4,5 Diabolical Fcking Incubus Stars ⭐️— 4 🌶—

CONTENTS:
🏒 MM Dark Taboo Hockey Novella
🖤 A Bully Romance
🏒 Half Brothers
🖤 9y Age Gap
🏒 Forced Proximity
🖤 First Times
🏒 Virgin MC
🚿 Filthy Dirty Talk
🔥 Dub Con
🔥 Rough Sex
🥵 Humilition Kink
🥵 Chocking & Spitting
🔥 Pain Kink
🔥 Forced Orgasms
🏒 Closeted MC
🖤 Childhood Trauma
🏒 Disability Rep
🖤 Hurt/Comfort
🏒 HEA/HFN

-StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews...
Socials: https://linktr.ee/lionelle.swithens

[Miruru Shouting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half brothers, slight enemies to lovers, the hesitation and hidden desires, the teasing and build-up, everything was so delicious leading up to Kieran and Theo's sexy times. Unfortunately, their parents have such bad attitudes toward Kieran, which had initially tainted Theo's perception of his older brother.

The hurt/comfort was just as much a part of the story as the relationship, and I hurt for Kieran. I'm glad Theo was there for him when the secret of what happened in Kieran's past with his coach came out, while his dad was still being a jerk and making excuses.

The switch in dynamic where Theo was taking care of vulnerable Kieran was so wholesome. Then the switch in the bedroom where Kieran takes over and Theo is submissive and loves being degraded by Kieran, was so hot. Love them so much! I need a sequel book of their future that they discussed at the end of the book. It sounded so wonderful, I need them to have a better HEA, please!