Sour Rot: A Gothic Romance

by Lily A. Grace

“All I needed or ever wanted was him. Our bodies. The cold, wet soil. This exquisite death.”This is Jane Eyre meets American Horror Story, set between Yorkshire and London. A complex young woman falls in love with a mysterious funeral director.

Lily A. Grace debuts book one of her gothic horromance series. A story of elegance and beauty among sorrow and decay. A place where worms pulse in the soil of their devotion; where their love and longing grows...and where it festers.

They say love is madness. Grace Lockett learns that love is death; the death of everything she knows. When her parents die, Grace flees her dilapidated cottage for an apprenticeship at a funeral home run by the enigmatic Nicholas Crowthorne.

Exiled and surly, Nicholas recognises a darkness in Grace; a penchant for the disturbing which he has seen before. Her resemblance to Louisa, his long-dead fiancé, makes her all the more intoxicating. Among the formaldehyde, she ignites his need to protect and possess, while he awakens Grace’s dormant desires and allows them to flourish. But who, Grace asks, was Louisa? Can Grace find herself while she walks in the footsteps of the one Nicholas loved before?

Their burning passion illuminates the lies and corruption beneath the surface, and unveils their deepest secrets. Deceit, tragedy, and murder unfold in the wake of their love...but what’s a little death, in the funeral business?

Age gap, toxic love, dual POV.

A modern-day setting with a dark, nostalgic writing style.

Contains adult content, mature readers only.

Trigger warnings/
Sour Rot is a Gothic Romance either detailing or referencing the following dark themes. If they bother you, trigger you, or offend you at all, please do not read this
Childhood abuse, trauma, grape. Death, mortuary details, funereal practices. Ghosts, the supernatural. Some spicy adult scenes with graphic details. Mental health issues. Arson. Blood, violence, murder.

Genres: Horror, Romance, Gothic, Fiction

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 14, 2026

Reviews

[Mandy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 stars, rounded up)

Sour Rot started out as a very sweet, almost innocent gothic romance, and I was immediately charmed. The beginning had all the cozy, romantic vibes. Moody setting, yearning, pining, and yes, a bit of insta-lust. Normally that’s not my favorite, but there was enough slow burn tension and emotional buildup that it worked well enough for me. The first third of the book was genuinely adorable and romance-forward, and I was happily along for the ride.

Then things went completely off the rails in the best way possible. The story took several wild, unexpected turns, and I found myself glued to the pages, desperate to know what would happen next. Watching the characters evolve from seemingly sweet and innocent into deeply unhinged people with dark pasts and terrible secrets was fascinating and very well done. I also absolutely loved the blend of romance and horror. It’s such a fun, thrilling combination, and Lily A. Grace pulled it off beautifully.

My only real gripe was how often the age gap between the main characters was brought up. I get it. She’s younger than him. Message received. But she’s 21, a full-grown adult capable of making her own choices, and the repeated emphasis started to feel a bit heavy-handed. I’m a fan of (legal) age-gap romances though, so maybe that’s on me.

Overall, this was a unique, gripping read that surprised me in the best ways, and I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author.

I received an ARC of Sour Rot from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[LX · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you for the e-arc!!

2 star

I had only a few pages left but count this as a finish. It didn't hit off for me sadly. As it's self published I don't want to leave a negative review but some errors and just the obsession with her young features was just too much to really get into the story.

Would be great with more gothic elements in it but the story premise did intrigue me. Also the cover is what got my attention and sadly I think another review that mentioned about the cover might be correct which is unfortunate. I had really high hopes for this but sadly this wasn't for me but might be a great read for another reader!

[Kayleigh Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s only January but I feel confident in saying this is going to make my top ten favorites of 2026!

This was the kind of book I never knew I needed. Gothic, just the right amount of horror (and smut). A forbidden love story, a funeral home… UGH. I loved everything about this book.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured Sour Rot and loved it from the first chapter and it absolutely killed me to finish it! While it technically exists in the modern age, that detail fades quickly into the background as the only modern reference is to a cellphone. The story feels timeless, soaked in old grief, old sins, and a darkness that feels inherited rather than current. Lily Grace writes with a gothic sensibility that gives the novel a preserved quality, like something carefully exhumed and held with care instead of rushed into the light.

This book is deeply preoccupied with death. Death as ritual, as familiarity, and as something that lingers in rooms long after the body is gone. The FMC, Grace, has a fascination with it feels intimate and shaped by experience rather than curiosity. There’s an unsettling ease in the way she moves through death, as if it’s something she understands instinctively. The dead feel present throughout the story, as possible specters, but mostly as weight. As something you can feel pressing down on every scene.

The MMC, Nicholas, exists entirely within that space. As a funeral director, his life revolves around quiet care, routine, and reverence for what remains. The funeral home where he lives and works reflects that same tension. The exterior of the old London Victorian mansion is grand with gardens left wild at their edges. Inside, it feels watchful. Heavy. Like the walls are holding their breath. The house carries history and many secrets, and you feel that pressure in every hallway and behind every closed door.

The atmosphere is suffocating in the best way as dread builds slowly through silence, and the sense that something is being carefully managed at all times. The tension lives in what isn’t said and what is yet to be revealed. I felt uneasy even during moments of calm, the way you do when you’re sitting in a quiet room and can tell something terrible has already happened there. The writing trusts the reader to sit in that discomfort and lets it deepen naturally until it is unbearable.

The tone reminded me strongly of Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak, with its beautiful architecture hiding rot beneath the surface, and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Telltale Heart, in the way guilt and obsession pulse quietly under everything, growing louder the longer they’re ignored. There’s a constant sense of pressure, of secrets pressing outward, of the past refusing to stay quiet no matter how carefully it’s contained.

The balance between atmosphere, character, and plot is strong. The characters feel shaped by the spaces they inhabit, and the story unfolds with a sense of inevitability that kept pulling me forward. I kept reading deep into the night, completely caught in its grip. It honestly killed me to finish this book.

My only real critique is that there were a few moments where Nicholas’s actions or emotional shifts felt a bit out of character, or where his growth happened too quickly and felt abrupt. It pulled me out of the moment for a second, like a misstep during a funeral procession, noticeable but not enough to derail the story.

I was also a little thrown off by how quickly Grace lusted for Nick. I think the story would have benefited from letting that attraction grow more slowly as she came to know him, especially given how much tension and atmosphere the book already does so well.

By the end, I felt haunted. The story lingered with me in that way only the best unsettling horror does, leaving behind a chill and a need to sit quietly with it. 🪦

❤️ A huge thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the ARC through NetGalley

[Hannah Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author wasn't kidding when they said they had a vintage way of writing; several times, especially in the beginning, I found myself thrown at the mention of computers or cell phones or the like. It didn't bother me, though; I like that kind of writing. Writing wise, this was a smooth and easy read that I finished in one sitting.

Onto the plot.... uh. I was staring up at the ceiling last night wondering what I would say about this and I'm still not sure. That is NOT a bad thing in this instance. I just mean that the author threw several completely unexpected things my way and I'm still processing them. I enjoy when a book sits with me. This is definitely not your typical romance and the horror element comes at you fast and strong.

As to the characters themselves... the complications continue. Do I like them? Do I not? They are, at the very least, complicated and interesting and I enjoyed reading about them. I enjoyed the dual POV so that I could get both sides of the story. I think both MCs made some REALLY awful choices that I just could not get behind or excuse and I can't get into that without getting into spoiler land. I was happy with the way their story ended, though, even if I don't know quite what to make of them as people.

(I thought I'd hate the housekeeper when she started being... y'know, but I found myself siding with her a lot, lmao. I was sorry how things ended with her, but it was the only reasonable outcome.)

Overall, I actually enjoyed this book a lot. I'm not a romance reader, but like I said, I read this in one sitting. (The cover and the whole funeral business aspect of it is what drew me in.) I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for something darker and twisted.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Totally thought the cover was a pomegranate. It is not, folks. 'tis a fig.

Rating: 3.5

"Gothic Horrormance" is a bold label. It promises me two things: creepiness and kissing. This book delivered... sort of?

Here is the conundrum: The premise is cool. Grace and Nicholas have a 20-year age gap and a trunk full of secrets. But the setting is modern. Call me old-fashioned, but it’s hard to be properly terrified of a haunted legacy when everyone has an iPhone. It just takes the "Gothic" edge off a bit.

Things I wanted more of:
Death/Murder. I was really pulled in by the tagline—"What’s a little death in the funeral business?"—but I found myself wishing the author had actually answered that question with... well, more death.
The Crazy. This book was begging to be a single-POV psychological thriller following Grace. If we had stayed in her head, the hallucinations could have been used to drive her totally mad. Instead, they felt a bit lackluster by the end. I wanted the house to drive them to madness! I wanted Grace to be unhinged!
Louisa. Honestly, she should have been a ghost. Or a serial killer. Or both. She was underutilized potential!

We got a surprisingly happy ending that felt disjointed from the genre. It’s a fun read with an interesting premise (and a spicy age-gap dynamic), but it didn't quite stick the landing on the "horror" element.

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, cards on the table. This book was not meant for me, and that’s entirely my fault. When requesting the novel, my focus was utterly on the gothic horror description in the synopsis, and I completely blanked the romance part.

After finishing Sour Rot, I couldn’t really call it gothic horror; it was more a dark romance with gothic trappings woven throughout.

Having said that, there was a lot here that readers who like their romantic fiction dark and twisted will enjoy. How dark and twisted? Well, the author provided a thoughtful and comprehensive trigger warning list so readers can judge their own comfort levels before starting the book.

Sour Rot moved along quite quickly for the most part. The first chapter introduced Grace Lockett, the naïve, gothic heroine in the most traditional sense of the archetype, before jumping to the dark and brooding Nicholas Crowthorne’s perspective. The narrative alternated between chapters, keeping the reader on their toes throughout.

There were also a number of mysteries throughout the book, with the odd nod and homage to the Brontë sisters that fans of the dark romance genre would likely find appealing.

I’d only note that the author’s style gave most of the characters a distinctly Victorian tone, which conjured a very traditional gothic atmosphere, until a laptop or iPad suddenly appeared and shattered that immersion.

With thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

[Jessica Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advance reading copy through NetGalley

Sour Rot is why gothic horromance might just be my new favorite genre. This novel earned its four stars for an engaging blend of longing, darkness, and carefully revealed backstories that kept me hooked.

From the start, Grace is a compelling protagonist whose full story I was desperate to uncover. The funeral home setting is brilliant—it creates an eerie atmosphere that constantly has you questioning what's real and what isn't.

The age-gap romance is thoughtfully written, with Nicholas repeatedly trying to maintain professional boundaries. Of course, those of us who love the close proximity trope know how that usually goes. What makes their connection work is how deeply Nicholas understands Grace. As he observes, "Grace's eyes wandered to me and sparkled as she smiled, delighted to be recognized. Knowing she was understood, and that she understood me in turn." His dialogue reveals genuine emotional vulnerability: "...If you're happy, then I get to keep you for longer" and "I needed her. I needed her to need me."

Grace's character is particularly well-crafted. Early on, something feels different about how she processes her parents' deaths, but it's only later that the true depth of darkness surrounding her becomes clear—a reveal that shifts your understanding of the story.

Sour Rot delivers both atmospheric tension and genuine emotional stakes.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Overall, I really liked Sour Rot. I read it pretty quickly and even though I had an inkling of some of the secrets in the plot, I still enjoyed discovering if I was right. Sure, the plot was wild and the characters were unhinged, but I tend to like that in my horror-gothic-romances. And this was very much a gothic. The plot, the setting and the characters all play into gothic tropes which worked for me. The language was interesting and very intentional. Even though the story was set in the modern world, it felt like it was in the past minus some mentions of current technology such as cell phones. Also, bonus points for the setting. I love a good, creepy house that’s also a funeral home.

Grace was an interesting character. She was young, very naive, but also mature in some ways. I did want to shake her a few times and be like WTF are you doing, but this was also very old school gothic of her. Nick also fit into the gothic hero mold with his mysterious past and his sometimes obsessive behavior. I did mostly like the characters even if they engaged in some truly wild behavior.

In the end, I enjoyed reading Sour Rot and had fun with the story. I’d check out future books by the author for sure. I’d recommend it to anyone who is craving the vibes of an old school gothic or a dark(ish) romance.

[RavenReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is largely on me because the synopsis was clear, and I ignored my instincts. Unfortunately, the reading experience never quite came together for me.

Marketed as a gothic dark horror romance, the book left me confused from the outset. The story is clearly set in the modern day (cell phones, internet, and medical equipment are all present) yet the dialogue and character interactions feel firmly rooted in Victorian England. That tonal mismatch made it difficult to settle into the world or understand what kind of story I was supposed to be reading.

The romance was another major stumbling block. The insta-lust is extreme, to the point of disbelief, particularly given the power imbalance and significant age gap between the main character and her employer. By the early chapters, the relationship felt rushed and unearned, which completely broke immersion for me.

Finally, the ending failed to deliver on the book’s promise. It didn’t land as gothic, horror adjacent, or especially dark, leaving the overall experience feeling disjointed and unsatisfying.

This just didn’t jive with me. Readers who enjoy heightened, anachronistic dark romance may have a better time, but it wasn’t the book I was hoping for.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lily A. Grace, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sasha Haggerty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an earc from NetGalley, but this is my own honest review. Sour Rot is a modern gothic that confronts trauma, death and mystery.

The writing is beautiful, tying it self so much to the stylistic nature of the past, leaving the introduction of cell phones to feel rather brash and obtrusive. This is a quick read, I devoured in a day desperate to uncover its secrets. There's a lot of potential. And I think the unique cover will help convey that. But, I wanted things to be a bit more unhinged, less predictable. Overall, the plot feels a bit rash. The beginning of the tale feels like an informational dump that almost turned me off entirely. I would say that the characters are complex, and interesting but it doesn't always translate exceptionally well. I don't think the ending is my favorite but that's a personal opinion.

Additionally, I think the tiktokification of words in the trigger warning section is childish. The trigger warning is there for a reason. Plainly say what the warning is for.

Overall, worth the read! And I'm appreciative of the opportunity to read it early.

[Nerdy Nurse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just, wow. This one got me in the feels. I was LOCKED IN.

Sour Rot is a gothic romance that seethes and festers and, in the end, flourishes despite its roots. By way of a dual POV, we meet star-crossed lovers, Grace and Nicholas. Both are haunted by a dark and loathsome past, burdened by deep-seated secrets too shameful to speak of. The two fall madly in love, despite an age gap of twenty years - But the world is against them as rumours surface, violence bubbles, and secrets spill forth. With a touch of smut - okay, maybe a little more than a touch - Sour Rot is tortured, heartfelt, and a book for all the girls that need a daddy.

The book is primarily set in London at Crowthorne Funeral Care, which adds a dust layer of death to an already grief stricken plot. It gave me Wuthering Heights feels, which is nothing short of glowing praise; the highest esteem I could possibly offer. This one just might be a new personal favourite of mine.

[CelesteMaeBeIntoMorallyGrayMen · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10 ⭐️ 1/5 🌶️

Grace has lived a life dictated by others- and traumatized early on. So when she finally has the opportunity to walk away from it all and start a new, she takes it. Nicholas runs a mortuary in London. He doesn’t expect Grace to have the resiliency she does. But as they both lean more about each other and try to deny the connection they feel, both of their pasts threaten their future. Can the two overcome the ghosts of their past to write a new future?

Wow. What a unique concept. Dark gothic romance story with slow burn, paranormal, and dark themes throughout. Some memorable quotes here too! I don’t want to spoil anything but the whole underlying concept of sour rot impacting new things from the beginning is such a nice touch for this theme. Fav quote:

“A dreadful truth came over me, then, as I looked at the infected tree. A kind of sour rot was already within us all… It found us in the soil and we were doomed from the beginning.”

[talesfromamothersnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This kittens was absolutely captivating eerie haunting & oh so deliciously sour from the first page to the last!
A beautiful dark Gothic slowburn masterpiece that literally transports you into the world the author has created. Set in modern times, but the way this is written 👏OBSESSED👏 feels like you are right back in time.
Nothing like I've read before, May i have some more please 🤲🥹
I loved every single moment of this book!
Infinity stars babes!
This one is for the horror hunnies who love a little tøxic røt with their romance 🫀😈
The way this was eerie all the way through! creepy! mysterious! suspenseful! & the gothic romance 😮‍💨😮‍💨 I honestly couldn't devour this fast enough!!
Highly recommend!

[VelvetNocturne_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sour Rot creates a dark, moody atmosphere, following Grace as she leaves her hometown and faces complicated relationships in a funeral home. The story looks at jealousy, betrayal, and corruption, using the rotten fig as a clever symbol. There are plenty of twists, like hidden identities, past trauma, and the unsettling truth that the characters are shaped by their own darkness. I found the insta-lust trope a little distracting, but the constant sense of decay and tension kept me interested. The ending suggests there’s more to come, and I’m curious to see what happens next.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC!

I unfortunately had to DNF at 20%. I had high hopes for this book, but I could not get past how the age gap was handled. I don't mind an age gap, but at only 20% into the book, the amount of times I had to hear about how young, child-like, naive, juvenile ect the FMC was this just turned creepy. The MMC came across as a completely predatory groomer which is not at all what I want to see in a book marketed as a romance. I did enjoy the style of the writing and I'd be interested in reading more from this author in the future, but without a child-like FMC.

[Knyquol Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 star
Well that was a delightfully strange tale. The writing style was reminiscent of a much earlier time, but fit perfectly with these damaged seemingly other earthly characters. I wouldn't change anything about this book. If you love gothic, psychologically creepy, toxic love stories this is the book for you. I am unsure how to adequately describe all the things I loved without riddling you with spoilers so unless you have huge triggers, go in blind and enjoy.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced reader copy all opinions are my own and are not affected by it being an arc.