Black Widow: A Love You to Death Story

by Kay Elem

Welcome to the LOVE YOU TO DEATH multi-author short story collection! Love and Valentines related stories to make your heart race and your spine tingle! There’s a fine line between love and hate. Come read as these main characters struggle to find love, keep love, or survive love.Ari’s wedding should be the happiest day of her life, but her past refuses to keep quiet.

Three lovers.
Three tragic deaths.
One name whispered like a curse.

Black Widow.

With her sister and childhood best friend by her side, Ari wonders if marriage can finally break the cycle. But in a town full of shadows, she must navigate a world where trust is deadly, love is perilous, and the line between devotion and danger is razor thin.

Make sure you check out all of the LOVE YOU TO DEATH dark thriller stories!

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2026

About the author

Hi! I’m Kay — debut author, full-time chaos coordinator, and frequent re-heater of coffee. I love writing stories that make you feel something. My characters are real to me, and when you’re inside one of my books, I hope they feel real to you too.

When I’m not writing or rewriting, I’m chasing after my (occasionally feral) family, teaching exercise classes, or pretending I folded the laundry.

If you love twisty stories with heart, you’re in the right place. 💀📚❤️

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBNS12RF

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

You get dead. And you get dead. And you get dead... EVERYBODY GETS DEAD!

[Laura Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars rounded to 5 for GoodReads! This book is part of the Love You to Death Short Story collection.

I will say, Kay got me! I had an inkling as to what was happening, but I was still shocked when the reveal happened. It got a bit uncomfortable when I realized the FMC was embracing her Black Widow title and was so accepting of the truth.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brimstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew when the author asked when I felt uneasy and I didnt that I may need therapy 😬
Black Widow was chefs kiss and these Love You to Death stories keep getting better!! To have a love so devoted that even a husband cant keep you? The pain of losing so many but having your best friend there to catch you whenever you fall? Of course he is the best 👌 def a great thriller and quick read!

[Alyssa Coplai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a thriller fan typically. But figured something short would be perfect and wow was I right. I thought I knew how this would ended and even though I may have been correct on part of the outcome, the twist made me drop my damn phone!!!! My husband even gave me a strange look as I started manically laughing. Well done!!!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

So goood!
The different levels of loving someone and being loved by someone were a big stand out for me here.
What Ari went/goes through is heart breaking. And not to spoil anything but… I knew it!
Def a great quick read.

[Stacey Persin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Widow by Kay Elen is a great read that is both well written and dark, making it an enjoyable page-turner. The author draws you right in, creating a compelling sense of mystery and suspense as the story unfolds. The characters are engaging in this entertaining and gripping story that's hard to put down, perfect for anyone looking for a quick, fun and dark read.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Widow kept me on my toes! The story was engaging and the suspense well-crafted, though there were a few moments where the pacing slowed for me. Overall, it’s a solid read with strong characters and a plot that pulls you in. Definitely worth checking out!

[Sónya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Widow was a great read! I’m not a big fan of books switching from past to present but Kay did it perfectly! It kept me interested in the present while I was impatiently waiting to hear of the past. The twist was definitely not what I expected & I loved it!

[Salty Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Widow does not offer redemption!
This is not a love story with a happy ending. Why do all the men she loves end up dead? Why is she cursed to love and lose? Quick easy read with a twist that makes you wonder is love worth it in the end?.

[Tanya Kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a quick, fun read! I loved the writing style of this story. The way it was broken down with the flashbacks was perfection. Brad brings new meaning to keeping a promise!

[LADY BUGG · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a moment to get into it. Im not a huge fan of back and forth story lines, and I was able to guess the ending but over all it was a great story.

[Paige Gillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never would have seen that coming, what an incredible twist!

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is my favorite of the series up to this point. It was really good! I had my suspicions about what was going on but it didn’t ruin the story for me.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

wickedly intense

“Black Widow” by Kay Elem is a wickedly intense addition to the Love You to Death series. Three lovers. Three deaths. Coincidence—or something far more sinister? This story grips you fast and never lets go. Dark, twisted, and impossible to put down.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this one!!!! I absolutely adore the ending!

[Charlene Mattson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good exploration of common tropes in this genre. I figured it out fast but I don't think the mystery was the point anyway. Great use of language and flashbacks too.

[Ashley Aceves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love isn't a curse. It's a choice. And I've already made mine.
Black Widow By Kay Elem is an Absolute MASTERPIECE!
1 Of The 7 Short Stories From The Love You To Death Collection! 📚🖤💜❤️💄🩸🕷️🕸️👰🏻‍♀️📚
A quick but very detailed Psychological Thriller!!
Very Twisty, Dark, and an absolute unexpected ending!
I was definitely hooked from the first page! Shows how far one will go for love! Is it love at all or is it just absolute crazy obsession??!
Grab this BABY ASAP to find out! A MUST READ, You Won’t Regret!!

[Lisa Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received this as an ARC and wow! I thought I had it figured out but I was only 1/2 right!!🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️😂😂 Ari has a lot of heartbreak in her past but with her sister and best friend Brad always there to help her through it, she gets through it! But something is off, why do the men she loved keep dying? You’ll be like me and not see the whole truth until the end!!😉😉😂😂💔💔
With Kay Elem, author

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ | Black Widow was definitely one title that Ari possessed! I was anxious to see exactly what was happening here because that was just too many “occurrences” for everything to be an accident. I had my suspicions, but things are never as they seem. Great entertaining short read and perfect for this Valentine’s Day season!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark, tightly wound thriller where love and danger are inseparable. Suspicion seeps into every relationship, creating an atmosphere heavy with tension and unease. Haunting and sharp, this is a story about the weight of the past and how devotion can turn deadly.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast twisty rollercoaster of a story. I really wish it was longer because I was hooked from the first page. There was suspense and a twist at the end that was the perfect way to wrap up this short thriller.

I received this as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[Natasha Stills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love can make you do some crazy things! Just wait for the twist. Great, quick read!

[Billi · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 3/5 ⭐️

Black Widow by Kay Elem
Love You to Death Collection

Black widow to the max! Lots crammed into this one. Made me a little sad!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow! For a book that is only 58 pages, Black Widow was incredibly exciting. The author did an amazing job of keeping the suspense and mystery high the entire time. I really loved the format of multiple timelines because it added layers you don't usually get in a novella. I felt like I had the twist figured out right away, but that final chapter had me shocked. It is impressive how much tension was packed into such a quick read. This book is perfect for anyone who loves an incredibly well-written, suspenseful short story.

Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/bl...

[Janet Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one ALOT