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The Scarlet Society : The Scarlet Curse
Two rival families. A dangerous curse. And a girl who refuses to remain caged.
Deirdre Van Haughton has always lived in the shadow of her family’s name, a legacy of blood feuds, power, and secrets that feels more like a prison than an inheritance. When she defies her grandfather and sneaks into the Scarlet Society’s Grand Masquerade, she risks more than discovery. She risks stepping into a world that has been waiting for her.
At the heart of that world stand the Draykens, her family’s sworn enemies. Among them is Dillon Drayken, loyal, steady, and far different from the ruthless figure she’s been taught to fear. What begins as wary curiosity soon entangles them both in choices neither can undo. But danger lies beyond family rivalries. A forgotten curse stirs, whispers of gods and shadows tighten their grip, and the boy Deirdre once knew only in dreams begins to claw his way back into her life.
Torn between loyalty and rebellion, light and shadow, Deirdre must navigate masks, betrayals, and forbidden desires. Every choice edges her closer to a destiny that could claim her heart, or her soul.
Perfect for fans of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince and Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Scarlet Curse launches the Scarlet Society trilogy with gothic romance, intoxicating intrigue, and the perilous pull of fate.
Deirdre Van Haughton has always lived in the shadow of her family’s name, a legacy of blood feuds, power, and secrets that feels more like a prison than an inheritance. When she defies her grandfather and sneaks into the Scarlet Society’s Grand Masquerade, she risks more than discovery. She risks stepping into a world that has been waiting for her.
At the heart of that world stand the Draykens, her family’s sworn enemies. Among them is Dillon Drayken, loyal, steady, and far different from the ruthless figure she’s been taught to fear. What begins as wary curiosity soon entangles them both in choices neither can undo. But danger lies beyond family rivalries. A forgotten curse stirs, whispers of gods and shadows tighten their grip, and the boy Deirdre once knew only in dreams begins to claw his way back into her life.
Torn between loyalty and rebellion, light and shadow, Deirdre must navigate masks, betrayals, and forbidden desires. Every choice edges her closer to a destiny that could claim her heart, or her soul.
Perfect for fans of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince and Stephanie Garber’s Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Scarlet Curse launches the Scarlet Society trilogy with gothic romance, intoxicating intrigue, and the perilous pull of fate.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Thank you to bookworm books for sending me an early ARC of this book. but oh lord where to begin...
I'll start with the things I liked about it. Considering this is an unedited ARC the language and writing was very good. Good grammar, no spelling mistakes and good use of language.
I liked the character of Ronan he was my favourite, we all love a comic relief character and he's so witty with his sarcasm and comebacks.
I thought the romance between Dillon and Deidre was sweet. He really did let her choose for herself and never told her what to do like everyone else in her life. I did however find the relationship between them underdeveloped.
Now here's why I really didn't like this book...
• I find Deidre absolutely insufferable. She's constantly throughout the book going "They underestimate me" "Don't pity me" "I don't need help" "I don't trust you." She's constantly saying actions speak louder than words but every time they showed her they were trustworthy she STILL pushed back!!
• Was never told what the Draykens actually needed Deidre for. Why did they need her?
• The character relationships were seriously underdeveloped. There was no friendship between Aisha and Deidre and there was such potential for it. The same with the romance there was just nothing there
• Little to no character descriptions
• It was such a slow start and extremely repetitive. He literally stroked her jaw 4 times in 4 pages. Plot points were repeated over and over and over. Also plot points were underdeveloped like the whole book was called The Scarlet Society and the society is barely mentioned
• People pop up in scenes that hadn't been mentioned at all being in the scene. Like where did they come from?!?!
• The Vampire storyline is soooo underdeveloped. Its literally mentioned twice and never again.
• I didn't need to know what Aisha, Ronan and Lucien were doing every. single. time. I get it they're there I don't need to be told all of their reactions to everything.
• Too much talk and not enough action. They talk about making a plan for 5 pages and never actually make a damn plan!
This had the potential to be such a great story but the execution just fell flat. I zoned out multiple times and felt like I hadn't missed anything. A real shame
I'll start with the things I liked about it. Considering this is an unedited ARC the language and writing was very good. Good grammar, no spelling mistakes and good use of language.
I liked the character of Ronan he was my favourite, we all love a comic relief character and he's so witty with his sarcasm and comebacks.
I thought the romance between Dillon and Deidre was sweet. He really did let her choose for herself and never told her what to do like everyone else in her life. I did however find the relationship between them underdeveloped.
Now here's why I really didn't like this book...
• I find Deidre absolutely insufferable. She's constantly throughout the book going "They underestimate me" "Don't pity me" "I don't need help" "I don't trust you." She's constantly saying actions speak louder than words but every time they showed her they were trustworthy she STILL pushed back!!
• Was never told what the Draykens actually needed Deidre for. Why did they need her?
• The character relationships were seriously underdeveloped. There was no friendship between Aisha and Deidre and there was such potential for it. The same with the romance there was just nothing there
• Little to no character descriptions
• It was such a slow start and extremely repetitive. He literally stroked her jaw 4 times in 4 pages. Plot points were repeated over and over and over. Also plot points were underdeveloped like the whole book was called The Scarlet Society and the society is barely mentioned
• People pop up in scenes that hadn't been mentioned at all being in the scene. Like where did they come from?!?!
• The Vampire storyline is soooo underdeveloped. Its literally mentioned twice and never again.
• I didn't need to know what Aisha, Ronan and Lucien were doing every. single. time. I get it they're there I don't need to be told all of their reactions to everything.
• Too much talk and not enough action. They talk about making a plan for 5 pages and never actually make a damn plan!
This had the potential to be such a great story but the execution just fell flat. I zoned out multiple times and felt like I hadn't missed anything. A real shame
February 6, 2026
I really struggled with this one, which is frustrating because the story had so much potential. There were moments that were genuinely well done, and the romance in particular had flashes of brilliance (the first kiss was actually perfect - well the first intentional one). But overall, I spent most of the book feeling confused rather than intrigued.
A big issue for me was how disjointed the narrative felt. It often seemed like sections were missing entirely. Characters would reference strategy meetings we never saw, alliances we were never introduced to, and people who apparently didn’t trust Dierdre—except the reader was never told who those people actually were. Random characters would appear in scenes with no introduction, leaving me constantly wondering, “Who are you and why should I care?” The setting also became hard to follow: one moment they’re in the house, then leaning against trees, then suddenly there’s a table and everyone is heading back inside the manor. I genuinely couldn’t picture where anyone was half the time.
The character dynamics didn’t always make sense either. Dillon suddenly wanting to kiss Dierdre felt rushed and contradictory. There was clear tension, yes—but she goes from not trusting any of them and viewing him as essentially her kidnapper, to thinking she “can’t kiss him… not yet” just a few pages later. Why would she want to at all if she doesn’t trust him? That emotional leap wasn’t earned. On top of that, certain phrases were repeated almost word-for-word (“cracks in the foundation of our group” appeared twice within two pages), which really pulled me out of the story.
There are also a lot of unanswered questions that made it hard to stay grounded:
– What exactly do they need Dierdre for?
– What did her grandfather actually do, and why does everyone hate him so much?
– Why are the Draykens enemies?
– If Dierdre was kidnapped, why is security so lax that Alaric can wander in and out through the forest repeatedly?
I understand this is part of a trilogy, but withholding this much information didn’t build intrigue for me—it just made the story harder to follow.
That said, not everything missed the mark. Ronan was a standout character with easy charm and great banter, and the found family aspect is genuinely lovely in theory. I also liked the friendship between Aisha and Dierdre, but it felt underdeveloped—there was a real missed opportunity for a strong “trust us” moment there. Instead, the Draykens spend most of the book showing Dierdre she can trust them (which she even acknowledges, saying actions speak louder than words), only for her to immediately flip back to not trusting them again at the slightest thing. That back-and-forth became really frustrating.
The vampires element was another odd choice—it’s mentioned a few times, but it didn’t add anything meaningful to the story and could have been removed without changing much. And yes, I noticed: he brushed her jaw four times in four pages. I get it.
Overall, this book had strong ideas, good romantic beats, and a solid emotional core, but the execution left me confused more often than engaged. I wanted to love it. Instead, I spent most of my time going, “Wait… what?”
A big issue for me was how disjointed the narrative felt. It often seemed like sections were missing entirely. Characters would reference strategy meetings we never saw, alliances we were never introduced to, and people who apparently didn’t trust Dierdre—except the reader was never told who those people actually were. Random characters would appear in scenes with no introduction, leaving me constantly wondering, “Who are you and why should I care?” The setting also became hard to follow: one moment they’re in the house, then leaning against trees, then suddenly there’s a table and everyone is heading back inside the manor. I genuinely couldn’t picture where anyone was half the time.
The character dynamics didn’t always make sense either. Dillon suddenly wanting to kiss Dierdre felt rushed and contradictory. There was clear tension, yes—but she goes from not trusting any of them and viewing him as essentially her kidnapper, to thinking she “can’t kiss him… not yet” just a few pages later. Why would she want to at all if she doesn’t trust him? That emotional leap wasn’t earned. On top of that, certain phrases were repeated almost word-for-word (“cracks in the foundation of our group” appeared twice within two pages), which really pulled me out of the story.
There are also a lot of unanswered questions that made it hard to stay grounded:
– What exactly do they need Dierdre for?
– What did her grandfather actually do, and why does everyone hate him so much?
– Why are the Draykens enemies?
– If Dierdre was kidnapped, why is security so lax that Alaric can wander in and out through the forest repeatedly?
I understand this is part of a trilogy, but withholding this much information didn’t build intrigue for me—it just made the story harder to follow.
That said, not everything missed the mark. Ronan was a standout character with easy charm and great banter, and the found family aspect is genuinely lovely in theory. I also liked the friendship between Aisha and Dierdre, but it felt underdeveloped—there was a real missed opportunity for a strong “trust us” moment there. Instead, the Draykens spend most of the book showing Dierdre she can trust them (which she even acknowledges, saying actions speak louder than words), only for her to immediately flip back to not trusting them again at the slightest thing. That back-and-forth became really frustrating.
The vampires element was another odd choice—it’s mentioned a few times, but it didn’t add anything meaningful to the story and could have been removed without changing much. And yes, I noticed: he brushed her jaw four times in four pages. I get it.
Overall, this book had strong ideas, good romantic beats, and a solid emotional core, but the execution left me confused more often than engaged. I wanted to love it. Instead, I spent most of my time going, “Wait… what?”
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐️
I love a story that goes straight in and gets right to business! You get character intros right off the rip, tension is also pretty high with the characters so you’re immediately sucked in.
My fav thing throughout this story is how the author uses physical description as well as like mood description(is that a thing?) and the picture they’re able to create in your head because of that is kinda unmatched
“The manor loomed closer, a testament to dark and opulent history. Ivy clung stubbornly to the weathered stone walls, masking parts of the architecture in a way that was both beautiful and haunting. Tall gothic arches framed windows that glinted in the moonlight, their panes too dark to see through. The very air around the place seemed alive, carrying whispers that brushed against my skin and sent another shiver through me.”
Like they lay the framework so I know I’m looking at a home but uses vibes for me to picture the rest and it works incredibly well
I wanted to know more about the things Deirdre had survived, I wanted to better understand what had built and shaped her bc she is a FORCE to be reckoned with and I wanted to know how she got to that point. We get some info near the end but I want all the trauma dumping! But this is a trilogy so hopefully that’s delved into more deeply later on
As plot points get developed and the story broadens out, just buckle up friend, it’s a ride! The amount of lore dropping in the last couple of chapters had me yelling at the ceiling lol
There are a couple of spots were you can tell revisions/rewrites were made and a small bit was left in “careful calculated and unpredictable” is said in one character’s head and then out loud by a different character verbatim and just like rehashed convos/thoughts, also some PoV inconsistencies like knowing who someone is without introductions, small things like that and a few editing mishaps which confused me a bit and took me out of it, so that brought it down from a 4 to 3.5 for me
Super fun time all around though, a great read while we’ve been snowed in all weekend!
I love a story that goes straight in and gets right to business! You get character intros right off the rip, tension is also pretty high with the characters so you’re immediately sucked in.
My fav thing throughout this story is how the author uses physical description as well as like mood description(is that a thing?) and the picture they’re able to create in your head because of that is kinda unmatched
“The manor loomed closer, a testament to dark and opulent history. Ivy clung stubbornly to the weathered stone walls, masking parts of the architecture in a way that was both beautiful and haunting. Tall gothic arches framed windows that glinted in the moonlight, their panes too dark to see through. The very air around the place seemed alive, carrying whispers that brushed against my skin and sent another shiver through me.”
Like they lay the framework so I know I’m looking at a home but uses vibes for me to picture the rest and it works incredibly well
I wanted to know more about the things Deirdre had survived, I wanted to better understand what had built and shaped her bc she is a FORCE to be reckoned with and I wanted to know how she got to that point. We get some info near the end but I want all the trauma dumping! But this is a trilogy so hopefully that’s delved into more deeply later on
As plot points get developed and the story broadens out, just buckle up friend, it’s a ride! The amount of lore dropping in the last couple of chapters had me yelling at the ceiling lol
There are a couple of spots were you can tell revisions/rewrites were made and a small bit was left in “careful calculated and unpredictable” is said in one character’s head and then out loud by a different character verbatim and just like rehashed convos/thoughts, also some PoV inconsistencies like knowing who someone is without introductions, small things like that and a few editing mishaps which confused me a bit and took me out of it, so that brought it down from a 4 to 3.5 for me
Super fun time all around though, a great read while we’ve been snowed in all weekend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, thank you for the chance to be an ARC reader for this book. I want to say that I really like the idea of the story. I am not sure that it is ready for the general public yet though.
I think with some more work it could be a very good book. With elements of a Romeo and Juliet romance there is some good potential for tension and burning. There are at least two families at war but this gets kind of unclear on the why or how Deirdre is a part of this. At one point it seemed like more groups were mentioned but then never discussed.
I also fell like the shadow weaver/people were sort of glossed over but then way more important. They also seemed very powerful in comparison to everyone else. Like what is their limit if they can snatch anyone into their pocket dimension?
The ages of the characters are hard to figure out. I am okay without them being stated explicitly but you should be able to infer the ages from the events. I wasn't sure if Deirdre and the siblings were young or very old. So much seemed to happen to Dierdre that is hinted at.
It feels like some elements just appear as needed. Such as the rebels just suddenly being a thing. Why are they rebels? What are they rebelling from? The family fight? I just wasn't clear on that.
I like Deirdre as an FMC. She has some spine but she was herding those plot bunnies around and was whipping them out of her hat. There was a lot of 'but wait there's more' situations that came up.
The siblings were interesting but Lucian and Ronan didn't really seem to be more than an angel and demon on Dillon's shoulder and their sister Aisha was more of a voice of reason. We almost always knew what they were up too which didn't always seem to advance the plot.
The pacing is decent only feeling a bit drawn out with Deirdre's captivity with the siblings.
An example of why I say an editor and beta readers would be a good idea include the word choices. They are repetitive. The word 'unreadable' appears 82 times. 'Measured' appears 51 times. In 24 chapters plus an epilogue, that is more than an average of 3 occurrences per chapter of unreadable and 2 of measured. It felt everyone's face was unreadable and their tones were measured.
I like the idea of this story and the author obviously put a lot of work into it. I think it would benefit from an editor's help and maybe being out to beta readers before being freed into the world.
I would love to re-read this story with a bit of re-write/edit happening to it. I give full permission for the author to reach out to me (my username here and my email match).
I gave this 3 stars because there is something good here. I would probably give it something closer to a 2.25 or 2.5 if BR allowed for partial ratings.
I think with some more work it could be a very good book. With elements of a Romeo and Juliet romance there is some good potential for tension and burning. There are at least two families at war but this gets kind of unclear on the why or how Deirdre is a part of this. At one point it seemed like more groups were mentioned but then never discussed.
I also fell like the shadow weaver/people were sort of glossed over but then way more important. They also seemed very powerful in comparison to everyone else. Like what is their limit if they can snatch anyone into their pocket dimension?
The ages of the characters are hard to figure out. I am okay without them being stated explicitly but you should be able to infer the ages from the events. I wasn't sure if Deirdre and the siblings were young or very old. So much seemed to happen to Dierdre that is hinted at.
It feels like some elements just appear as needed. Such as the rebels just suddenly being a thing. Why are they rebels? What are they rebelling from? The family fight? I just wasn't clear on that.
I like Deirdre as an FMC. She has some spine but she was herding those plot bunnies around and was whipping them out of her hat. There was a lot of 'but wait there's more' situations that came up.
The siblings were interesting but Lucian and Ronan didn't really seem to be more than an angel and demon on Dillon's shoulder and their sister Aisha was more of a voice of reason. We almost always knew what they were up too which didn't always seem to advance the plot.
The pacing is decent only feeling a bit drawn out with Deirdre's captivity with the siblings.
An example of why I say an editor and beta readers would be a good idea include the word choices. They are repetitive. The word 'unreadable' appears 82 times. 'Measured' appears 51 times. In 24 chapters plus an epilogue, that is more than an average of 3 occurrences per chapter of unreadable and 2 of measured. It felt everyone's face was unreadable and their tones were measured.
I like the idea of this story and the author obviously put a lot of work into it. I think it would benefit from an editor's help and maybe being out to beta readers before being freed into the world.
I would love to re-read this story with a bit of re-write/edit happening to it. I give full permission for the author to reach out to me (my username here and my email match).
I gave this 3 stars because there is something good here. I would probably give it something closer to a 2.25 or 2.5 if BR allowed for partial ratings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a 3-star read for me. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.
The writing itself is decent, especially when it comes to atmosphere. The author does a good job setting moods and visuals, and the story jumps straight in without wasting time. The concept has a lot going for it, and a few of the reveals toward the end actually made me pause and think, okay, this could go somewhere. I also liked the FMC in theory. She’s meant to be strong, capable, and shaped by what she’s survived.
That said, the execution didn’t fully work for me. A lot of elements felt half-explained or introduced only when the plot needed them. Some conflicts and groups appear without enough context, which made things confusing instead of intriguing. The pacing was uneven too—some parts dragged with repetitive thoughts and conversations, while important moments felt rushed. Certain words and gestures were also reused so often that they became distracting.
Overall, this book has potential, but it needs tighter editing, clearer world-building, and more focused character development to really shine.
So yeah... 3 stars.
An okay read with good ideas that didn’t quite stick the landing.
The writing itself is decent, especially when it comes to atmosphere. The author does a good job setting moods and visuals, and the story jumps straight in without wasting time. The concept has a lot going for it, and a few of the reveals toward the end actually made me pause and think, okay, this could go somewhere. I also liked the FMC in theory. She’s meant to be strong, capable, and shaped by what she’s survived.
That said, the execution didn’t fully work for me. A lot of elements felt half-explained or introduced only when the plot needed them. Some conflicts and groups appear without enough context, which made things confusing instead of intriguing. The pacing was uneven too—some parts dragged with repetitive thoughts and conversations, while important moments felt rushed. Certain words and gestures were also reused so often that they became distracting.
Overall, this book has potential, but it needs tighter editing, clearer world-building, and more focused character development to really shine.
So yeah... 3 stars.
An okay read with good ideas that didn’t quite stick the landing.
February 17, 2026
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Dark Fantasy / Forbidden Love
Vibe: Dramatic, atmospheric, intense emotional stakes
The Scarlet Society: The Scarlet Curse pulls you into a world where secrets are stained with longing and danger, where ancient power and forbidden desires collide. The narrative balances dark supernatural elements with deep emotional tension — the kind of story that feels both eerie and irresistible.
The characters are layered and compelling, especially in how their inner conflicts play out against external threats. Relationships here are anything but simple — tangled with fate, misdirection, and haunting pasts that bleed into every choice.
What makes this story stand out is its blend of eerie world-building with emotionally grounded character arcs. The romance is not light-hearted — it’s intense, brooding, and charged with sacrifice and consequence. You feel the pull between desire and destiny in every chapter.
Fans of paranormals with a dark edge — where love doesn’t just spark but burns — will find this both irresistible and haunting.
Vibe: Dramatic, atmospheric, intense emotional stakes
The Scarlet Society: The Scarlet Curse pulls you into a world where secrets are stained with longing and danger, where ancient power and forbidden desires collide. The narrative balances dark supernatural elements with deep emotional tension — the kind of story that feels both eerie and irresistible.
The characters are layered and compelling, especially in how their inner conflicts play out against external threats. Relationships here are anything but simple — tangled with fate, misdirection, and haunting pasts that bleed into every choice.
What makes this story stand out is its blend of eerie world-building with emotionally grounded character arcs. The romance is not light-hearted — it’s intense, brooding, and charged with sacrifice and consequence. You feel the pull between desire and destiny in every chapter.
Fans of paranormals with a dark edge — where love doesn’t just spark but burns — will find this both irresistible and haunting.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wanna start by saying thank you so much to Addie French for giving me an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!!
Deirdre and Dillon’s story is full of the past, they are from rival families and throughout the book they continue to find things that will only make their future harder. That’s what makes it such a beautiful story in my opinion.
Deirdre has been through so much throughout her life which makes it very hard for her to trust, but Dillon continues to show up and defend her even as she pushes him away.
AND LEVI it’s obvious that he does care about Deirdre in a way but he is literally a shadow man. idk i still don’t know how i feel about that guy.
anyways, absolutely loved this book and would love to read another book to this story!!
Deirdre and Dillon’s story is full of the past, they are from rival families and throughout the book they continue to find things that will only make their future harder. That’s what makes it such a beautiful story in my opinion.
Deirdre has been through so much throughout her life which makes it very hard for her to trust, but Dillon continues to show up and defend her even as she pushes him away.
AND LEVI it’s obvious that he does care about Deirdre in a way but he is literally a shadow man. idk i still don’t know how i feel about that guy.
anyways, absolutely loved this book and would love to read another book to this story!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2026
Masked rivalries, old blood feuds, and a girl refusing to stay caged this one had tension from the start.
The rival family dynamic works because every interaction feels loaded with history. The slow burn connection builds through quiet defiance and curiosity rather than instant trust, which makes it feel earned. And the curse looming in the background keeps the stakes tight, like something is always about to unravel.
Deirdre’s determination really drives the story, and the gothic atmosphere adds just the right amount of intrigue. A strong, dramatic start to what promises to be an intense trilogy.
The rival family dynamic works because every interaction feels loaded with history. The slow burn connection builds through quiet defiance and curiosity rather than instant trust, which makes it feel earned. And the curse looming in the background keeps the stakes tight, like something is always about to unravel.
Deirdre’s determination really drives the story, and the gothic atmosphere adds just the right amount of intrigue. A strong, dramatic start to what promises to be an intense trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews