What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 03:34:03
10 copies available
U.S. only
My Violent Muse
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 03:34:03
10 copies available
U.S. only
Would you still love me if I were a murderer…?
Morello is a homeless orphan and starving artist with nothing but impossible dreams of escaping obscurity. Then Florence appears—dazzling, dangerous, and offering Morello a way out, on one chilling condition: each year, they must hunt and kill one of the art world’s predatory men. In return, Morello will inherit a life of privilege and promise.
Together, they transform revenge into twisted performance art, staging each murder with meticulous, theatrical flair. But when Morello falls for Jude, a wealthy art student who offers her a glimpse of a life sans murder, her carefully curated reality begins to unravel—and she’s one lie away from losing everything she’s killed for. With the body count rising and anonymous threats closing in, Morello must finally ask herself: is the cost of vengeance ever truly paid? And after a life shaped by violence and manipulation, will she ever become the artist of her own fate, or remain forever someone else’s muse?
Compulsive and deviant, My Violent Muse is a razor-sharp thriller about revenge, exploitation, obsession, and the dangerous bargains we strike for power, survival, and love.
Morello is a homeless orphan and starving artist with nothing but impossible dreams of escaping obscurity. Then Florence appears—dazzling, dangerous, and offering Morello a way out, on one chilling condition: each year, they must hunt and kill one of the art world’s predatory men. In return, Morello will inherit a life of privilege and promise.
Together, they transform revenge into twisted performance art, staging each murder with meticulous, theatrical flair. But when Morello falls for Jude, a wealthy art student who offers her a glimpse of a life sans murder, her carefully curated reality begins to unravel—and she’s one lie away from losing everything she’s killed for. With the body count rising and anonymous threats closing in, Morello must finally ask herself: is the cost of vengeance ever truly paid? And after a life shaped by violence and manipulation, will she ever become the artist of her own fate, or remain forever someone else’s muse?
Compulsive and deviant, My Violent Muse is a razor-sharp thriller about revenge, exploitation, obsession, and the dangerous bargains we strike for power, survival, and love.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Rosie Sycamore
1 book31 followersRosie Sycamore is an Australian author. When not writing or reading, you'll find her following the sun, trying to befriend every animal in sight, or re-watching her favorite films and TV shows. My Violent Muse is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Read
July 5, 2026🖤My Violent Muse 🖤
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Psychological Thriller
• Morally Gray FMC
• Revenge Plot
• Dark Academia
• Obsession
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Psychological Thriller
• Morally Gray FMC
• Revenge Plot
• Dark Academia
• Obsession
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What first drew me to My Violent Muse was the framed picture of The Reluctant Bride on the cover. Then I read the summary: female rage, revenge, murder, art, and a sapphic relationship. Of course, I wanted to read this!!
And honestly? I loved this book. I absolutely loved the plot, and the characters were just wonderful. There were dark themes in the book, and I loved how the author brought them out.
The story follows Morello, whose art-dealer parents were murdered when she was twelve after a deal went wrong. Since then, she has been homeless, struggling to survive while trying to become an artist. When the wealthy and dazzling Florence offers her a way out, Morello accepts. She finds herself in Florence's mission of revenge against powerful men who have abused models/artists.
One of the things I loved most about this book was its characters, especially Florence.
Florence is fascinating. She carries a magnetic presence whenever she appears on the page. Maybe it's because Morello was in awe of her and took Florence as her inspiration, but still, I loved Florence. Her background and how she used it to her advantage to make money is absolutely heartbreaking. I also felt Florence ended up being just like the men she hated. No, she might not have abused, but she used her power and wealth to bind Morello to her bidding.
Morello and Jude's relationship was so nice, although at times it felt too good to be true. I sometimes questioned if Jude genuinely loved Morello and if there was any hidden motive. I loved how the relationship still felt pure after everything - the trust, care and understanding. Yes, it was beautiful. But the relationship I was more interested in was the one between Morello and Florence. Although it ended as soon as it started, I badly wanted to know what Florence felt and why she was kind of obsessed with Morello.
There were a few parts that did bother me.
At the beginning, Morello accepts Florence's offer. You might argue that she was poor and homeless, and Florence was her way out. However, in less than one day, she was abused, shown the dark side of the upper class and accidentally killed someone. Florence was also someone Morello could not trust. Even though I could try to understand Morello, I felt she had so much more to lose.
The ending - Jude turned out to be a hero who rescued Morello from Florence, without Morello even knowing until the end. It's beautiful, showing the trust and love Jude had for Morello. But this didn't sit well with me because I was expecting an ending where Morello could break free on her own, maybe with help from Jude. I also felt Florence wasn't given a proper ending and turned into a villain, and strong actions/warning/steps weren't taken on the men who abused women at the end.
Overall - I liked the book, I will certainly be recommending it!!
Thank you, Netgalley, Publisher and Author for giving me the chance to read this wonderful book.
And honestly? I loved this book. I absolutely loved the plot, and the characters were just wonderful. There were dark themes in the book, and I loved how the author brought them out.
The story follows Morello, whose art-dealer parents were murdered when she was twelve after a deal went wrong. Since then, she has been homeless, struggling to survive while trying to become an artist. When the wealthy and dazzling Florence offers her a way out, Morello accepts. She finds herself in Florence's mission of revenge against powerful men who have abused models/artists.
One of the things I loved most about this book was its characters, especially Florence.
Florence is fascinating. She carries a magnetic presence whenever she appears on the page. Maybe it's because Morello was in awe of her and took Florence as her inspiration, but still, I loved Florence. Her background and how she used it to her advantage to make money is absolutely heartbreaking. I also felt Florence ended up being just like the men she hated. No, she might not have abused, but she used her power and wealth to bind Morello to her bidding.
Morello and Jude's relationship was so nice, although at times it felt too good to be true. I sometimes questioned if Jude genuinely loved Morello and if there was any hidden motive. I loved how the relationship still felt pure after everything - the trust, care and understanding. Yes, it was beautiful. But the relationship I was more interested in was the one between Morello and Florence. Although it ended as soon as it started, I badly wanted to know what Florence felt and why she was kind of obsessed with Morello.
There were a few parts that did bother me.
At the beginning, Morello accepts Florence's offer. You might argue that she was poor and homeless, and Florence was her way out. However, in less than one day, she was abused, shown the dark side of the upper class and accidentally killed someone. Florence was also someone Morello could not trust. Even though I could try to understand Morello, I felt she had so much more to lose.
The ending - Jude turned out to be a hero who rescued Morello from Florence, without Morello even knowing until the end. It's beautiful, showing the trust and love Jude had for Morello. But this didn't sit well with me because I was expecting an ending where Morello could break free on her own, maybe with help from Jude. I also felt Florence wasn't given a proper ending and turned into a villain, and strong actions/warning/steps weren't taken on the men who abused women at the end.
Overall - I liked the book, I will certainly be recommending it!!
Thank you, Netgalley, Publisher and Author for giving me the chance to read this wonderful book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my arc.
This was one of those books where the characters completely overshadowed everything else, in the best possible way.
The story centers on Morello, a young artist who has spent years trying to survive after the violent loss of her parents. When she crosses paths with Florence, a wealthy and influential woman with her own agenda, Morello is pulled into a world of art, privilege, revenge, and power.
Florence was easily my favorite part of the book. She is the kind of character who commands attention the moment she enters a scene. I was endlessly fascinated by her because she never felt easy to define. The more I learned about her past, the more I understood her anger, but I also found myself questioning her methods. She may have set out to fight against powerful predators, but she often used her own influence to control the people around her. That moral complexity made her impossible for me to look away from.
While there is a romantic relationship in the story that I enjoyed, it wasn't what kept me turning the pages. The connection that truly grabbed my attention was between Morello and Florence. There was an intensity to their dynamic that felt layered and difficult to explain. Admiration, dependence, curiosity, power, it all blended together in a way that left me wanting more.
By the end, I was less interested in the outcome of the revenge plot and more interested in understanding these characters. Their choices, flaws, and motivations felt incredibly compelling, and Florence in particular is a character I'll be thinking about for a long time.
For me, this was a character-driven story at its finest, filled with complicated people, messy relationships, and plenty of moral gray areas. I loved every minute of it.
This was one of those books where the characters completely overshadowed everything else, in the best possible way.
The story centers on Morello, a young artist who has spent years trying to survive after the violent loss of her parents. When she crosses paths with Florence, a wealthy and influential woman with her own agenda, Morello is pulled into a world of art, privilege, revenge, and power.
Florence was easily my favorite part of the book. She is the kind of character who commands attention the moment she enters a scene. I was endlessly fascinated by her because she never felt easy to define. The more I learned about her past, the more I understood her anger, but I also found myself questioning her methods. She may have set out to fight against powerful predators, but she often used her own influence to control the people around her. That moral complexity made her impossible for me to look away from.
While there is a romantic relationship in the story that I enjoyed, it wasn't what kept me turning the pages. The connection that truly grabbed my attention was between Morello and Florence. There was an intensity to their dynamic that felt layered and difficult to explain. Admiration, dependence, curiosity, power, it all blended together in a way that left me wanting more.
By the end, I was less interested in the outcome of the revenge plot and more interested in understanding these characters. Their choices, flaws, and motivations felt incredibly compelling, and Florence in particular is a character I'll be thinking about for a long time.
For me, this was a character-driven story at its finest, filled with complicated people, messy relationships, and plenty of moral gray areas. I loved every minute of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When orphaned artist Morello is taken under the wing of art mogul Florence, she is thrust into a world of debauchery and violence. Fortunately, she finds solace in her boyfriend, Jude, who offers her a much needed respite from Florence's influence...and grisly tasks Morello remains on the hook for.
At first, I found Morello somewhat annoying - the movie references went from quirky to annoying fairly quick. It is only when we learn the reason why Morello contextualizes everything with film that the habit becomes reasonable. It made me reflect on how so much of media (and art, for that matter) today is used as surrogate life experience, particularly for children and teens. They draw connections in their life back to what they see on screen, so it can be an effective tool for teaching, but also an effective tool for corruption.
SO MUCH HEATHERS (1988). It only makes sense why Morello is attracted to violent and lustful people, if the picture perfect couple in her mind is Veronica and JD. (0 complaints - love Heathers)
My only complaint of this book is that I had a hard time rooting for Jude, though perhaps that was intentional. Though, surely if I could root for JD, & Veronica, I could root for Jude & Morello?
This book taps on some common trends I've been reading about in 2026 Horror:
- The connection between Art and Trauma
- The connection between Art and Sex
- Use of human remains for wellness products
- "Mentor or Lover? What's the difference?" WLW
And I ate. it. up.
Chefs kiss on the chapter titles being chapter quotes -- there were many that had me asking "Alright, how the heck is that going to come up?" and then eagerly reading to find out.
Bravo, Rosie Sycamore!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central for the ARC
At first, I found Morello somewhat annoying - the movie references went from quirky to annoying fairly quick. It is only when we learn the reason why Morello contextualizes everything with film that the habit becomes reasonable. It made me reflect on how so much of media (and art, for that matter) today is used as surrogate life experience, particularly for children and teens. They draw connections in their life back to what they see on screen, so it can be an effective tool for teaching, but also an effective tool for corruption.
SO MUCH HEATHERS (1988). It only makes sense why Morello is attracted to violent and lustful people, if the picture perfect couple in her mind is Veronica and JD. (0 complaints - love Heathers)
My only complaint of this book is that I had a hard time rooting for Jude, though perhaps that was intentional. Though, surely if I could root for JD, & Veronica, I could root for Jude & Morello?
This book taps on some common trends I've been reading about in 2026 Horror:
- The connection between Art and Trauma
- The connection between Art and Sex
- Use of human remains for wellness products
- "Mentor or Lover? What's the difference?" WLW
And I ate. it. up.
Chefs kiss on the chapter titles being chapter quotes -- there were many that had me asking "Alright, how the heck is that going to come up?" and then eagerly reading to find out.
Bravo, Rosie Sycamore!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, I found this book to be a rather entertaining read!
Feminine rage, morally gray characters, toxic behavior, murder—this story was unhinged in a lot of ways, which I found to be intriguing.
I love a book that supports women’s wrongs. And boy oh boy, is Florence oh so wrong—but for all the right reasons. She murders horrible man, and as a reader, it’s very easy to feel that the kills are justifiable. So it was entertaining to see Morello join Florence as her partner in crime!
While I liked Morello as a character, some of her quirks (like the movie references) weren’t my favorite after a while. I would say Florence was probably my favorite character (and I would’ve loved a story written from her POV).
Although I enjoyed the plot, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending, mainly because of Jude’s involvement. (I just wish Morello had had a bit more agency in what went on, rather than needing assistance from a man.) In general, it was actually hard for me to root for Jude, which may have been intentional.
All and all, I thought this was an enjoyable read, and I think those who like a dark story that supports women’s wrongs will enjoy it too!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the gracious opportunity to read the eARC of My Violent Muse. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The feminine rage, the dark and twisty toxic relationships, the critique on the separation of art and the artist, just the breath-taking cadence of the story, and how it's told in fits and starts and pieces of history. Morello was born to the world of exploitation and she of course latches on to those who would destroy her just for a helping of praise. There are some very dark themes of trauma and codependency in this novel. It was a gritty look at upper class art trade and the lengths a woman will go to for acceptance and love, and how it sits with her after. I especially loved the ending.
This brought to mind a little You, by Caroline Kepnes, now that I think about it. Just a little, but without really romanticizing it at all. It's very clear throughout that Morello & Jude's relationship is just as toxic as Morello & Florence's relationship. Will look forward to more from this author!
4.5 out of 5, rounded up.
The feminine rage, the dark and twisty toxic relationships, the critique on the separation of art and the artist, just the breath-taking cadence of the story, and how it's told in fits and starts and pieces of history. Morello was born to the world of exploitation and she of course latches on to those who would destroy her just for a helping of praise. There are some very dark themes of trauma and codependency in this novel. It was a gritty look at upper class art trade and the lengths a woman will go to for acceptance and love, and how it sits with her after. I especially loved the ending.
This brought to mind a little You, by Caroline Kepnes, now that I think about it. Just a little, but without really romanticizing it at all. It's very clear throughout that Morello & Jude's relationship is just as toxic as Morello & Florence's relationship. Will look forward to more from this author!
4.5 out of 5, rounded up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you mix feminine rage, camp and a hefty amount of movie quotes into a bowl you get My Violent Muse. Morello is plucked out of poverty by a gorgeous, twisted and extremely wealthy benefactor, to be her partner in crime. The crime, murdering horrible men. Great premise, I do love a book that supports women's wrongs. And Florence is wrong, but oh so justified in her kills and what she does with the bodies after the murders... you go Florence.
I wasn't fond of the way the events unfolded at the end, especially Jude's involvement. Morello should have been the one to figure out the solution to her problems without the assistance of her man. Her relationship with him is what soured me on the parts that took place in the present, she loses a lot of herself with him and tries to embody the "cool" girlfriend, especially when it comes to the presence of his ex-girlfriend/best friend in their lives. Honestly this book should have been from Florence's point of view. I liked her.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy, in exchange for review.
I wasn't fond of the way the events unfolded at the end, especially Jude's involvement. Morello should have been the one to figure out the solution to her problems without the assistance of her man. Her relationship with him is what soured me on the parts that took place in the present, she loses a lot of herself with him and tries to embody the "cool" girlfriend, especially when it comes to the presence of his ex-girlfriend/best friend in their lives. Honestly this book should have been from Florence's point of view. I liked her.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy, in exchange for review.
Read
June 30, 2026My Violent Muse by Rosie Sycamore follows Morello, an artist who has spent years trying to survive after the loss of her parents. When she crosses paths with Florence, a wealthy and influential woman with her own agenda, Morello is pulled into a dark world of obsession, manipulation, and dangerous secrets. As buried truths come to light, the lines between art, ambition, and revenge begin to blur, forcing her to confront the choices that shaped her life.
The novel is a gripping psychological thriller that pulls you into its unsettling world. Sycamore's writing is vivid and cinematic, and the story explores power, trauma, and morality through compelling, flawed characters. While a few parts didn't completely land for me, it was still an engaging and memorable debut.
If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers with morally complex characters, gothic vibes, and plenty of suspense, My Violent Muse is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My Violent Muse has such an interesting premise and the author whole heartedly delivered! Morello is such a interesting character from her childhood to present day. The book goes back and forth between her past and present, which made for a thrilling ride. This was a book unlike any I've ever read. It felt like a fever dream at times, but in the best way. While I had a slight suspicion on how it would end, I didn't expect it to turn out the way it did. Excellent read.
I was given an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was given an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Loved this one. My Violent Muse is a dark, twisted, and beautifully strange story about art, revenge, obsession, and the dangerous ways people can convince themselves they’re doing the right thing. Florence especially was a very interesting character because I was constantly torn between understanding her and questioning everything she did. It's a character-driven story about control, identity, and finding your own voice after being shaped by someone else. 4,5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is messy and addicting. Morally gray characters, feminine rage, toxic behavior, murder and many questionable choices are included in this book and if that sounds like a good time, you would be correct. I had a blast reading about Morello and Florence and they are so unhinged. What's not to love.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2026
*Snagged an ARC from NetGalley for this one*
The entire time I was reading this I kept thinking, “this is an odd story” but not in a bad way lol. If you’re a fan of dark, macabre stories this one is for you.
The entire time I was reading this I kept thinking, “this is an odd story” but not in a bad way lol. If you’re a fan of dark, macabre stories this one is for you.
July 13, 2026
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the galley!
What a ride! My Violent Muse was a nonstop dark thrill ride I could not put down. With mystery, intrigue, and, of course, revenge, this is the perfect read for spooky season.
What a ride! My Violent Muse was a nonstop dark thrill ride I could not put down. With mystery, intrigue, and, of course, revenge, this is the perfect read for spooky season.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ate this one right up. Think Bunny meets Promising Young Woman meets American Psycho. Loved it and cannot wait for people to get their hands on this one!!
August 6, 2026
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the arc ◡̈ ♡
2.5 stars rounded up!
how does it feel to become someone that people kill for, rather than someone who kills for someone else?
2.5 stars rounded up!
how does it feel to become someone that people kill for, rather than someone who kills for someone else?
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews