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Bound by Conceit: a dark paranormal romance
Penelope Spindel’s arrogance has been well-earned. In a true rags-to-riches tale, she has risen from first-year fashion student to art director and design lead at one of the oldest and most revered fashion houses in New York—Pláthōs.
Minerva Fallax is the creative genius behind Pláthōs, as well as one of the wealthiest women in the world. Her clever eye for anticipating trends and effortless elegance and sophistication have made her a household name, yet she remains incredibly elusive. The world knows virtually nothing about the woman behind the name.
When Penelope finds herself entangled in Minerva’s secrets, nothing could prepare her for the truths she comes to learn. Her life hangs in the balance of a dangerous agreement and a competition where everything is on the line. Can she beat Minerva at her own game, and does she even want to win, when losing feels so good?
Bound by Conceit is a dark romance inspired by the myth of Arachne and Athena for fans of The Devil Wears Prada and Project Runway.
Minerva Fallax is the creative genius behind Pláthōs, as well as one of the wealthiest women in the world. Her clever eye for anticipating trends and effortless elegance and sophistication have made her a household name, yet she remains incredibly elusive. The world knows virtually nothing about the woman behind the name.
When Penelope finds herself entangled in Minerva’s secrets, nothing could prepare her for the truths she comes to learn. Her life hangs in the balance of a dangerous agreement and a competition where everything is on the line. Can she beat Minerva at her own game, and does she even want to win, when losing feels so good?
Bound by Conceit is a dark romance inspired by the myth of Arachne and Athena for fans of The Devil Wears Prada and Project Runway.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2026
About the author
Heather Nix
11 books110 followersHeather Nix writes magical lesbians and takes a lot of baths.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 14, 2026
3.5 ⭐
Bound by Conceit is a paranormal dark romance that follows Penelope, a fiercely dedicated woman whose entire life revolves around fashion. After years of relentless work, she finally becomes the design lead at Pláthōs; a prestigious fashion house ruled by Minerva Fallax, one of the most powerful and enigmatic women in the world.
But when Penelope becomes tangled in Minerva's secrets and her true identity, the two strike a dangerous deal and enter a competition driven by ego, ambition, and undeniable desire. As the challenge draws closer, Penelope begins to question whether she can simply walk away from everything that's happened between them or if what they started was only the beginning.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It definitely wasn't what I expected, though not necessarily in a bad way... it was just very different from what I had imagined. For a good portion of the story I actually wondered where the paranormal element was, because everything felt fairly grounded and almost like an office romance. When the supernatural aspect finally appeared around the halfway point, I wasn't entirely convinced it added much to the story. At one point I even felt the plot might have worked just as well without it. Still, I can't deny that I enjoyed the small glimpses we did get.
What truly captivated me was the way the fashion world was portrayed. I've read several romances centered around fashion before, but this might be the most immersive depiction I've encountered. The atmosphere felt vivid, intense, and sometimes almost painfully real. The author clearly put a lot of care into the details, and even when the technical aspects went over my head, the descriptions remained incredibly engaging. The amount of research and dedication behind those scenes really shows.
Penelope herself is a fascinating contradiction. She's hardworking, ambitious, and bold enough to chase her dreams even when it borders on recklessness. But at times her obsession with Minerva felt so consuming that it overshadowed everything else about her. There were moments where I genuinely wondered if her passion for fashion existed beyond trying to meet Minerva's expectations. Thankfully we do see her gradually reclaim her own voice as a designer, creating for herself rather than for someone else's approval. Even so, by the end I still felt like she never completely escaped Minerva's shadow.
Minerva, on the other hand, remains an intriguing mystery. Her motivations are difficult to read for most of the story. She carries herself with an almost divine elegance; distant, composed, and intimidating. But occasionally the mask slips just enough to reveal small hints of vulnerability beneath that goddess-like exterior. Those moments were some of the most compelling parts of her character, and I honestly wish we had seen more of them. Her emotional distance made it harder to fully connect with her, though perhaps that was intentional given her otherworldly nature.
I'm also not entirely convinced this fits neatly into the romance category. Personally, I'd describe it more as erotica than a traditional love story. Penelope and Minerva's relationship feels like an ongoing battle for dominance; two powerful personalities constantly trying to gain the upper hand. The "will they or won't they" tension was exciting at first, but eventually it started to feel repetitive and slightly exhausting. The chemistry is definitely there, and the tension between them is intense, but I kept hoping for a deeper emotional layer that never quite appeared. Because of that, the story reads more like a sensual power struggle than a classic romance. Still, their messy, toxic dynamic strangely works for the kind of story being told.
Overall, Bound by Conceit offers a striking look into the fashion industry while delivering a relationship filled with sharp tension, simmering desire, and enough heat to keep you turning pages long into the night.
Huge thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bound by Conceit is a paranormal dark romance that follows Penelope, a fiercely dedicated woman whose entire life revolves around fashion. After years of relentless work, she finally becomes the design lead at Pláthōs; a prestigious fashion house ruled by Minerva Fallax, one of the most powerful and enigmatic women in the world.
But when Penelope becomes tangled in Minerva's secrets and her true identity, the two strike a dangerous deal and enter a competition driven by ego, ambition, and undeniable desire. As the challenge draws closer, Penelope begins to question whether she can simply walk away from everything that's happened between them or if what they started was only the beginning.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It definitely wasn't what I expected, though not necessarily in a bad way... it was just very different from what I had imagined. For a good portion of the story I actually wondered where the paranormal element was, because everything felt fairly grounded and almost like an office romance. When the supernatural aspect finally appeared around the halfway point, I wasn't entirely convinced it added much to the story. At one point I even felt the plot might have worked just as well without it. Still, I can't deny that I enjoyed the small glimpses we did get.
What truly captivated me was the way the fashion world was portrayed. I've read several romances centered around fashion before, but this might be the most immersive depiction I've encountered. The atmosphere felt vivid, intense, and sometimes almost painfully real. The author clearly put a lot of care into the details, and even when the technical aspects went over my head, the descriptions remained incredibly engaging. The amount of research and dedication behind those scenes really shows.
Penelope herself is a fascinating contradiction. She's hardworking, ambitious, and bold enough to chase her dreams even when it borders on recklessness. But at times her obsession with Minerva felt so consuming that it overshadowed everything else about her. There were moments where I genuinely wondered if her passion for fashion existed beyond trying to meet Minerva's expectations. Thankfully we do see her gradually reclaim her own voice as a designer, creating for herself rather than for someone else's approval. Even so, by the end I still felt like she never completely escaped Minerva's shadow.
Minerva, on the other hand, remains an intriguing mystery. Her motivations are difficult to read for most of the story. She carries herself with an almost divine elegance; distant, composed, and intimidating. But occasionally the mask slips just enough to reveal small hints of vulnerability beneath that goddess-like exterior. Those moments were some of the most compelling parts of her character, and I honestly wish we had seen more of them. Her emotional distance made it harder to fully connect with her, though perhaps that was intentional given her otherworldly nature.
I'm also not entirely convinced this fits neatly into the romance category. Personally, I'd describe it more as erotica than a traditional love story. Penelope and Minerva's relationship feels like an ongoing battle for dominance; two powerful personalities constantly trying to gain the upper hand. The "will they or won't they" tension was exciting at first, but eventually it started to feel repetitive and slightly exhausting. The chemistry is definitely there, and the tension between them is intense, but I kept hoping for a deeper emotional layer that never quite appeared. Because of that, the story reads more like a sensual power struggle than a classic romance. Still, their messy, toxic dynamic strangely works for the kind of story being told.
Overall, Bound by Conceit offers a striking look into the fashion industry while delivering a relationship filled with sharp tension, simmering desire, and enough heat to keep you turning pages long into the night.
Huge thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2026
4.25/5
Felt like the version of The Devil Wears Prada that we should have gotten.
READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS!!!
Super fun and hot read IMO, I don’t always get to read a story and keep myself an outsider, usually I without realizing have aligned myself as one character or the other because of my interest in what they’re doing. I did not at any point in time want to be either. Poppy and Minerva were so very clearly two halves of the same whole. Minerva with her webs, I was hanging from the edge of my seat every single time she strung Poppy up. Poppy, the brattiest of brats, will be tamed for no one…or will she?
Felt like the version of The Devil Wears Prada that we should have gotten.
READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS!!!
Super fun and hot read IMO, I don’t always get to read a story and keep myself an outsider, usually I without realizing have aligned myself as one character or the other because of my interest in what they’re doing. I did not at any point in time want to be either. Poppy and Minerva were so very clearly two halves of the same whole. Minerva with her webs, I was hanging from the edge of my seat every single time she strung Poppy up. Poppy, the brattiest of brats, will be tamed for no one…or will she?
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Ambition is a tool. Like shears. Useful in the right hands, dangerous to the inexperienced.”
— Minerva.
💚 A rebellious, determined FMC
💚 A ruthless, charismatic boss
💚 First person single POV
💚 Workplace romance (but their job is actually relevant!)
💚 Whoops, they stab each other with something
💚 Magical shibari
💚 A competition sealed with blood and body
As someone who could happily wear black for an entire week and not care less about fashion, I did not expect this book to hook me. But Bound by Conceit grabbed me by the throat from chapter one. Because honestly, who doesn’t love an FMC who wants to kiss and strangle her boss at the same time?
Meet Penelope: a rising star in the fashion industry ... If only Minerva, her boss, would stop trying to crush her under her heel.
Minerva acts like an untouchable queen. Penelope is pure wildfire, fueled by sheer spite and pride to prove herself. Enemies to lovers? Rivals? Worse, they're hunter and prey :) What happens between them had me hiding under my blanket and screaming into it at 2 a.m 😏
Welcome to a book so unhinged it made me question my sanity for even applying to read it.
The author said it’s an Arachne retelling. Did I know what that meant? Nope. Did I go in completely blind without even reading the blurb? Yes. I see shiny tropes, I click. Clown behavior as always 🤡 Even the non con warning only made me hesitate for half a second, but ughhh curiosity won?? 😬
I love Penelope. Her narrative voice is sharp and witty. The writing is descriptive without drowning in purple prose, just enough metaphor to feel beautiful without being exhausting. I sympathized with her. I wanted to hug her. But if she were my coworker? Mmm nah, I’m transferring departments immediately 😂 She’s terrifyingly ✨ ambitious ✨ Talented, but aware talent isn’t enough. She pushes. Breaks rules. Knows when to shut up, and absolutely does not shut up anyway 🤧
Which ofc captures Minerva’s attention.
And Minerva ... Whoa 🤨 She’s written like a literal goddess even before the big reveal that made me sit straight up. Seeing her through Penelope’s eyes makes you love her and hate her at the same time. It reminds me of a line from The Hunger Games: "Everyone either wants to be you, kiss you, or kill you." There’s no in between.
Their chemistry was like 🧨💥🔥 I’m not exaggerating. My stove felt cold compared to them. Penelope defies Minerva. Minerva humiliates Penelope. And with that boss–employee power imbalance, Penelope is constantly being crushed, folded, wrecked, yet she still refuses to kneel. Stubborn queen behavior. Respect 😍
They’re so toxic together it’s almost impressive.
I mean tragic.
Yup, definitely tragic 😔
The first intimate scene happens when the tension is already feral, and then it just keeps going. For, like ... Five chapters straight. I repeat, FIVE 🙂 Normally I prefer plot over spice, so that number usually scared me. But somehow it didn’t feel excessive at all. It felt intense, dark, and emotionally charged. Nothing sweet. Nothing soft. Just raw and messy and dangerous.
Sapphic authors really write a completely different breed of intimacy it's crazy 🤯
But what really impressed me was the job aspect. Their careers as fashion designers aren’t just aesthetic wallpaper. The industry knowledge is detailed and immersive. You can tell the author did serious research. Even when I only understood like, 40% of the technical terms, I LOVED it. Nothing annoys me more than "workplace romance" where they work once and then just make out in conference rooms for 300 pages??? Yikes on a bikes. Bound by Conceit made me felt like standing backstage at a runway show with needles, fabric, and chaos EVERYWHERE.
By the time I closed the book, I just lay on my bed like: 👁️👄👁️ Absolutely stunned.
I immediately added "read more sapphic books" to my reading goals :)
Thank you, Heather Nix. You broke my brain in the best way 😇
— Minerva.
💚 A rebellious, determined FMC
💚 A ruthless, charismatic boss
💚 First person single POV
💚 Workplace romance (but their job is actually relevant!)
💚 Whoops, they stab each other with something
💚 Magical shibari
💚 A competition sealed with blood and body
As someone who could happily wear black for an entire week and not care less about fashion, I did not expect this book to hook me. But Bound by Conceit grabbed me by the throat from chapter one. Because honestly, who doesn’t love an FMC who wants to kiss and strangle her boss at the same time?
Meet Penelope: a rising star in the fashion industry ... If only Minerva, her boss, would stop trying to crush her under her heel.
Minerva acts like an untouchable queen. Penelope is pure wildfire, fueled by sheer spite and pride to prove herself. Enemies to lovers? Rivals? Worse, they're hunter and prey :) What happens between them had me hiding under my blanket and screaming into it at 2 a.m 😏
Welcome to a book so unhinged it made me question my sanity for even applying to read it.
The author said it’s an Arachne retelling. Did I know what that meant? Nope. Did I go in completely blind without even reading the blurb? Yes. I see shiny tropes, I click. Clown behavior as always 🤡 Even the non con warning only made me hesitate for half a second, but ughhh curiosity won?? 😬
I love Penelope. Her narrative voice is sharp and witty. The writing is descriptive without drowning in purple prose, just enough metaphor to feel beautiful without being exhausting. I sympathized with her. I wanted to hug her. But if she were my coworker? Mmm nah, I’m transferring departments immediately 😂 She’s terrifyingly ✨ ambitious ✨ Talented, but aware talent isn’t enough. She pushes. Breaks rules. Knows when to shut up, and absolutely does not shut up anyway 🤧
Which ofc captures Minerva’s attention.
And Minerva ... Whoa 🤨 She’s written like a literal goddess even before the big reveal that made me sit straight up. Seeing her through Penelope’s eyes makes you love her and hate her at the same time. It reminds me of a line from The Hunger Games: "Everyone either wants to be you, kiss you, or kill you." There’s no in between.
Their chemistry was like 🧨💥🔥 I’m not exaggerating. My stove felt cold compared to them. Penelope defies Minerva. Minerva humiliates Penelope. And with that boss–employee power imbalance, Penelope is constantly being crushed, folded, wrecked, yet she still refuses to kneel. Stubborn queen behavior. Respect 😍
They’re so toxic together it’s almost impressive.
I mean tragic.
Yup, definitely tragic 😔
The first intimate scene happens when the tension is already feral, and then it just keeps going. For, like ... Five chapters straight. I repeat, FIVE 🙂 Normally I prefer plot over spice, so that number usually scared me. But somehow it didn’t feel excessive at all. It felt intense, dark, and emotionally charged. Nothing sweet. Nothing soft. Just raw and messy and dangerous.
Sapphic authors really write a completely different breed of intimacy it's crazy 🤯
But what really impressed me was the job aspect. Their careers as fashion designers aren’t just aesthetic wallpaper. The industry knowledge is detailed and immersive. You can tell the author did serious research. Even when I only understood like, 40% of the technical terms, I LOVED it. Nothing annoys me more than "workplace romance" where they work once and then just make out in conference rooms for 300 pages??? Yikes on a bikes. Bound by Conceit made me felt like standing backstage at a runway show with needles, fabric, and chaos EVERYWHERE.
By the time I closed the book, I just lay on my bed like: 👁️👄👁️ Absolutely stunned.
I immediately added "read more sapphic books" to my reading goals :)
Thank you, Heather Nix. You broke my brain in the best way 😇
March 1, 2026
Thisssss is the k1nky sapphic goodness that I need in all the books, pls and thank you. The hate, tension, and insanely hot spice are the perfect recipe for a binge read. I did not want to put this down for a second. I know less than nothing about the world of fashion, but I sure as heck was invested in every stitch Penelope and Minerva made. The way these two characters clashed together was … inevitable. I loved every second of it.
March 14, 2026
I will read anything Heather Nix writes, full stop. Bound by Conceit might be my favorite book she’s written though. The tension was so delicious I literally was starving for more. Fans of The Devil Wears Prada are going to be feral for this book!
May 8, 2026
listen for a devil wears prada fanfic essentially, i enjoyed the hell out of this
Review of advance copy received from Author
First off, I loved the unique premise — sapphic boss/employee, toxic work environment, devil wears prada vibes. Both Penelope and Minerva are complex characters with strong personalities which makes for an interesting dynamic and electric clashes.
I did struggle a bit to get into this book in the beginning. The first 25-ish % felt a bit like the narrator was recalling the story to us, with a lot of background expository and a huge timeframe stuffed into a few pages. I would’ve liked to see more about how Penelope and Minerva first met and for their interactions to unfold more slowly, as well as interactions with other people besides eachother, eg other clients etc. At around 50%, both the sudden sexual escalation and the revelation of Minerva’s nature felt a bit out of the blue to me (it wasn’t a bad thing but I was just like wtf lol). Still, the yearning, the spice, the mutual obsession, the sexually charged power games & rivalry, the praise/degradation and the relatable desire for approval from an older woman in a position of power makes up for it! Still a solid 4 stars because I binged the whole thing in 2 days and kept wanting to know what happened next, even if my brain went ‘wtf’ half the time lol.
TLDR: definitely recommend this for anyone who, when watching high fashion movies/shows, always roots for the ambitious FMC to end up with her toxic female boss. Very bingeable read with some 👌🏻👌🏻 lines. I’m not really a fashion person but given the attention to detail, I’m sure fashion lovers would enjoy this for that reason also. I would recommend looking up the Arachne/Athena myth before diving in, I didn't at first but when I later looked it up, things made a lot more sense to me, and I thought the author did a really creative spin on the myth.
Highlighted quotes:
- "It felt like something stolen from time, like Minerva had grabbed hold of the space between captivity and competition and grappled it to the ground. It was desperate, unrestrained. It wasn’t like Minerva, and truthfully, that scared me."
- "It’s an incredibly overused cliche, but diamonds are created under immense pressure, in infinite darkness, by heat and unrest and power, and a series set into motion by the earth itself. Every time I expected to find you broken, I found you’d become stronger, shone more brightly, your edges grown more sharp.”
I did struggle a bit to get into this book in the beginning. The first 25-ish % felt a bit like the narrator was recalling the story to us, with a lot of background expository and a huge timeframe stuffed into a few pages. I would’ve liked to see more about how Penelope and Minerva first met and for their interactions to unfold more slowly, as well as interactions with other people besides eachother, eg other clients etc. At around 50%, both the sudden sexual escalation and the revelation of Minerva’s nature felt a bit out of the blue to me (it wasn’t a bad thing but I was just like wtf lol). Still, the yearning, the spice, the mutual obsession, the sexually charged power games & rivalry, the praise/degradation and the relatable desire for approval from an older woman in a position of power makes up for it! Still a solid 4 stars because I binged the whole thing in 2 days and kept wanting to know what happened next, even if my brain went ‘wtf’ half the time lol.
TLDR: definitely recommend this for anyone who, when watching high fashion movies/shows, always roots for the ambitious FMC to end up with her toxic female boss. Very bingeable read with some 👌🏻👌🏻 lines. I’m not really a fashion person but given the attention to detail, I’m sure fashion lovers would enjoy this for that reason also. I would recommend looking up the Arachne/Athena myth before diving in, I didn't at first but when I later looked it up, things made a lot more sense to me, and I thought the author did a really creative spin on the myth.
Highlighted quotes:
- "It felt like something stolen from time, like Minerva had grabbed hold of the space between captivity and competition and grappled it to the ground. It was desperate, unrestrained. It wasn’t like Minerva, and truthfully, that scared me."
- "It’s an incredibly overused cliche, but diamonds are created under immense pressure, in infinite darkness, by heat and unrest and power, and a series set into motion by the earth itself. Every time I expected to find you broken, I found you’d become stronger, shone more brightly, your edges grown more sharp.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2026
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬. 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞. 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬.
Thank you to Heather Nix for the e-ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved Currency in Flesh, the previous paranormal stand alone and jumped at the chance to read this one!
It's darker, spicier, and what Devil Wears Prada would be if it was sapphic.
Minerva is the head if Pláthōs, a fashion house, and Penelope is her design lead.
While the first 30% or so of this book was a little slow, it built Penelope's story as someone that equally fears and worships Minerva. She hates how cunning and ruthless she is but yearns for scraps of her approval. There is also an attraction between them that will not be ignored.
When Penelope gives herself a little too much credit to a newspaper, Minerva k!dnaps her.
“𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦,” 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.”
“𝐀𝐡,” 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐊!𝐝𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭.”
Turns out Minerva is a goddess and she tangles Penelope into a competition for her life. A body and blood oath. And Minerva takes full advantage of both. They both have to make an outfit for each other and it's the competition that brings out something in Penelope that Minerva can't get enough of.
It's very spicy and k!nky and there are definitely CW's to read before diving in.
I had a good time, as expected! I did feel like this was on the edge of being less romance more erotica? Only because there is no declaration of love or even feelings. They just... are.
“𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐱?”
“𝐍𝐨,” 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐥, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫. “𝐍𝐨, 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞. 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
Thank you to Heather Nix for the e-ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved Currency in Flesh, the previous paranormal stand alone and jumped at the chance to read this one!
It's darker, spicier, and what Devil Wears Prada would be if it was sapphic.
Minerva is the head if Pláthōs, a fashion house, and Penelope is her design lead.
While the first 30% or so of this book was a little slow, it built Penelope's story as someone that equally fears and worships Minerva. She hates how cunning and ruthless she is but yearns for scraps of her approval. There is also an attraction between them that will not be ignored.
When Penelope gives herself a little too much credit to a newspaper, Minerva k!dnaps her.
“𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦,” 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.”
“𝐀𝐡,” 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐊!𝐝𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭.”
Turns out Minerva is a goddess and she tangles Penelope into a competition for her life. A body and blood oath. And Minerva takes full advantage of both. They both have to make an outfit for each other and it's the competition that brings out something in Penelope that Minerva can't get enough of.
It's very spicy and k!nky and there are definitely CW's to read before diving in.
I had a good time, as expected! I did feel like this was on the edge of being less romance more erotica? Only because there is no declaration of love or even feelings. They just... are.
“𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐱?”
“𝐍𝐨,” 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐥, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫. “𝐍𝐨, 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞. 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Single 1st Person POV. 4.5🌟 5🌶️. 238 pages
6.5 Spicy + Heavier BDSM Scenes
This is the 4th book by Heather Nix that I have read and it definitely will not be my last. I read Currency in Flesh which is the 1st book in this series of stand alones, sometime last year and this has prompted me to re-add it to my TBR for a re-read.
Bound by Conceit follows Penelope in a rags to riches tale as she goes from first year fashion student to art director and design lead at Pláthõs, working under Minerva Fallax. The ice queen and creative genius of the fashion house, a woman whose ego is so large she cannot stand to see it threatened. The book is a whirlwind of high fashion, toxic work environments and paranormal secrets that will have you questioning everything.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I’m a big fan of dark romances, often the darker the better and Bound by Conceit definitely delivers and then some. I did however find that the first 11 chapters felt a little narratorish, like someone trying to fit a very long, somewhat detailed timeline into such a short period of time. But after chapter 12 the book really got into the swing of things. It’s deliciously dark, tantalisingly twisted and devastatingly depraved and I loved it!
Bound by conceit will be released March 14th, add it to your TBR if you are a fan of dark romances, fashion and the Devil Wears Prada, but please check trigger warning before reading!
CW/TW: Toxic/Abusive Work Environment, Kidnapping, Torture, Forced Piercing, DubCon/NonCon, Humiliation, Waterboarding through Water Sports
Things to LOVE:
✨Dark Paranormal Romance
✨Age Gap (27 + Late 50s?)
✨Fashion Industry
✨Kidnapping
✨Goddess Ice Queen Fashion Mogul
✨Human Design Lead
✨Heavier BDSM
✨Rope Play/Shibari
✨🍑👈 + 🍑👅 + 🍑🍆
Single 1st Person POV. 4.5🌟 5🌶️. 238 pages
6.5 Spicy + Heavier BDSM Scenes
This is the 4th book by Heather Nix that I have read and it definitely will not be my last. I read Currency in Flesh which is the 1st book in this series of stand alones, sometime last year and this has prompted me to re-add it to my TBR for a re-read.
Bound by Conceit follows Penelope in a rags to riches tale as she goes from first year fashion student to art director and design lead at Pláthõs, working under Minerva Fallax. The ice queen and creative genius of the fashion house, a woman whose ego is so large she cannot stand to see it threatened. The book is a whirlwind of high fashion, toxic work environments and paranormal secrets that will have you questioning everything.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I’m a big fan of dark romances, often the darker the better and Bound by Conceit definitely delivers and then some. I did however find that the first 11 chapters felt a little narratorish, like someone trying to fit a very long, somewhat detailed timeline into such a short period of time. But after chapter 12 the book really got into the swing of things. It’s deliciously dark, tantalisingly twisted and devastatingly depraved and I loved it!
Bound by conceit will be released March 14th, add it to your TBR if you are a fan of dark romances, fashion and the Devil Wears Prada, but please check trigger warning before reading!
CW/TW: Toxic/Abusive Work Environment, Kidnapping, Torture, Forced Piercing, DubCon/NonCon, Humiliation, Waterboarding through Water Sports
Things to LOVE:
✨Dark Paranormal Romance
✨Age Gap (27 + Late 50s?)
✨Fashion Industry
✨Kidnapping
✨Goddess Ice Queen Fashion Mogul
✨Human Design Lead
✨Heavier BDSM
✨Rope Play/Shibari
✨🍑👈 + 🍑👅 + 🍑🍆
Review of advance copy received from Author
“The fact that I tolerated Minerva’s treatment was bad enough, but the fact that I had liked it made me want nothing more than to crawl into my own flesh and die.”
I’m loving these Heather Nix books that are inspired by Greek mythology. First there was Currency in Flesh, a sapphic retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth. Now we have Bound by Conceit, a sapphic story inspired by the Athena and Arachne myth. The author says this book is for fans of The Devil Wears Prada and Project Runway, but I would also like to add the 2021 Cruella movie featuring Emma Stone.
Our main characters are Pláthōs design house founder Minerva Fallax and her design lead Penelope Spindel. Arguably, Minerva has shaped and created Penelope to be the designer she has become. Penelope possesses a wealth of talent and hones her skills under the watchful eyes of Minerva. She lives for the crumbs of acknowledgment she receives from Minerva despite how she tells herself she loathes and hates the founder.
Soon Penelope begins to get her own recognition which seems to threaten Minerva’s ego. This leads to Minerva taking extreme measures and forcing Penelope to a contest where they will design a look for each other and see who comes out on top.
I loved the tension, the competition and egos, and the spice. I’m a big fan of Project Runway and loved the fashion design house setting. This book was definitely dark and has many trigger warnings including dubious consent. There are elements of heavy BDSM including rope play. But if you are into dark romance this book will definitely scratch that itch. I hope Heather Nix continues with these sapphic stories inspired by Greek mythology and can’t wait to read whatever she writes next. Thank you Heather Nix for the ARC.
I’m loving these Heather Nix books that are inspired by Greek mythology. First there was Currency in Flesh, a sapphic retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth. Now we have Bound by Conceit, a sapphic story inspired by the Athena and Arachne myth. The author says this book is for fans of The Devil Wears Prada and Project Runway, but I would also like to add the 2021 Cruella movie featuring Emma Stone.
Our main characters are Pláthōs design house founder Minerva Fallax and her design lead Penelope Spindel. Arguably, Minerva has shaped and created Penelope to be the designer she has become. Penelope possesses a wealth of talent and hones her skills under the watchful eyes of Minerva. She lives for the crumbs of acknowledgment she receives from Minerva despite how she tells herself she loathes and hates the founder.
Soon Penelope begins to get her own recognition which seems to threaten Minerva’s ego. This leads to Minerva taking extreme measures and forcing Penelope to a contest where they will design a look for each other and see who comes out on top.
I loved the tension, the competition and egos, and the spice. I’m a big fan of Project Runway and loved the fashion design house setting. This book was definitely dark and has many trigger warnings including dubious consent. There are elements of heavy BDSM including rope play. But if you are into dark romance this book will definitely scratch that itch. I hope Heather Nix continues with these sapphic stories inspired by Greek mythology and can’t wait to read whatever she writes next. Thank you Heather Nix for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4⭐️ 4🌶
This book isn't what it seems at first. I started reading it and was about 25% in, and wondering is this really a paranormal novel or just an office rivalry? Then slowly the rope gets tighter until it's too late and you've become ensnared in its web. Each strand meticulously crafted much like the two fashion designers FMCs. Definitely, gives off Devil wears Prada with the age gap between the face of the fashion house and the young upstart.
As you become aware in this world, you'll see that the truth is based in one's own reality. The blindfold slowly is removed to show you the truth. This isn't your traditional paranormal but more a fantasy retelling of ancient mythology expertly woven like a tailored suit. Hats off to the author for blending in it subtly at the beginning.
The story had me entranced and I'm not normally into fashion per se. When the stakes are high and the gameplay between the fmcs is top notch, then it doesn't matter what the subject is you'll easily fall into their world.
As with most mythology, it's not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of triggers, so if you're sensitive please take heed is the warning.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I'd love for this author to pull in more from this pantheon in subsequent novels (🤞).
Tropes and triggers: age gap, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, one bed, heavy bdsm, dub con, degradation, an@l, bullying, shibari, restraint, etc
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
This book isn't what it seems at first. I started reading it and was about 25% in, and wondering is this really a paranormal novel or just an office rivalry? Then slowly the rope gets tighter until it's too late and you've become ensnared in its web. Each strand meticulously crafted much like the two fashion designers FMCs. Definitely, gives off Devil wears Prada with the age gap between the face of the fashion house and the young upstart.
As you become aware in this world, you'll see that the truth is based in one's own reality. The blindfold slowly is removed to show you the truth. This isn't your traditional paranormal but more a fantasy retelling of ancient mythology expertly woven like a tailored suit. Hats off to the author for blending in it subtly at the beginning.
The story had me entranced and I'm not normally into fashion per se. When the stakes are high and the gameplay between the fmcs is top notch, then it doesn't matter what the subject is you'll easily fall into their world.
As with most mythology, it's not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of triggers, so if you're sensitive please take heed is the warning.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I'd love for this author to pull in more from this pantheon in subsequent novels (🤞).
Tropes and triggers: age gap, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, one bed, heavy bdsm, dub con, degradation, an@l, bullying, shibari, restraint, etc
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
March 19, 2026
⭐️ 3.5
This is one of those books that I THINK I enjoyed reading but I’m not actually sure if I LIKED it.
There are so many elements at play. While it’s being marketed and reviewed as having The Devil Wears Prada vibes, I thought the entire book felt more like Cruella.
It’s set in the world of high fashion and the paranormal aspect doesn’t come into play until about halfway through the book. Once that element is revealed, it’s not really explored beyond some magical capabilities used by one FMC primarily during sex. I would have preferred to find out more about her (why she got into fashion, how this element will impact their relationship long term, etc.). It just didn’t add much depth to the story in my opinion.
While I love dark romance, I’m not entirely convinced this falls into that category. The characters seem to love despising one another, and although that helped build the sexual tension, there was hardly any softening of that disdain, even in the end.
Please read the trigger warnings for this one.
Thanks to Heather Nix for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🖤
This is one of those books that I THINK I enjoyed reading but I’m not actually sure if I LIKED it.
There are so many elements at play. While it’s being marketed and reviewed as having The Devil Wears Prada vibes, I thought the entire book felt more like Cruella.
It’s set in the world of high fashion and the paranormal aspect doesn’t come into play until about halfway through the book. Once that element is revealed, it’s not really explored beyond some magical capabilities used by one FMC primarily during sex. I would have preferred to find out more about her (why she got into fashion, how this element will impact their relationship long term, etc.). It just didn’t add much depth to the story in my opinion.
While I love dark romance, I’m not entirely convinced this falls into that category. The characters seem to love despising one another, and although that helped build the sexual tension, there was hardly any softening of that disdain, even in the end.
Please read the trigger warnings for this one.
Thanks to Heather Nix for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🖤
March 16, 2026
Equal parts tension and intrigue are woven together effortlessly in this dark sapphic romance.
An absolutely poetic tale of hate, lust, hubris, and fate. Penelope, a workaholic and brilliant fashion designer, approaches work with a single mindedness. Her drive to succeed only matched by her hatred for her controlling and cold-hearted boss, Minerva. When Penelope’s pride pushes Minerva too far her true identity as a powerful goddess is revealed and a challenge is made.
Gorgeously written with a riveting plot and a hatred that burns so hot it’s dangerously close to love. Add in scorching spice, off the charts chemistry, morally grey deities, high fashion, mythos, and achingly inevitable fate and you have an amazing dark romance.
What you’ll get:
•Dark Paranormal Sapphic Romance
•Inspired by the Myth of Arachne + Athena
•Devil Wears Prada Vibes
•Boss/Employee
•Hate F*cking
•Age Gap (Mid 20s/Mid 50s)
•BDSM
•Deities
•Bondage/Rope Play
•Power Imbalance
•Dub-con/Non-con
An absolutely poetic tale of hate, lust, hubris, and fate. Penelope, a workaholic and brilliant fashion designer, approaches work with a single mindedness. Her drive to succeed only matched by her hatred for her controlling and cold-hearted boss, Minerva. When Penelope’s pride pushes Minerva too far her true identity as a powerful goddess is revealed and a challenge is made.
Gorgeously written with a riveting plot and a hatred that burns so hot it’s dangerously close to love. Add in scorching spice, off the charts chemistry, morally grey deities, high fashion, mythos, and achingly inevitable fate and you have an amazing dark romance.
What you’ll get:
•Dark Paranormal Sapphic Romance
•Inspired by the Myth of Arachne + Athena
•Devil Wears Prada Vibes
•Boss/Employee
•Hate F*cking
•Age Gap (Mid 20s/Mid 50s)
•BDSM
•Deities
•Bondage/Rope Play
•Power Imbalance
•Dub-con/Non-con
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wonderfully well written dark sapphic romance from this amazing author. Thank you to the author for an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Workplace, hot for boss, delicious hate and banter. This author knows how to sneak in all the tension and desire mixed with the anger and humiliation.
This was the Devil Wears Prada I wished to have seen! Mix in some paranormal/fantasy aspects and it’s ‘chef’s kiss’.
Penelope was the perfect match for Minerva, challenging, brilliantly talented and ambitious. I was rooting for her all the while in more ways than one ;). Also she was a glorious brat lol.
Minerva was perfectly dark and morally gray. I would have loved to get in her head! Her rope play was fantastic and I enjoyed the Arachne and Athena retelling.
Highly recommend!!
Workplace, hot for boss, delicious hate and banter. This author knows how to sneak in all the tension and desire mixed with the anger and humiliation.
This was the Devil Wears Prada I wished to have seen! Mix in some paranormal/fantasy aspects and it’s ‘chef’s kiss’.
Penelope was the perfect match for Minerva, challenging, brilliantly talented and ambitious. I was rooting for her all the while in more ways than one ;). Also she was a glorious brat lol.
Minerva was perfectly dark and morally gray. I would have loved to get in her head! Her rope play was fantastic and I enjoyed the Arachne and Athena retelling.
Highly recommend!!
March 25, 2026
"The fabric wasn’t resisting me—it was correcting me. It refused to be something less. It rejected performance, demanded intention."
I waited to review this book for DAYS after finishing it bc I need to sit with ... all the bookness. I went through and re-read all my highlighted annotation and, unbeknownst to me, now have a type. This driven beast of a designer out to prove herself, her worth, collides catastrophically with an immovable luminary of a designer and the book unfolds.
BDSM on tiptoes to be bent at severe angles, feelings enmeshed in silver threads, and an ending that causes devious applause- I am hooked. I have yet to read a Nix novel where I haven't closed the book thoroughly sated and this one is no chump. Little dash of napping, whole lotta hate bumping, then the inevitability of the two lands in the middle. Swooning with feels.
I waited to review this book for DAYS after finishing it bc I need to sit with ... all the bookness. I went through and re-read all my highlighted annotation and, unbeknownst to me, now have a type. This driven beast of a designer out to prove herself, her worth, collides catastrophically with an immovable luminary of a designer and the book unfolds.
BDSM on tiptoes to be bent at severe angles, feelings enmeshed in silver threads, and an ending that causes devious applause- I am hooked. I have yet to read a Nix novel where I haven't closed the book thoroughly sated and this one is no chump. Little dash of napping, whole lotta hate bumping, then the inevitability of the two lands in the middle. Swooning with feels.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a fun read. I like Penelope and Minerva's drive, even if I can't relate to it. If I were Penelope, I'd have given up, but I admire that she didn't. I also love how she sort of just goes with the flow after
I thought the spice was spicy, the characters were flawed, but real, and the story was fun. The fashion aspect added something unique. I love the twist - that was really fun. I didn't fully connect with either MC, I think because I just don't love the cut throat ambitious attitude, but I enjoyed them nonetheless.
This was a fun read!
Notes: 3/5 spice levels, demon/human, captor/captive, boss/employee, fashion designers, coworkers, age gap
I thought the spice was spicy, the characters were flawed, but real, and the story was fun. The fashion aspect added something unique. I love the twist - that was really fun. I didn't fully connect with either MC, I think because I just don't love the cut throat ambitious attitude, but I enjoyed them nonetheless.
This was a fun read!
Notes: 3/5 spice levels, demon/human, captor/captive, boss/employee, fashion designers, coworkers, age gap
May 16, 2026
i have very mixed feelings about this book. i loved the paranormal element, and as always Heather Nix knocks the spice out of the park, but i did NOT like the chemistry between the MCs. not because they didn’t have any, but because this takes ‘ice queen who hates you’ to the very extreme. i also felt the lead up to the main paranormal romance storyline took a little long to get to.
listen, i love all of Heather Nix’s work but this one was simply not written for my tastes, and that’s very okay lol
if you love a romance about an ice queen who hates you (like my wife does) this one is for youuuu!!
ARC DISCLAIMER: i received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✖️✖️
listen, i love all of Heather Nix’s work but this one was simply not written for my tastes, and that’s very okay lol
if you love a romance about an ice queen who hates you (like my wife does) this one is for youuuu!!
ARC DISCLAIMER: i received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✖️✖️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this ARC for my honest opinion. Bound by Conceit by Heather Nix was a fabulous read. I was sucked into the story immediately as a read it. Penelope and Minerva's story was one I was excited about. The chemistry between them was there and intense. The emotions ran high and I loved every second of it. I loved that it was in the fashion world and how much was hidden in subtle context through small actions. They were perfect for each other in their own ways. They challenged each other in the right ways and sometimes it ended up with them in tense heated passion which was amazing to see play out. I would recommend reading. Heather is fabulous and will recommend.
March 26, 2026
Have you ever read a book where you were genuinely surprised by the HEA? Yes I know (and wholeheartedly agree) that an HEA is a requirement in this genre, but I was still surprised. Because these two? They hate each other, your honor. And that was precisely why I could not set this book down. The hate f@cking? Top tier. The angst, the rage turned motivation, and the way neither of them backed down? It was everything I could have wanted, and I cannot wait to read more from this author!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have no idea how Heather thought of this WAP filled Devil Wears Prada inspired dark romance with paranormal elements and the steamiest scenes known to womankind but I am HERE FOR IT.
Please check triggers, but If you love:
👗 Devil Wears Prada
⛓️💥 Forced Piercings
🪡 Bindings 😏
🖤 A determined FMC to ruin basically Cruella De Vil’s career
💦 Mommy Issues Satisfied
❤️🩹So much hate there’s love and obsession
🥵 scenes that have your jaw dropping
Then absolutely look no further
Please check triggers, but If you love:
👗 Devil Wears Prada
⛓️💥 Forced Piercings
🪡 Bindings 😏
🖤 A determined FMC to ruin basically Cruella De Vil’s career
💦 Mommy Issues Satisfied
❤️🩹So much hate there’s love and obsession
🥵 scenes that have your jaw dropping
Then absolutely look no further
March 17, 2026
I didn't really think a book to could trigger my own Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.... but well here we are. This is like devil wears prada, (which I had to go look up and watch after reading this) but so much hotter. The author takes such care pulling us into this story, that I honestly felt like part of it in places, and seriously did not want to piss Minerva off myself. The wrath that woman can carry in a look is just flooring to me and I could feel it in my gut.
Heather Nix has once again secured her position on my must buy author list.
Heather Nix has once again secured her position on my must buy author list.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is Heather Nix at her absolute best. The fashion industry setting was perfection, the chemistry between the FMCs was off the charts, and the spice was as delicious as it always is when Heather writes it.
(Note: read the trigger warnings to make sure this is for you.)
Many thanks to the author for the advanced copy of this one!
(Note: read the trigger warnings to make sure this is for you.)
Many thanks to the author for the advanced copy of this one!
February 28, 2026
Once again, Heather Nix brings you a phenomenally written sapphic romance. I devoured this book. The Heather is able to write with such ease but create such impactful sentences is pure talent. The tension? Delicious. The competition? Addicting. The growth? Incredible. Sign me up for a season with Minvera, minus that one scene that had me SCREAMING.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Grateful to have had the opportunity to read an ARC of Heather Nix’s newest work! Have you ever thought to yourself, The Devil Wears Prada would have been wayyyy better if it was a dark paranormal lesbian romance where Miranda and Andy get together? Then this is the book for you!! ((This book has dubcon and a power imbalance, so check your triggers))
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received the ARC for this book.
The relationship between the two characters is exactly what I was waiting for. Banter, tension, and delicious spice!
The ending wasn’t what I was expecting but it’s still satisfying. I loved both Minerva and Poppy in their own ways and it was a very enjoyable read.
The relationship between the two characters is exactly what I was waiting for. Banter, tension, and delicious spice!
The ending wasn’t what I was expecting but it’s still satisfying. I loved both Minerva and Poppy in their own ways and it was a very enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is definitely one you wanna read the trigger warnings for. This pulled me in from page one and didn't let go, I absolutely devoured it. You really start by thinking this is a The Devil Wears Prada situation but it totally evolves into WAY more than that and I was absolutely SHOCKED in so many spots. Such an insane read that is hard to put down.
March 11, 2026
The Devil Wears Prada meets Arachne and Athena. This was a fabulous, snarky, smart, and very fashion forward paranormal sapphic tale. I always enjoy Heather’s writing—plenty of story mixed with delicious spice. Check your triggers, but this one is excellent.
I received an advanced reader copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I received an advanced reader copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I received this as an arc read, and have to say I enjoyed everything about this.
This was unexpected, raw, and absolutely feral.
well deserving of 5 ⭐️ and definitely buying a hard copy on release day.
This was unexpected, raw, and absolutely feral.
well deserving of 5 ⭐️ and definitely buying a hard copy on release day.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not sure where to start with this one. It was a good book overall. It was interesting and full of intrigue. It was dark and kinky and sapphic and generally hot. Just didn't end up being my cup of tea. Still giving 4 star review because as I said it was good.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ooooo no she didn't! Dang, Heather Nix, are you trying to unalive us in the best way possible!?! Because Minerva and Penelope were absolutely electric, magnetic, unhinged, and elegant. This story was a wild ride and I enjoyed every moment of it.
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