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A Story to Die For
After three murders, they call you a serial killer.
But what do you call a man after ninety-three?
Crime journalist Elara Vance has spent her life hunting the one man Iceland fears even in its darkest hours; the invisible executioner known only as Vapor.
When a contract is placed on her life, Vapor arrives, not to kill her, but to claim her. Abducted beneath the frozen earth into his bunker, where he experiments, mutilates, and perfects the art of untraceable death, Elara becomes the one thing Vapor never meant to keep alive.
He feeds her, dresses her, tends her wounds with the same hands he uses to cut men apart. He forces her to listen while he kills. Forces her to watch when he wants her educated. Forces her to write his story in the dark with his fingers on her pulse.
In the polar night of Iceland, where twenty hours of darkness hides every sin, a journalist will meet her monster — and write her own ending.
But what do you call a man after ninety-three?
Crime journalist Elara Vance has spent her life hunting the one man Iceland fears even in its darkest hours; the invisible executioner known only as Vapor.
When a contract is placed on her life, Vapor arrives, not to kill her, but to claim her. Abducted beneath the frozen earth into his bunker, where he experiments, mutilates, and perfects the art of untraceable death, Elara becomes the one thing Vapor never meant to keep alive.
He feeds her, dresses her, tends her wounds with the same hands he uses to cut men apart. He forces her to listen while he kills. Forces her to watch when he wants her educated. Forces her to write his story in the dark with his fingers on her pulse.
In the polar night of Iceland, where twenty hours of darkness hides every sin, a journalist will meet her monster — and write her own ending.
450 pages, ebook
First published March 31, 2026
About the author
Myla Carbo
6 books288 followersI’m Myla, a psychology student from The Netherlands with a deep love for stories and the beautiful chaos of the human mind.
I started writing at seventeen, drawn not to the monsters hiding under the bed, but to the ones we carry within ourselves. I’ve always been fascinated by why people do what they do, what shapes them, what breaks them, and what makes them love anyway.
I write dark romances that explore the darker corners of the mind, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the fears we try so hard to outrun. But also the love we can find within the depths.
When I’m not writing or studying, I’m happiest spending time with the people I love, baking something sweet, or watching wonderfully bad reality television.
I started writing at seventeen, drawn not to the monsters hiding under the bed, but to the ones we carry within ourselves. I’ve always been fascinated by why people do what they do, what shapes them, what breaks them, and what makes them love anyway.
I write dark romances that explore the darker corners of the mind, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the fears we try so hard to outrun. But also the love we can find within the depths.
When I’m not writing or studying, I’m happiest spending time with the people I love, baking something sweet, or watching wonderfully bad reality television.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
April 16, 2026
I really tried. I swear I wanted to like this book but the metaphors are unbearable. The author is taking way too long to get to a point. She is making every single thing sound so deep. I quote and this is just an example of MANY “The bike is salt and voice and a kind of promise you make to the road.” I see what she is trying to do but the description are in general cringe. It didn’t hit the way it should have. I must admit that she did a good job with the setting and overall immersion but other than that no. Just no. DNF.
February 18, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rate: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: crime journalist x serial killer, forced proximity (duh), dual obsession, she calms his tremor
TW: yes, it's dark romance + the author listed the TW in the beginning of the book
Review:
Myla Carbo did it again.
When the author announced this book, alongside its tropes, I was instantly hooked. The combination of a crime journalist and the serial killer she writes about, instantly captured my attention. (I mean; HOW GOOD DOES THAT SOUND??) I know her books to be gripping, intense and addictive, and this one was no different.
BUT the plottwists in this book were something that made my jaw drop, multiple times!
This book is perfect if you're into dark romance, especially one with loads of tension and obsessive behavior. I FLEW through this book!
I would 100% recommend
Spice rate: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: crime journalist x serial killer, forced proximity (duh), dual obsession, she calms his tremor
TW: yes, it's dark romance + the author listed the TW in the beginning of the book
Review:
Myla Carbo did it again.
When the author announced this book, alongside its tropes, I was instantly hooked. The combination of a crime journalist and the serial killer she writes about, instantly captured my attention. (I mean; HOW GOOD DOES THAT SOUND??) I know her books to be gripping, intense and addictive, and this one was no different.
BUT the plottwists in this book were something that made my jaw drop, multiple times!
This book is perfect if you're into dark romance, especially one with loads of tension and obsessive behavior. I FLEW through this book!
I would 100% recommend
August 30, 2026
The only reason this book is getting any stars from me is because of the story itself.
I was genuinely so interested in the premise. There aren't many books where you get to follow a serial killer and a crime journalist while also having a love story woven into it. That sounded SO good to me, and honestly, the story itself really was interesting. That's the only reason I managed to finish this book. If I hadn't been interested in the actual story, I would have Dnfed this one a long time ago.
Unfortunately, the writing completely ruined it for me.
I have absolutely no proof that this book was written using AI, so I cannot say that it was. Maybe this is simply the author's writing style. Maybe it isn't. But this book felt like AI to me from beginning to end.
Everything felt unnecessarily deep and overly dramatic. So many sentences are written in threes, with descriptions like:
*"light, metal, breath."*
*"disappointment, irritation, something sharper underneath."*
And it happens constantly. Eventually, I stopped noticing the story and started noticing the writing. I would read a sentence and just think, why was this written like that?
It genuinely felt like my brain was being turned inside out trying to process some of the writing.
And that's what makes this so frustrating, because the story was GOOD. I genuinely think this could have been such an incredible book if the writing had been better. The concept was interesting, the story kept me invested, and I wanted to know what was going to happen. But every time I started getting pulled into the story, the writing would pull me straight back out.
I've also seen other readers questioning whether AI was used in this book. Again, I can't prove that, so I'm not going to state it as a fact. But I can absolutely say that I had that feeling while reading it, and unfortunately, it made the reading experience really difficult for me.
And I want to be clear: I don't have a problem with AI being used as a tool. I use AI myself. I don't think there's automatically anything wrong with an author using it for brainstorming, developing ideas, helping with characters, or other parts of the writing process.
But if you're using AI to essentially write an entire novel for you, that's where I personally struggle. I want to read a book written by the author, not something that feels like it was generated for them.
It's honestly such a shame because I would have loved this story if the writing had worked for me. The story had so much potential, and I really wish the execution had matched it.
1.75⭐
💧
1.5🌶
-Date read: 27/08/2026 - 30/08/2026
-Main characters name and Age:
-Fmc: Elara Vance (24)
-Mmc: Vapor (28)
-Safety warning:
-Series: No
-Author: Myla Carbo
-Edition: Paperback $: 23,49
-Amount of pages: 417 Pages
-Point of view (Pov): First person | Dual Pov
-Setting: Iceland, Ísafjörður
-Ow (Other woman) drama: None
-Om (Other man) drama: None
-Sex scene with ow/om: None
-Cheating: None
-Soundtrack: No
-Epilogue: No
-Smutty chapters:
June 1, 2026
We can all see this was written by AI, right?
Usually that debate comes up when the grammar is rough or there are plot holes - things that could, arguably, just be bad writing. But this? AI patterns upon AI patterns, with the most glaring one being the "it's not X, it's not Y, it's Z" construction showing up on basically every single page. Not even exaggerating - organize a drinking game around it and you'll be wasted before the end of chapter one. Stack all the other recognizable AI patterns on top of that and you're done for. Throw in the plot holes, weak storyline, and completely one-dimensional characters, and the only thing that survives is the premise - which is a shame, because it's genuinely wasted here.
I'm mad. Using AI to write your entire book and then not even cleaning it up during proofreading is just shameless.
I also have a theory that character.ai was involved - bots tend to drift into similar speech patterns over time regardless of the initial prompt, and something about this reads exactly like that.
And it's probably not a coincidence that the only people who seemed to enjoy this were those who received an ARC for free. :)
Usually that debate comes up when the grammar is rough or there are plot holes - things that could, arguably, just be bad writing. But this? AI patterns upon AI patterns, with the most glaring one being the "it's not X, it's not Y, it's Z" construction showing up on basically every single page. Not even exaggerating - organize a drinking game around it and you'll be wasted before the end of chapter one. Stack all the other recognizable AI patterns on top of that and you're done for. Throw in the plot holes, weak storyline, and completely one-dimensional characters, and the only thing that survives is the premise - which is a shame, because it's genuinely wasted here.
I'm mad. Using AI to write your entire book and then not even cleaning it up during proofreading is just shameless.
I also have a theory that character.ai was involved - bots tend to drift into similar speech patterns over time regardless of the initial prompt, and something about this reads exactly like that.
And it's probably not a coincidence that the only people who seemed to enjoy this were those who received an ARC for free. :)
Review of advance copy received from Author
To start i have to say that this book has absolutely incredible setup and attention to detail. The switching between past and present worked so well and gave us context to the story adding that depth that i often crave when i read dark romances. Of course there was flashbacks that were honestly just down right sad, just really horrifying in a way that you get to see what makes a killer, or rather perhaps it would be more accurate to say would be who MADE a killer.
There was such a build up between our two main characters (Elera and Vapour) it didn’t feel rushed, like at some point i was thinking to myself when this romance gonna start because of the fast paced nature of books i read but, girl, did the romance start alright. 👀👀👀
About mid way through the book the twists started and the just kept coming, like one chapter something huge happens and im so sure nothing can top it and then of course ITS TOPPED. And all i have to say on this note is be prepared? And read this in the daytime to prevent yourself from gasping so loud you end up waking everyone around you (learn from me, guys)
Of course i’ll give you a lil context of what this story is about without rambling on further;
The story follows a journalist (Elera) investigating a series of killings tied to a name everyone is afraid to speak of and a cold blooded killer who believes he’s ridding the world of evil one victim at a time. When their paths cross under less than favourable circumstances, the story becomes far more complex than a simple romance or a thriller.
Thank you so so much Myla for trusting me with your babies and for sending me this arc! I hope you guys enjoy it as much i did
There was such a build up between our two main characters (Elera and Vapour) it didn’t feel rushed, like at some point i was thinking to myself when this romance gonna start because of the fast paced nature of books i read but, girl, did the romance start alright. 👀👀👀
About mid way through the book the twists started and the just kept coming, like one chapter something huge happens and im so sure nothing can top it and then of course ITS TOPPED. And all i have to say on this note is be prepared? And read this in the daytime to prevent yourself from gasping so loud you end up waking everyone around you (learn from me, guys)
Of course i’ll give you a lil context of what this story is about without rambling on further;
The story follows a journalist (Elera) investigating a series of killings tied to a name everyone is afraid to speak of and a cold blooded killer who believes he’s ridding the world of evil one victim at a time. When their paths cross under less than favourable circumstances, the story becomes far more complex than a simple romance or a thriller.
Thank you so so much Myla for trusting me with your babies and for sending me this arc! I hope you guys enjoy it as much i did
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much for an ARC of this book.
wow. the authors writing is beautiful and detailed. the story is a lot more than just a romance, the characters feel flushed out and real. The setting is expertly done. chefs kiss all around.
AND THE MAN IS SO HOT
(sorry had to get that in there)
wow. the authors writing is beautiful and detailed. the story is a lot more than just a romance, the characters feel flushed out and real. The setting is expertly done. chefs kiss all around.
AND THE MAN IS SO HOT
(sorry had to get that in there)
April 1, 2026
Okay so maybe I’m absolutely effed in the head .. because I looved this book DOWN- what I will say is this book is dark, very very dark so please keep that in mind before reading but I thought it was 100/10 😈
Review of advance copy received from Author
OMG I just finished the book and I'm speechless.
First of all let me with a BIG THANK YOU to Myla Carbo for this ARC. It was also my first and I'm glad that it will be a memorable one.
Let's get on to business now... 😛
My fav quotes: 🤭
"You made me human Elara. That was your mistake."
"A want. Do you understand what that means Elara? A man who carved desire out of himself years ago feeling something again because of you?"
" I want you like something I intend to own."
" I've scars older than you darling."
These quotes got me literally kicking my feet and giggling. 😛
The story is about a girl named Elara and she's a journalist. Elara loves poisonous flowers.a She writes about him,the Vapor, and the way he kills like a career. The words she chooses to describe his victims and methods are uncommon. Some killings had been happening in Reykjavìk and since she's a journalist she's written about him. To the point where the name Vapor was given by her. But one night when she goes home what finds there surprises her...
The writing is definitely one of the reasons this book deserves 5 stars. It wasn't hard to understand and very expressive. I've felt every emotion with them. This being the second language of this author it is the best book I've read including the Beginnings duet by also Myla.😍
The tension between him and Elara every moment they were together, even behind closed doors was to die for. Also the romance... It always is on point 🫦
The main characters carry something broken inside and it defines them the most. This book is perfect for dark romance lovers with captive × captor trope also with blood kink.
CHECK TW!!!⚠️
I hope y'all love it as much as I did when it comes out.🫶
First of all let me with a BIG THANK YOU to Myla Carbo for this ARC. It was also my first and I'm glad that it will be a memorable one.
Let's get on to business now... 😛
My fav quotes: 🤭
"You made me human Elara. That was your mistake."
"A want. Do you understand what that means Elara? A man who carved desire out of himself years ago feeling something again because of you?"
" I want you like something I intend to own."
" I've scars older than you darling."
These quotes got me literally kicking my feet and giggling. 😛
The story is about a girl named Elara and she's a journalist. Elara loves poisonous flowers.a She writes about him,the Vapor, and the way he kills like a career. The words she chooses to describe his victims and methods are uncommon. Some killings had been happening in Reykjavìk and since she's a journalist she's written about him. To the point where the name Vapor was given by her. But one night when she goes home what finds there surprises her...
The writing is definitely one of the reasons this book deserves 5 stars. It wasn't hard to understand and very expressive. I've felt every emotion with them. This being the second language of this author it is the best book I've read including the Beginnings duet by also Myla.😍
The tension between him and Elara every moment they were together, even behind closed doors was to die for. Also the romance... It always is on point 🫦
The main characters carry something broken inside and it defines them the most. This book is perfect for dark romance lovers with captive × captor trope also with blood kink.
CHECK TW!!!⚠️
I hope y'all love it as much as I did when it comes out.🫶
June 14, 2026
If i reead again a sentence that start with "this isnt ___ its ____" i will gouge my eyes out and eat them.
not EVERYTHING needs to be a half ass metaphor. you can just say youre in a room not "this isnt a room , its a concept"
not EVERYTHING needs to be a half ass metaphor. you can just say youre in a room not "this isnt a room , its a concept"
Want to Read
January 19, 2026i need this book in my hands NOW. I'm so excited 😭
Did Not Finish
September 27, 2026DNF.
I’m not saying this for sure, but the writing felt very AI-generated to me. The way the characters talked, the descriptions, and the overall writing style just didn’t feel natural to me. I kept noticing the same patterns in the dialogue and descriptions, and I couldn’t get immersed in the story.
I only read about 5% of the book, so I obviously can’t judge the whole story based on that. Maybe it’s just a personal preference, but I couldn’t get past the writing style, so I decided to DNF. 😭
I’m not saying this for sure, but the writing felt very AI-generated to me. The way the characters talked, the descriptions, and the overall writing style just didn’t feel natural to me. I kept noticing the same patterns in the dialogue and descriptions, and I couldn’t get immersed in the story.
I only read about 5% of the book, so I obviously can’t judge the whole story based on that. Maybe it’s just a personal preference, but I couldn’t get past the writing style, so I decided to DNF. 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔥Tropes🔥:
- crime journalist x serial killer
- forced proximity / captor x captive
- dual obsession
- slow burn
- age gap
- she calms him
⚠️ check trigger warnings before reading
-----------------------------------------------
i genuinely don’t even know how to start this without sounding dramatic but this book was actually insane in the best way
from the beginning, the setup alone hooked me. a crime journalist writing about a serial killer… and then becoming part of his story?? like that concept already had me but the execution was on another level. the pacing, the tension, the constant push and pull between elara and vapor it never felt rushed, and the slow burn actually felt necessary
the writing is one of the strongest parts. it’s very descriptive, almost poetic at times but still easy to follow. it genuinely felt like watching a movie in my head. the switching between past and present added so much depth, especially when it came to vapor. his backstory wasn’t just there for shock value it actually built him into something more than just “a monster”
and that’s what i loved most. this book constantly blurs the line between monster and man. vapor wants to be seen as the villain but elara (and honestly us as readers) start to see something else underneath. their dynamic is intense, obsessive, a little unhinged but it works so well. also the fact that his tremors calm around her… yeah that detail alone
also the twists??
every time i thought i had it figured out something else happened and completely flipped it. like especially the second half it just does not let up
elara was such a strong fmc too. she’s not passive, she questions things, she pushes back but she also understands him in a way that actually feels earned. their relationship isn’t instant it builds, shifts, and evolves
if you like dark romance that actually has plot, tension, and psychological depth (not just shock value) this is 100% for you
--------------------------------------------------
some quotes that i really liked:
"You made me human Elara. That was your mistake."
"A want. Do you understand what that means Elara? A man who carved desire out of himself years ago feeling something again because of you?"
" I want you like something I intend to own."
" I've scars older than you darling."
🤭🤭😛😛😛🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭😛😛😛
----------------------------------------------------
thank you so much Myla for the ARC. i’ve been following your work since your earlier books and it’s honestly been really cool seeing how much your writing has evolved. you should be really proud of this one ❤️❤️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🔥Tropes🔥:
- crime journalist x serial killer
- forced proximity / captor x captive
- dual obsession
- slow burn
- age gap
- she calms him
⚠️ check trigger warnings before reading
-----------------------------------------------
i genuinely don’t even know how to start this without sounding dramatic but this book was actually insane in the best way
from the beginning, the setup alone hooked me. a crime journalist writing about a serial killer… and then becoming part of his story?? like that concept already had me but the execution was on another level. the pacing, the tension, the constant push and pull between elara and vapor it never felt rushed, and the slow burn actually felt necessary
the writing is one of the strongest parts. it’s very descriptive, almost poetic at times but still easy to follow. it genuinely felt like watching a movie in my head. the switching between past and present added so much depth, especially when it came to vapor. his backstory wasn’t just there for shock value it actually built him into something more than just “a monster”
and that’s what i loved most. this book constantly blurs the line between monster and man. vapor wants to be seen as the villain but elara (and honestly us as readers) start to see something else underneath. their dynamic is intense, obsessive, a little unhinged but it works so well. also the fact that his tremors calm around her… yeah that detail alone
also the twists??
every time i thought i had it figured out something else happened and completely flipped it. like especially the second half it just does not let up
elara was such a strong fmc too. she’s not passive, she questions things, she pushes back but she also understands him in a way that actually feels earned. their relationship isn’t instant it builds, shifts, and evolves
if you like dark romance that actually has plot, tension, and psychological depth (not just shock value) this is 100% for you
--------------------------------------------------
some quotes that i really liked:
"You made me human Elara. That was your mistake."
"A want. Do you understand what that means Elara? A man who carved desire out of himself years ago feeling something again because of you?"
" I want you like something I intend to own."
" I've scars older than you darling."
🤭🤭😛😛😛🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭😛😛😛
----------------------------------------------------
thank you so much Myla for the ARC. i’ve been following your work since your earlier books and it’s honestly been really cool seeing how much your writing has evolved. you should be really proud of this one ❤️❤️
September 8, 2026
too many metaphors to the point reading it genuinely makes me want to crush my skull
such big potential aswell
it’s a shame
such big potential aswell
it’s a shame
January 25, 2026
After just a few chapters I could sense that this book was going to ruin me. Slowly and brutally.
This is a thrilling dark romance where even the soft moments come with a hard edge. Every word is written as a deliberate choice. Each one placed with surgical precision to elicit the desired response. A dark, twisted story told with calculated beauty.
While both narrators carry an abrupt tone, I really appreciate the difference in voice between the character’s POV.
Vapor is cold and clinical. He teaches us that there’s a fine line between a monster and something bred from one.
Elana is an analytical poet. She’s a passionate journalist with the mind of a detective and the soul of an artist.
Typically in dark romance with a dual POV we learn to love our MMC through his chapters. Through the glimpses of truth his narrative provides. Here, he’s trying to make us, and Elara, hate him. To force the distance and frame himself as the villain of her story. Elara has the ability to make us find the humanity in her monster before he reveals himself to the reader. Despite his efforts to prove otherwise.
This was just such a unique reading experience. I can’t wait to read more of her work and thank you to Myla Carbo for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an ARC, this is my honest review.
This is a thrilling dark romance where even the soft moments come with a hard edge. Every word is written as a deliberate choice. Each one placed with surgical precision to elicit the desired response. A dark, twisted story told with calculated beauty.
While both narrators carry an abrupt tone, I really appreciate the difference in voice between the character’s POV.
Vapor is cold and clinical. He teaches us that there’s a fine line between a monster and something bred from one.
Elana is an analytical poet. She’s a passionate journalist with the mind of a detective and the soul of an artist.
Typically in dark romance with a dual POV we learn to love our MMC through his chapters. Through the glimpses of truth his narrative provides. Here, he’s trying to make us, and Elara, hate him. To force the distance and frame himself as the villain of her story. Elara has the ability to make us find the humanity in her monster before he reveals himself to the reader. Despite his efforts to prove otherwise.
This was just such a unique reading experience. I can’t wait to read more of her work and thank you to Myla Carbo for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an ARC, this is my honest review.
April 11, 2026
Were we reading the same book?!! The writing is so AI. I couldn’t finish it, I’m not sorry. DNFed at 27%
March 31, 2026
Elara is a crime journalist. Her father’s been dead for 14 years now, accidental drowning, they said. Ever since, she’s been trying to cope by being a crime journalist as it helps her feel closer to him and what she believes she inherited from him and consequently from his line of work : inner darkness. So she becomes obsessed with Vapor, a masked serial unaliver using all kinds of deadly chemicals and their variations. Until one day, because of circumstances, he kidnaps her. Elara has remotely flirted with her morbid curiosity almost all of her life, what will she do when she’s finally face to face with it?
Over all, I did enjoy ASTDF. The characters were amazing in their flawed, raw personalities. The plot was interesting. The dynamic between Elara and Lucan, hot. I loved the psychological aspect of the novel. It was dark, gritty, charged.
My complaint lies with the writing style. It is essentially beautiful and I haven’t come across that style in dark romance so far.
Initially, something about how it’s written compelled me. It was inviting, reminiscent of a slow dance with morbid curiosity, while being simultaneously imbued with a touch of clinicality. It started strong. As I kept on reading, I admit I became mitigated: the writing style became overtly repetitive, the pace unsteady. I would’ve appreciated the story more if the in-between was polished: I loved the beginning and the ending, they were solid, I was engaged 100% during those times. As I said, loooved the characters and the plot. I truly liked the book, but the inconsistency of the pace and the repetitive, descriptive writing style dampened the experience for me.
Thank you to the author for the arc!
3.5*
Over all, I did enjoy ASTDF. The characters were amazing in their flawed, raw personalities. The plot was interesting. The dynamic between Elara and Lucan, hot. I loved the psychological aspect of the novel. It was dark, gritty, charged.
My complaint lies with the writing style. It is essentially beautiful and I haven’t come across that style in dark romance so far.
Initially, something about how it’s written compelled me. It was inviting, reminiscent of a slow dance with morbid curiosity, while being simultaneously imbued with a touch of clinicality. It started strong. As I kept on reading, I admit I became mitigated: the writing style became overtly repetitive, the pace unsteady. I would’ve appreciated the story more if the in-between was polished: I loved the beginning and the ending, they were solid, I was engaged 100% during those times. As I said, loooved the characters and the plot. I truly liked the book, but the inconsistency of the pace and the repetitive, descriptive writing style dampened the experience for me.
Thank you to the author for the arc!
3.5*
May 4, 2026
I struggled to finish this book. I think maybe I just don’t resonate with dark romances anymore. The author has poetic writing- which is beautiful but after a while it wears off. Very little happens in big chapters.
There is no OW/OM so I recommend this. It has some BDSM sequences but nothing too bad. That was another thing I didn’t like.. I just don’t like BDSM I think. Overall a solid read for those who want a darker romance.
There is no OW/OM so I recommend this. It has some BDSM sequences but nothing too bad. That was another thing I didn’t like.. I just don’t like BDSM I think. Overall a solid read for those who want a darker romance.
February 11, 2026
THIS BOOK IS INSANE!
ik was echt zo verbaasd om wat ik allemaal las. Hoe het verhaal in elkaar zit, de setting, de characters echt wow. Heerlijk die serial killer, thriller, black market, romance vibes
Ik ben redelijk nieuw in het dark romance wereldje dus dit boek heeft mij echt verbluft, het is echt een dikke aanrader om te lezen ook als beginnend dark romance lezer. Ik moest aan het begin echt even wennen aan de schrijfstijl de setting en het verhaal waardoor het even duurde om erdoorheen te komen maar toen ik op de helft was van het boek heb ik het in een zitting uitgelezen… dat zegt al genoeg hoe tof het boek is.
Het is net even anders dan verhalen die je vaker tegenkomt en dat maakt dit boek speciaal en onwijs verfrissend. Ik zat echt op het puntje van mijn stoel.
Dit verhaal beschrijft heel mooi wat gevoel met je kunt doen en dat er meer achter iemand zit dan dat mensen alleen zien, lezen of horen.
Ik wil Myla Carbo super bedanken dat ik dit boek mocht lezen als ARC❤️ echt onwijs lief! dit voelde enorm speciaal en ik weet zeker dat zij groot gaat worden want wat was dit boek een partij GOED!
ik was echt zo verbaasd om wat ik allemaal las. Hoe het verhaal in elkaar zit, de setting, de characters echt wow. Heerlijk die serial killer, thriller, black market, romance vibes
Ik ben redelijk nieuw in het dark romance wereldje dus dit boek heeft mij echt verbluft, het is echt een dikke aanrader om te lezen ook als beginnend dark romance lezer. Ik moest aan het begin echt even wennen aan de schrijfstijl de setting en het verhaal waardoor het even duurde om erdoorheen te komen maar toen ik op de helft was van het boek heb ik het in een zitting uitgelezen… dat zegt al genoeg hoe tof het boek is.
Het is net even anders dan verhalen die je vaker tegenkomt en dat maakt dit boek speciaal en onwijs verfrissend. Ik zat echt op het puntje van mijn stoel.
Dit verhaal beschrijft heel mooi wat gevoel met je kunt doen en dat er meer achter iemand zit dan dat mensen alleen zien, lezen of horen.
Ik wil Myla Carbo super bedanken dat ik dit boek mocht lezen als ARC❤️ echt onwijs lief! dit voelde enorm speciaal en ik weet zeker dat zij groot gaat worden want wat was dit boek een partij GOED!
May 30, 2026
This story and characters pulled me in!
A Story to D!e For surprised me in the best way. I don’t usually reach for books with such descriptive, poetic writing, it can slow a story down for me, but this one pulled me in from page one. Elara our FMC is an Icelandic crime journalist who becomes the target, and 0bsession, of an invisible h!tman/serial k!ller known as Vapor. I loved the main characters, and Vapor especially had me hooked, I kept wishing for more of his backstory because his presence is so magnetic. The book lingered with me when I wasn’t reading, and by the end I was hungry for more.
Tropes :
Mad Scientist/ Frankenstein vibes.
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy/mysterious love interest with a hidden past.
Slow-burn tension that simmers through charged glances and loaded silence.
Morally gray protector vibes, danger wrapped in devotion.
Secrets and reveals that reframe earlier scenes.
Yearning and almost-touch moments that make the payoff sweeter.
Gothic-tinged atmosphere: lyrical descriptions, shadowy settings, and a sense of beautiful doom.
If you like lush writing, magnetic mystery men, and a slow-burn that aches, this one delivers, and leaves you desperate for the next piece of the story. 🖤
A Story to D!e For surprised me in the best way. I don’t usually reach for books with such descriptive, poetic writing, it can slow a story down for me, but this one pulled me in from page one. Elara our FMC is an Icelandic crime journalist who becomes the target, and 0bsession, of an invisible h!tman/serial k!ller known as Vapor. I loved the main characters, and Vapor especially had me hooked, I kept wishing for more of his backstory because his presence is so magnetic. The book lingered with me when I wasn’t reading, and by the end I was hungry for more.
Tropes :
Mad Scientist/ Frankenstein vibes.
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy/mysterious love interest with a hidden past.
Slow-burn tension that simmers through charged glances and loaded silence.
Morally gray protector vibes, danger wrapped in devotion.
Secrets and reveals that reframe earlier scenes.
Yearning and almost-touch moments that make the payoff sweeter.
Gothic-tinged atmosphere: lyrical descriptions, shadowy settings, and a sense of beautiful doom.
If you like lush writing, magnetic mystery men, and a slow-burn that aches, this one delivers, and leaves you desperate for the next piece of the story. 🖤
Did Not Finish
September 18, 2026DNF AT 22%
I don’t think the book is bad at all. I actually really like the premise and the story itself but unfortunately the writing style ruined the reading experience for me. There’s just way too much description and too many metaphors and it takes forever to get to the point. I ended up DNFing at 22% 😗
I don’t think the book is bad at all. I actually really like the premise and the story itself but unfortunately the writing style ruined the reading experience for me. There’s just way too much description and too many metaphors and it takes forever to get to the point. I ended up DNFing at 22% 😗
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.75 rounding up.
"I miss him like you miss gravity when it stops working. Like you miss the edge of a cliff when you’ve spent too long staring down into it and suddenly the ground is flat again."
Age gap
Serial unaliver x journalist
Captor x captive
Obsession
Blood & Breath play
Firstly thank you Myla Carbo for the Arc of this beautifully written book.
Myla writes almost lyrically, very descriptive, expressive, she makes sure you can feel like you are there with the vivid details she creates. I will be honest the writing was different than what I am used to, it was just so... Poetic.. is that the word I'm looking for 🤔.. but it pulled me in like a dance, twirling though the words on the page (Its hard to explain the feeling) it was just.. beautiful..
Myla Incorporated twists and turns thought the book that I just didn't see coming, some that I thought I had a grasp of in spots, then I was flipped a different way. It takes a lot for me to not know what's happening so I was pleasantly surprised.
Elara the journalist and Vapor the serial unaliver... These two.. captor and captive.. Elara was a breath of fresh air, she stood her ground when she needed but she also provided the space for vapor to show her his growth. vapor tried really hard for Elara and us to hate him, he tried to show us the monster he believes himself to be but with elaras help and obviously the flashbacks, they really opened our eyes to the creation of vapor, the man and the 'monster' and why he is the way he is.. it makes it hard to hate him
The romance was a slow build, slow burn.. but it didn't feel slow, it felt needed.
I think my favorite part of the book is when he starts to let go just a little, we see the vulnerability, the hesitation, the want to be more than what he is perceived to be.. the snow angels and motorcycle scene had me kicking my feet! And the fact that his tremors calm when she is around, when everything seems to calm.. she is his anchor*
"maybe monsters aren’t born. Maybe they’re built, one scar, one silence, one unbearable choice at a time."
"I miss him like you miss gravity when it stops working. Like you miss the edge of a cliff when you’ve spent too long staring down into it and suddenly the ground is flat again."
Age gap
Serial unaliver x journalist
Captor x captive
Obsession
Blood & Breath play
Firstly thank you Myla Carbo for the Arc of this beautifully written book.
Myla writes almost lyrically, very descriptive, expressive, she makes sure you can feel like you are there with the vivid details she creates. I will be honest the writing was different than what I am used to, it was just so... Poetic.. is that the word I'm looking for 🤔.. but it pulled me in like a dance, twirling though the words on the page (Its hard to explain the feeling) it was just.. beautiful..
Myla Incorporated twists and turns thought the book that I just didn't see coming, some that I thought I had a grasp of in spots, then I was flipped a different way. It takes a lot for me to not know what's happening so I was pleasantly surprised.
Elara the journalist and Vapor the serial unaliver... These two.. captor and captive.. Elara was a breath of fresh air, she stood her ground when she needed but she also provided the space for vapor to show her his growth. vapor tried really hard for Elara and us to hate him, he tried to show us the monster he believes himself to be but with elaras help and obviously the flashbacks, they really opened our eyes to the creation of vapor, the man and the 'monster' and why he is the way he is.. it makes it hard to hate him
The romance was a slow build, slow burn.. but it didn't feel slow, it felt needed.
I think my favorite part of the book is when he starts to let go just a little, we see the vulnerability, the hesitation, the want to be more than what he is perceived to be.. the snow angels and motorcycle scene had me kicking my feet! And the fact that his tremors calm when she is around, when everything seems to calm.. she is his anchor*
"maybe monsters aren’t born. Maybe they’re built, one scar, one silence, one unbearable choice at a time."
April 29, 2026
For the first time, I find it hard to write a review. It feels like any words I choose would be painfully ordinary compared to the depth, the atmosphere, the raw emotion woven into the pages by Myla Carbo… but I’ll try.
In the heart of Iceland—where the cold seeps into your bones, where days are fleeting and nights stretch endlessly, where snow groans beneath every step—journalist Elara Vance hunts a story. A serial killer. A ghost. No face, no name… just a monster. Her words, her obsession, pull her closer and closer to his world—until she crosses a line she can never uncross… and finds herself inside the monster’s lair.
Vapor—half ice, half endless winter night. His world is built on precision. Control. Numbers. Lines. Angles. Everything calculated, everything contained… until something slips through the cracks.
Her.
The anomaly. The obsession.
“Between the two, there’s a thin place where I exist; half man, half monster—haunted by a journalist who sketches lethal flowers and doesn’t yet know that monsters can read.”
And that’s how it begins…
A story carved in sacrifice, in impossible choices, in fragile boundaries waiting to be broken. A story about monsters that aren’t born… but made. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In the heart of Iceland—where the cold seeps into your bones, where days are fleeting and nights stretch endlessly, where snow groans beneath every step—journalist Elara Vance hunts a story. A serial killer. A ghost. No face, no name… just a monster. Her words, her obsession, pull her closer and closer to his world—until she crosses a line she can never uncross… and finds herself inside the monster’s lair.
Vapor—half ice, half endless winter night. His world is built on precision. Control. Numbers. Lines. Angles. Everything calculated, everything contained… until something slips through the cracks.
Her.
The anomaly. The obsession.
“Between the two, there’s a thin place where I exist; half man, half monster—haunted by a journalist who sketches lethal flowers and doesn’t yet know that monsters can read.”
And that’s how it begins…
A story carved in sacrifice, in impossible choices, in fragile boundaries waiting to be broken. A story about monsters that aren’t born… but made. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 27, 2026
First of all, I LOVED her writing & how descriptive this author is, I love when a book is like a movie in my head & I’m addicted to it! Both main characters are very complex & I liked them together & separate as well. I think it’s important especially with duel pov that you like both characters when they aren’t together so you’re not bored when one is off on a side quest that doesn’t have the other mc around. Elara also doesn’t take any shit from anyone & doesn’t let certain people get away with being assholes. Lastly I haven’t read many dark romances that deal with the black market & of course I’m very intrigued by that which she does a great job imo describing what that world is like. Anyways loved this, had a great time & think everyone who loves darker romances to add it to your tbr !! 🫶🏻
August 14, 2026
ai slob
September 5, 2026
1.5
Iba a hacer la reseña en inglés, pero me ha gustado tan tan poco y tengo tantas opiniones que si no es en castellano no voy a poder expresar lo horrible que me ha parecido. ALERTA SPOILER.
Al principio, llevaba al rededor de un 5%, ya me planteé abandonarlo. La manera de narrar no me gusta, sobretodo los capítulos narrados por él. La autora ha intentado hacerlo tan poético que no se entiende nada. Decidí, a pesar de no encontrarle sentido a la narrativa, seguir como mínimo hasta llegar al 10%, ya que no me parecía justo abandonarlo sin haberle dado una oportunidad.
Hablemos de Vapor. Entiendo su trauma, entiendo su dolor y lo que le han hecho. La autora nos describe con mucho detalle todos los conductos neuronales y todas las cosas que no le funcionan, etc. Yo llega un punto que ya no sabía si realmente alguien es capaz de vivir eso o simplemente ella ha decidido que Vapor iba a ser un puto robot. Todo el rato hablando de patrones, que si no se que, que si no se cuantos. Intentando reprimirse y oprimir lo poco que siente. Siento que Vapor es egocéntrico y prepotente a la vez que un cobarde. Es lo que se definiría como un cuñado de alguna manera, porque se cree que lo sabe todo y el tío no tiene ni idea de nada. No me ha gustado nada su personaje.
Elara. Al principio me interesó su historia. La manera de pensar y como narra es más clara que la de Vapor, por tanto te permite conectar más con ella. De igual manera, no entiendo su obsesión con Vapor y la manera en la que era deteriorante para ella y la tía seguía y seguía. Migajera final boss.
El romance. Si se le puede llamar así claro. Siento que sale de la nada. En un momento dado Vapor le dice que si entiende lo que está pasando entre ellos, ella dice que si a pesar de no tener ni puta idea, y luego ya están teniendo sexo, cuando, en aproximadamente 170 páginas no han dado ningún tipo de alusión al deseo. Se siente muy forzado todo. Además, la historia que se supone que Elara esta escribiendo sobre Lucan, no tiene ningún sentido. No entiendo que es lo que él quiere que ella escriba, y no entiendo como quiere que lo entienda. De alguna manera, y según el libro, Elara lo entiende y lo VE. Vaya timo, no hay nada que ver, el personaje es más confuso que ver colores para un daltónico.
La trama. Bueno, otra cosa que no tiene ni pies ni cabeza. Primero de todo, lo del padre de Elara ha sido demasiado predecible. Una cosa que no encaja conmigo es lo temible que se supone que es Vapor. Lo inteligente y observador que él dice ser. Según él, todo son patrones, él entiende el lenguaje corporal y observa y actúa. Pues cuando mas importa, lo capturan en menos de 5 minutos. No es capaz ni de defenderse, lo cual me parece incongruente, siendo Lucan un señor de 38 años que lleva matando más de una década y se mata en el gimnasio, es más alto y más corpulento que nadie y además, pensado por el, la gente es muy fácil de leer. ¿No son tan fáciles de leer Lucan? Entonces como coño te capturan así de fácil cuando yo, que podría decir que no soy muy espabilada, sabía desde el inicio que era una puta trampa.
Además, justo en el momento en que Lucan empieza a actuar como un hombre medianamente maduro a su joven edad de 38 pedazo de años y se da cuenta de que siente algo por Elara, llega el putísimo padre de esta y le inyecta un veneno que le inhibe los conductos neuronales y le hace retroceder mil pasos. No solo lo tortura, si no que no es capaz de ver que el pobre chaval no tiene nada que ver con su traición, y no logra ver que su enemigo es realmente su compañero. Total que entre el padre y el compañero, acaban jodiendole todo lo posible la vida a Lucan y lo transforman en un arma. Literalmente le extinguen los sentimientos hasta que el mismo Lucan admite que, ni siquiera siente nada por Elara. Tendríais que haberme visto la cara.
Para colmo, cuando consigue recuperarse, se aleja totalmente de ella porque cree que la arruinará. Intenta manipularla, diciendole que el nunca ha sentido nada por ella y que solo la ha utilizado. Ella, que le gusta ser maltratada psicológicamente, no se lo cree y lo confronta. Lucan acaba admitiendo que realmente le gusta pero que hasta aquí ha llegado lo suyo porque no quiere seguir con ella, y le ofrece, OJO LO QUE LE OFRECE, follar por última vez en el sitio y de la manera en la que mató a una de sus primeras víctimas. Chicas sujetaos las bragas porque la caballería no ha muerto.
Lo peor de todo es que 6 meses después, Lucan vuelve para reconquistarla. Adivinad cuánto tarda, después de haberla tratado como la mierda y abandonado durante 6 meses. Efectivamente, la friolera de 4 páginas. Y PUNTO, se acaba. El vuelve reformado, más dulce que nunca, un tío que no has visto en todo el libro, y ya. Felices para siempre, o hasta que le de el siguiente brote supongo.
Ahora que he acabado el spoiler, espero que todxs aquellxs que veníais a leerlo os lo penseis dos veces. A mi me lo vendieron con la premisa de que era un dark romance, Lucan un héroe torturado, pero que Elara y él valían la pena. Bueno, sigo buscando ese libro.
He leído miles de dark romance, así que mi disgusto por este libro no se debe a mi desinformación sobre el trope. Se debe a que aquí no hay romance alguno, hay una extraña obsesión que a veces no pueden controlarla y otras veces pueden hasta el punto de no verse durante 6 meses.
La media estrella sobre el uno que le doy, es porque hasta la 150 estaba bastante intrigada. Pero bueno, la curiosidad mató al gato, y en este caso a mis neuronas.
Este libro compite junto con Bulletproof de K. M. Moronova por el puesto a peor libro que he leído este año. Casi extinguen mis ganas de leer, pero por suerte, soy fuerte.
Iba a hacer la reseña en inglés, pero me ha gustado tan tan poco y tengo tantas opiniones que si no es en castellano no voy a poder expresar lo horrible que me ha parecido. ALERTA SPOILER.
Al principio, llevaba al rededor de un 5%, ya me planteé abandonarlo. La manera de narrar no me gusta, sobretodo los capítulos narrados por él. La autora ha intentado hacerlo tan poético que no se entiende nada. Decidí, a pesar de no encontrarle sentido a la narrativa, seguir como mínimo hasta llegar al 10%, ya que no me parecía justo abandonarlo sin haberle dado una oportunidad.
Hablemos de Vapor. Entiendo su trauma, entiendo su dolor y lo que le han hecho. La autora nos describe con mucho detalle todos los conductos neuronales y todas las cosas que no le funcionan, etc. Yo llega un punto que ya no sabía si realmente alguien es capaz de vivir eso o simplemente ella ha decidido que Vapor iba a ser un puto robot. Todo el rato hablando de patrones, que si no se que, que si no se cuantos. Intentando reprimirse y oprimir lo poco que siente. Siento que Vapor es egocéntrico y prepotente a la vez que un cobarde. Es lo que se definiría como un cuñado de alguna manera, porque se cree que lo sabe todo y el tío no tiene ni idea de nada. No me ha gustado nada su personaje.
Elara. Al principio me interesó su historia. La manera de pensar y como narra es más clara que la de Vapor, por tanto te permite conectar más con ella. De igual manera, no entiendo su obsesión con Vapor y la manera en la que era deteriorante para ella y la tía seguía y seguía. Migajera final boss.
El romance. Si se le puede llamar así claro. Siento que sale de la nada. En un momento dado Vapor le dice que si entiende lo que está pasando entre ellos, ella dice que si a pesar de no tener ni puta idea, y luego ya están teniendo sexo, cuando, en aproximadamente 170 páginas no han dado ningún tipo de alusión al deseo. Se siente muy forzado todo. Además, la historia que se supone que Elara esta escribiendo sobre Lucan, no tiene ningún sentido. No entiendo que es lo que él quiere que ella escriba, y no entiendo como quiere que lo entienda. De alguna manera, y según el libro, Elara lo entiende y lo VE. Vaya timo, no hay nada que ver, el personaje es más confuso que ver colores para un daltónico.
La trama. Bueno, otra cosa que no tiene ni pies ni cabeza. Primero de todo, lo del padre de Elara ha sido demasiado predecible. Una cosa que no encaja conmigo es lo temible que se supone que es Vapor. Lo inteligente y observador que él dice ser. Según él, todo son patrones, él entiende el lenguaje corporal y observa y actúa. Pues cuando mas importa, lo capturan en menos de 5 minutos. No es capaz ni de defenderse, lo cual me parece incongruente, siendo Lucan un señor de 38 años que lleva matando más de una década y se mata en el gimnasio, es más alto y más corpulento que nadie y además, pensado por el, la gente es muy fácil de leer. ¿No son tan fáciles de leer Lucan? Entonces como coño te capturan así de fácil cuando yo, que podría decir que no soy muy espabilada, sabía desde el inicio que era una puta trampa.
Además, justo en el momento en que Lucan empieza a actuar como un hombre medianamente maduro a su joven edad de 38 pedazo de años y se da cuenta de que siente algo por Elara, llega el putísimo padre de esta y le inyecta un veneno que le inhibe los conductos neuronales y le hace retroceder mil pasos. No solo lo tortura, si no que no es capaz de ver que el pobre chaval no tiene nada que ver con su traición, y no logra ver que su enemigo es realmente su compañero. Total que entre el padre y el compañero, acaban jodiendole todo lo posible la vida a Lucan y lo transforman en un arma. Literalmente le extinguen los sentimientos hasta que el mismo Lucan admite que, ni siquiera siente nada por Elara. Tendríais que haberme visto la cara.
Para colmo, cuando consigue recuperarse, se aleja totalmente de ella porque cree que la arruinará. Intenta manipularla, diciendole que el nunca ha sentido nada por ella y que solo la ha utilizado. Ella, que le gusta ser maltratada psicológicamente, no se lo cree y lo confronta. Lucan acaba admitiendo que realmente le gusta pero que hasta aquí ha llegado lo suyo porque no quiere seguir con ella, y le ofrece, OJO LO QUE LE OFRECE, follar por última vez en el sitio y de la manera en la que mató a una de sus primeras víctimas. Chicas sujetaos las bragas porque la caballería no ha muerto.
Lo peor de todo es que 6 meses después, Lucan vuelve para reconquistarla. Adivinad cuánto tarda, después de haberla tratado como la mierda y abandonado durante 6 meses. Efectivamente, la friolera de 4 páginas. Y PUNTO, se acaba. El vuelve reformado, más dulce que nunca, un tío que no has visto en todo el libro, y ya. Felices para siempre, o hasta que le de el siguiente brote supongo.
Ahora que he acabado el spoiler, espero que todxs aquellxs que veníais a leerlo os lo penseis dos veces. A mi me lo vendieron con la premisa de que era un dark romance, Lucan un héroe torturado, pero que Elara y él valían la pena. Bueno, sigo buscando ese libro.
He leído miles de dark romance, así que mi disgusto por este libro no se debe a mi desinformación sobre el trope. Se debe a que aquí no hay romance alguno, hay una extraña obsesión que a veces no pueden controlarla y otras veces pueden hasta el punto de no verse durante 6 meses.
La media estrella sobre el uno que le doy, es porque hasta la 150 estaba bastante intrigada. Pero bueno, la curiosidad mató al gato, y en este caso a mis neuronas.
Este libro compite junto con Bulletproof de K. M. Moronova por el puesto a peor libro que he leído este año. Casi extinguen mis ganas de leer, pero por suerte, soy fuerte.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
wow.
what a story.
so intense, twisted, emotional story.
it started off a bit slow, but in no time did things speed up a bit and just wrap up in such a way that you were grateful for the slower start.
Elara is a journalist, who I simply just loved. her character was so relatable in ways. loved her fascination with toxic flowers and plants.
and Vapor. she was very fascinated with him and his crimes. always wanting to cover the stories on his latest murder.
who knew that she'd get some very good intel from a source never before recorded. 🤭
at a cost though.
but honestly.....lets face it, we'd all pay the price to be in Elara's place.
right ?.....
or am I just unhinged and need help ? 🤔🤣
oh
man but yea, Vapor.
his character was intense. so intriguing.
his story though..😭😭😭😭
my gosh his story was a heartbreaking one. but don't pity him, he'll hate that.
don't try to change him.
just see him.
Elara and Vapors story is so intense together. the freaking ending !!!!!
ahhhh the ending 🥹🥹🥹🥹
I just loved it. loved the whole story. loved these characters.
couldn't get enough.
to be honest I struggle to give yall a decent review without spoiling anything.
so you just get this. lol
but just know, you're in for a ride...a slow, but on the edge of your seat intense ride.
with an ending well worth it.
thank you so much Myla for the arc. 🫶🏻
what a story.
so intense, twisted, emotional story.
it started off a bit slow, but in no time did things speed up a bit and just wrap up in such a way that you were grateful for the slower start.
Elara is a journalist, who I simply just loved. her character was so relatable in ways. loved her fascination with toxic flowers and plants.
and Vapor. she was very fascinated with him and his crimes. always wanting to cover the stories on his latest murder.
who knew that she'd get some very good intel from a source never before recorded. 🤭
at a cost though.
but honestly.....lets face it, we'd all pay the price to be in Elara's place.
right ?.....
or am I just unhinged and need help ? 🤔🤣
oh
man but yea, Vapor.
his character was intense. so intriguing.
his story though..😭😭😭😭
my gosh his story was a heartbreaking one. but don't pity him, he'll hate that.
don't try to change him.
just see him.
Elara and Vapors story is so intense together. the freaking ending !!!!!
ahhhh the ending 🥹🥹🥹🥹
I just loved it. loved the whole story. loved these characters.
couldn't get enough.
to be honest I struggle to give yall a decent review without spoiling anything.
so you just get this. lol
but just know, you're in for a ride...a slow, but on the edge of your seat intense ride.
with an ending well worth it.
thank you so much Myla for the arc. 🫶🏻
November 3, 2026
HABLEMOS DE ESTO POR FAVOR!!!
Hace mucho rato que tenía a esta autora en la mira y por abc motivo siempre lo aplazaba, hasta que al fin caí con uno de sus libros.
En esta ocasión nos sitúa en Islandia, en un lugar que ocurren bastante crímenes a manos del misterioso "vapor". Por ello, una mujer que hace muchos años venía siguiendo sus pasos, no haya nada mejor que realizar un reporte acerca de él, dándole un conocimiento inesperado.
ESTA ES UNA HISTORIA OSCURA, CON DETALLES, ACONTECIMIENTOS QUE ABORDAN MUERTE, SECUESTRO, CONSENTIMIENTO Y DEMÁS, ASÍ QUE LEER LAS ADVERTENCIAS ANTES⚠️
Personalmente, me encantó. Yo soy fan de los personajes moralmente grises y me encantó como la autora nos presentó a Vapor y su historia. Asimismo, también me gustó como nos incluye toda la historia de Elara y el trasfondo en su personalidad/gustos.
Por otra parte, la ambientación, el como desarrolló ciertos tópicos (para mí si hubo una especie de stocklmon syndrome, pero x), así como también incluyó la terapia para abordar todo el trauma que vive la protagonista (por varias cositas, no solo por el psicopata), me pareció iconic.
Es un libro que me lo devoré rapido, estaba obsesionada con terminarlo, con saber que pasaba y fue muy bueno.
Hay ciertos detalles en temas de escritura que me sacaron un poco de onda, pero no fue nada grave o relevante, que me hiciera pausar la lectura o algo así.
Ahora quiero leer más de ella, a ver que sucede con sus otros libros.
Hace mucho rato que tenía a esta autora en la mira y por abc motivo siempre lo aplazaba, hasta que al fin caí con uno de sus libros.
En esta ocasión nos sitúa en Islandia, en un lugar que ocurren bastante crímenes a manos del misterioso "vapor". Por ello, una mujer que hace muchos años venía siguiendo sus pasos, no haya nada mejor que realizar un reporte acerca de él, dándole un conocimiento inesperado.
ESTA ES UNA HISTORIA OSCURA, CON DETALLES, ACONTECIMIENTOS QUE ABORDAN MUERTE, SECUESTRO, CONSENTIMIENTO Y DEMÁS, ASÍ QUE LEER LAS ADVERTENCIAS ANTES⚠️
Personalmente, me encantó. Yo soy fan de los personajes moralmente grises y me encantó como la autora nos presentó a Vapor y su historia. Asimismo, también me gustó como nos incluye toda la historia de Elara y el trasfondo en su personalidad/gustos.
Por otra parte, la ambientación, el como desarrolló ciertos tópicos (para mí si hubo una especie de stocklmon syndrome, pero x), así como también incluyó la terapia para abordar todo el trauma que vive la protagonista (por varias cositas, no solo por el psicopata), me pareció iconic.
Es un libro que me lo devoré rapido, estaba obsesionada con terminarlo, con saber que pasaba y fue muy bueno.
Hay ciertos detalles en temas de escritura que me sacaron un poco de onda, pero no fue nada grave o relevante, que me hiciera pausar la lectura o algo así.
Ahora quiero leer más de ella, a ver que sucede con sus otros libros.
February 2, 2026
“𝔞𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢 𝔪𝔲𝔯𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔰, 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔠𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔞 𝔰𝔢𝔯𝔦𝔞𝔩 𝔨𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔯. 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔡𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔠𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔞 𝔪𝔞𝔫 𝔞𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔢𝔱𝔶-𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢?”
this book was absolutely perfect. myla knows how to entrance her readers with her poetic writing and characters that are so easy to love. the plot was so insanely specific and different from anything i have ever read. the chemical components brought into the story gave it such a real feeling and i loved every second of it.
elara, my baby, i absolutely adore her. she is such a strong character especially after everything she has gone through and goes through in this story. no matter what people say, she always does what she wants no matter the consequence.
vapor, my love, i just want to squeeze him and tell him everything is going to be okay. his back story broke my heart into a million pieces and they’re still left floating around without a place to go back to. he is perfect and i will not take any other definition of him.
this is a story built from heartache, pain, betrayal, abandonment, obsession, and consequence. a story to die for.
thank you so much to my girl myla for the honor of arc reading for you. your words are dark lyricism drenched in possession and anyone that has the honor of reading it will be changed for life.
this book was absolutely perfect. myla knows how to entrance her readers with her poetic writing and characters that are so easy to love. the plot was so insanely specific and different from anything i have ever read. the chemical components brought into the story gave it such a real feeling and i loved every second of it.
elara, my baby, i absolutely adore her. she is such a strong character especially after everything she has gone through and goes through in this story. no matter what people say, she always does what she wants no matter the consequence.
vapor, my love, i just want to squeeze him and tell him everything is going to be okay. his back story broke my heart into a million pieces and they’re still left floating around without a place to go back to. he is perfect and i will not take any other definition of him.
this is a story built from heartache, pain, betrayal, abandonment, obsession, and consequence. a story to die for.
thank you so much to my girl myla for the honor of arc reading for you. your words are dark lyricism drenched in possession and anyone that has the honor of reading it will be changed for life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was totally hooked on this unique dark romance. The MMC, Vapor, is a walking red flag. Luckily, red is my favorite color. Vapor is a chemical serial killer with a twisted past. The world calls him a monster. Something he agrees with, but he becomes obsessed with Elara, a crime journalist. He reads every story she writes about him. His obsession grows as he stalks her, and even he is unsure why she holds his interest in a way no one else has.
Elara has a fascination with things others may find disturbing. Poisonous plants that are both beautiful and dangerous, and killers, especially Vapor, whose unique way of killing doesn't leave a trace of evidence behind. Her curiosity has caught the attention of a man who is called a monster. Despite the warnings of concerned family, colleagues, and friends, she is determined to write Vapor's full and honest story. The question is, will she survive it?
Elara has a fascination with things others may find disturbing. Poisonous plants that are both beautiful and dangerous, and killers, especially Vapor, whose unique way of killing doesn't leave a trace of evidence behind. Her curiosity has caught the attention of a man who is called a monster. Despite the warnings of concerned family, colleagues, and friends, she is determined to write Vapor's full and honest story. The question is, will she survive it?
March 17, 2026
This was an absolute roller coaster of a read 🤯
This story follows Elara, an Icelandic crime journalist, and Vapor, a masked serial killer/hit man with a complex backstory. When Elara's obsession with Vapor's crimes leads her down a path that causes a hit put out for her, their paths are forced to cross. Will Vapor prove he is the monster he believes he is, or her ultimate savior?
I ate this upppp. The amount of detail and research that went into this was absolutely impressive. I loved the dual POV and character development, the internal struggles and psychological battles. Obsessed.
If you're a dark romance girly- don't sleep on this one. 🏃♀️
•dark psychological romance
•serial killer/ crime journalist
•secret identity/mask
•age gap
•stalking
•obsession
•trauma bond
•cat & mouse
•morally grey mmc
Thank you Myla Carbo for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This story follows Elara, an Icelandic crime journalist, and Vapor, a masked serial killer/hit man with a complex backstory. When Elara's obsession with Vapor's crimes leads her down a path that causes a hit put out for her, their paths are forced to cross. Will Vapor prove he is the monster he believes he is, or her ultimate savior?
I ate this upppp. The amount of detail and research that went into this was absolutely impressive. I loved the dual POV and character development, the internal struggles and psychological battles. Obsessed.
If you're a dark romance girly- don't sleep on this one. 🏃♀️
•dark psychological romance
•serial killer/ crime journalist
•secret identity/mask
•age gap
•stalking
•obsession
•trauma bond
•cat & mouse
•morally grey mmc
Thank you Myla Carbo for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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