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A Story to Die For
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26After 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
Expected publication March 31, 2026
32 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Myla Carbo
5 books202 followersMyla is a psychology student specializing in forensic and criminal behavior. Born and raised in The Netherlands, she finds her greatest joy in spending time with loved ones.
Her love for storytelling began at 17, not with monsters lurking under the bed, but with the ones that live inside our heads. Fascinated by the darkness within, she writes about the complexities of the mind, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the fears we can’t escape.
Her love for storytelling began at 17, not with monsters lurking under the bed, but with the ones that live inside our heads. Fascinated by the darkness within, she writes about the complexities of the mind, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the fears we can’t escape.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
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
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.🫶
Currently reading
January 14, 2026Can’t wait to get my hands on this soon !!!!!
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.
Want to read
January 19, 2026i need this book in my hands NOW. I'm so excited 😭
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."
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?
January 24, 2026
A Story to Die For by Myla Carbo
This story you can really tell the depth of research that has been done to complete it! It was absolutely so well written and honestly at some points felt like a chemistry lesson which I wasn’t mad about!
You will fall into this world and these characters and truly get lost within the depth! This book is dark so be warned but if you’re ready to dive between these pages, have fun getting back out!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story you can really tell the depth of research that has been done to complete it! It was absolutely so well written and honestly at some points felt like a chemistry lesson which I wasn’t mad about!
You will fall into this world and these characters and truly get lost within the depth! This book is dark so be warned but if you’re ready to dive between these pages, have fun getting back out!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
🩸Serial Unaliver x Crime Journalist
🥸Masked Man
🥺Scarred MMC
🇮🇸Icelandic Crime Thriller
🫦Age Gap (24, 38)
❤️🩹His Tremors Stop While She's Around
💥Hitman
Well this was a glorious, thrilling ride that I was intoxicated by the deeper I read! A story that makes drama and characters the focus and adds a bit of Phantom of the Opera vibes paired with riveting mystery, chills, high stakes, and propelling action.
A black market unaliver, Vaper is a man to be feared, a masked (bodily scarred) and efficient alpha predator with a steely gaze that mesmerized you as much as his formidable presence.
He captures Elara, a journalist he's been following for years, but his reasons for her seclusion are more complicated than she and we are led to believe...along with her past. Vaper has had chemical experimentation done on him which has caused his psyche to be a bit "off balance" shall we say. He's very sharp but feeling in certain ways emotionally, are numbed...and Elara starts to make those dormant nerves spark to life.
The underground time together was beautifully built and allowed us to see inside his head how he's conflicted with everything he knows and trying to come to terms with her brightness and his feelings for her. I liked her patience in wanting to understand him but how she was rightfully angry and somewhat fearful in the beginning. What I love is that the romance is fully balanced in this deeper mystery and thrilling drama.
I don't want to spoil, but the third act is where this really grabbed me by the throat, had my knuckles white, and had me completely strapped down in the best way! It ratchets up the adrenaline, threads come together, twists revealed elegantly, and intimate beats between Vaper and Elara just tug at you. Moments with just us feeling what Vapor's feels, the internal battle he's fighting...those were my favorites.
This man is warring with himself, struggling and straining to maintain a grip on humanity, to find that bit of love and affection from Elara and hold it tightly to him so that he doesn't become a monster. The psychological angle mixed with manifestation of physical effects that happens to him were written with stunning prose that echoes of gothic flourish.
I loved this! Give me Vaper and let me caress and kiss every scar on this beautiful man. He fights so hard, he loves so intensely that he doesn't even recognize how deep it is since he's never had it before. Elara sees him, understands the darkness, has had her share of loneliness and being outcast.
I can't say it enough, I loved this! The large canvas of this story is inspiringly cinematic (film rights anyone?), complex, exciting, nail biting, romantic, intense, and compelling. This story stays with you...Vapor will stay with you and never let go and I couldn't be happier for that!
Thank you for your honest answer. As I mentioned, I'm not very experienced with relationships as a whole so, forgive if my questions sounded confusing. I only mean them as a way to understand and stay transparent. That's why I wanted to check in and see if you were liking talking to me in this way, I suppose.
He's no longer a self imposed monster that he's labeled himself... in a way this was the scared little boy in him that never recovered and it breaks my heart. He prevents himself from thinking he could be loved, that he has done good despite his vicious methods. And he feels the compulsion to hold on to this version of himself, his anger, his volatility, his predator-like focus. It reminds me of what Pacino's character in Heat (one of my most favorite films because its essentially two apex predators at the top of their game but on opposite sides, equally obsessed, dangerous and driven) said "I gotta hold on to my angst, it keeps me sharp, on the edge, where I gotta to be".
Self imprisonment of mind and body is a powerful thing, i love that complexity in characters. A constant torment..of what you are, what you've become and what you can't come back from. It's a version of redemption arc of sorts for him...a personal one, a silent one. One that speaks of giving himself grace. He is scarred but she loves him, scars and all. He has to believe in her love for him and that he isn't truly a monstrous thing that will ruin her, and this last bit of the story is a beautiful elegy to that.
🌶🌶🌶
🩸Serial Unaliver x Crime Journalist
🥸Masked Man
🥺Scarred MMC
🇮🇸Icelandic Crime Thriller
🫦Age Gap (24, 38)
❤️🩹His Tremors Stop While She's Around
💥Hitman
Well this was a glorious, thrilling ride that I was intoxicated by the deeper I read! A story that makes drama and characters the focus and adds a bit of Phantom of the Opera vibes paired with riveting mystery, chills, high stakes, and propelling action.
A black market unaliver, Vaper is a man to be feared, a masked (bodily scarred) and efficient alpha predator with a steely gaze that mesmerized you as much as his formidable presence.
He captures Elara, a journalist he's been following for years, but his reasons for her seclusion are more complicated than she and we are led to believe...along with her past. Vaper has had chemical experimentation done on him which has caused his psyche to be a bit "off balance" shall we say. He's very sharp but feeling in certain ways emotionally, are numbed...and Elara starts to make those dormant nerves spark to life.
The underground time together was beautifully built and allowed us to see inside his head how he's conflicted with everything he knows and trying to come to terms with her brightness and his feelings for her. I liked her patience in wanting to understand him but how she was rightfully angry and somewhat fearful in the beginning. What I love is that the romance is fully balanced in this deeper mystery and thrilling drama.
I don't want to spoil, but the third act is where this really grabbed me by the throat, had my knuckles white, and had me completely strapped down in the best way! It ratchets up the adrenaline, threads come together, twists revealed elegantly, and intimate beats between Vaper and Elara just tug at you. Moments with just us feeling what Vapor's feels, the internal battle he's fighting...those were my favorites.
This man is warring with himself, struggling and straining to maintain a grip on humanity, to find that bit of love and affection from Elara and hold it tightly to him so that he doesn't become a monster. The psychological angle mixed with manifestation of physical effects that happens to him were written with stunning prose that echoes of gothic flourish.
I loved this! Give me Vaper and let me caress and kiss every scar on this beautiful man. He fights so hard, he loves so intensely that he doesn't even recognize how deep it is since he's never had it before. Elara sees him, understands the darkness, has had her share of loneliness and being outcast.
I can't say it enough, I loved this! The large canvas of this story is inspiringly cinematic (film rights anyone?), complex, exciting, nail biting, romantic, intense, and compelling. This story stays with you...Vapor will stay with you and never let go and I couldn't be happier for that!
Thank you for your honest answer. As I mentioned, I'm not very experienced with relationships as a whole so, forgive if my questions sounded confusing. I only mean them as a way to understand and stay transparent. That's why I wanted to check in and see if you were liking talking to me in this way, I suppose.
He's no longer a self imposed monster that he's labeled himself... in a way this was the scared little boy in him that never recovered and it breaks my heart. He prevents himself from thinking he could be loved, that he has done good despite his vicious methods. And he feels the compulsion to hold on to this version of himself, his anger, his volatility, his predator-like focus. It reminds me of what Pacino's character in Heat (one of my most favorite films because its essentially two apex predators at the top of their game but on opposite sides, equally obsessed, dangerous and driven) said "I gotta hold on to my angst, it keeps me sharp, on the edge, where I gotta to be".
Self imprisonment of mind and body is a powerful thing, i love that complexity in characters. A constant torment..of what you are, what you've become and what you can't come back from. It's a version of redemption arc of sorts for him...a personal one, a silent one. One that speaks of giving himself grace. He is scarred but she loves him, scars and all. He has to believe in her love for him and that he isn't truly a monstrous thing that will ruin her, and this last bit of the story is a beautiful elegy to that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Elara has spent years writing about the infamous serial killer known as Vapor, obsessively digging deeper into his crimes, his psychology, and the darkness that surrounds him. What she does not realize is that while she has been studying him from a distance, Vapor has been watching her just as closely. As her curiosity gets her kidnapped and pulled into his world, both of them are forced to confront the parts of themselves they have tried to keep buried. For Vapor, it’s his humanity and for Elara, it’s the darkness she keeps hidden within.
I am not going to lie, the concept of this book was WAY outside of my usual comfort zone and that is exactly what made it SO appealing and special. But of course, in Myla we trust so I moved forward and boy did it pay off. If you have ever wanted to dip your toes into a darker murder or crime focused story but did not know where to start, this would be the one I would recommend! Even the violence and the aftermath of the crimes were written so poetically, which sounds wild to say, but it worked so well. It honestly made me want to analyze the writing like an English student again, the way I used to during my International Baccalaureate days. Myla has this insane ability to create such a descriptive, movie-like world that I could picture everything so clearly in my head.
What really got me was how Elara and Vapor (I’m not going to spoil his real name here) felt like two sides of the same coin. There is this quiet darkness around both of them, this methodical way they think and observe the world. Their energies matched so so soooo perfectly! He challenged her, she humanized him and the chemistry between them was unreal, especially with how forbidden everything was and what was constantly at stake. I loved that her presence and her touch slowly awakened the human part of him, the part he had buried so deeply. Man, I was in my feels throughout this book and looking back, there really wasn’t a dull moment.
“And yet,” he says, breath brushing my cheek, “Every time I see you, I go to war with myself”
A word of warning, Vapor is pitch black, like truly dark, no sugarcoating it. And yet, I could not look away from him cause he’s been through so much and in some ways, the motivations that he had to murder, some things that were well out of his control even, made sense.
Elara was just as compelling. She has her own inner darkness, but what really stood out to me was how brave she was. The fact that she did not let being kidnapped by a serial killer stop her from being herself (LOL), from holding onto her curiosity and strength, made me admire her so much. She was resilient, sharp, and strong in ways that really stuck with me.
This was a DARK story, but it also had so much depth and emotion. It was not just about murder or obsession, it was about connection, understanding, and love in the most twisted way. And the way everything came together? Ugh, IT HIT PERFECTLY. The timing, the reveals, the emotional impact, all of it landed exactly how it needed to, the red strings of fate tied these two in ways that were beyond anything. And the ending was chef’s kiss, I would absolutely read an epilogue set way in the future because I could not get enough of these two, but honestly, it was perfect as is.
It is so clear that Myla does not just write stories, she creates entire experiences. And just like her previous works, this book was haunting, emotional, beautifully written, not to mention completely unforgettable. I closed it and just sat there for a minute like…wow.
It really was A Story to Die For.
I am not going to lie, the concept of this book was WAY outside of my usual comfort zone and that is exactly what made it SO appealing and special. But of course, in Myla we trust so I moved forward and boy did it pay off. If you have ever wanted to dip your toes into a darker murder or crime focused story but did not know where to start, this would be the one I would recommend! Even the violence and the aftermath of the crimes were written so poetically, which sounds wild to say, but it worked so well. It honestly made me want to analyze the writing like an English student again, the way I used to during my International Baccalaureate days. Myla has this insane ability to create such a descriptive, movie-like world that I could picture everything so clearly in my head.
What really got me was how Elara and Vapor (I’m not going to spoil his real name here) felt like two sides of the same coin. There is this quiet darkness around both of them, this methodical way they think and observe the world. Their energies matched so so soooo perfectly! He challenged her, she humanized him and the chemistry between them was unreal, especially with how forbidden everything was and what was constantly at stake. I loved that her presence and her touch slowly awakened the human part of him, the part he had buried so deeply. Man, I was in my feels throughout this book and looking back, there really wasn’t a dull moment.
“And yet,” he says, breath brushing my cheek, “Every time I see you, I go to war with myself”
A word of warning, Vapor is pitch black, like truly dark, no sugarcoating it. And yet, I could not look away from him cause he’s been through so much and in some ways, the motivations that he had to murder, some things that were well out of his control even, made sense.
Elara was just as compelling. She has her own inner darkness, but what really stood out to me was how brave she was. The fact that she did not let being kidnapped by a serial killer stop her from being herself (LOL), from holding onto her curiosity and strength, made me admire her so much. She was resilient, sharp, and strong in ways that really stuck with me.
This was a DARK story, but it also had so much depth and emotion. It was not just about murder or obsession, it was about connection, understanding, and love in the most twisted way. And the way everything came together? Ugh, IT HIT PERFECTLY. The timing, the reveals, the emotional impact, all of it landed exactly how it needed to, the red strings of fate tied these two in ways that were beyond anything. And the ending was chef’s kiss, I would absolutely read an epilogue set way in the future because I could not get enough of these two, but honestly, it was perfect as is.
It is so clear that Myla does not just write stories, she creates entire experiences. And just like her previous works, this book was haunting, emotional, beautifully written, not to mention completely unforgettable. I closed it and just sat there for a minute like…wow.
It really was A Story to Die For.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3 ⭐️
2 🌶
"Used wrong, it stops a heart. Used right, it saves one. That balance always fascinated me - the thin line between cure and catastrophe."
Firstly, thank you to Myla Carbo for letting me read your book.
I will start by saying that I really liked the story, but I don't think the writing style was a fit for me.
I loved how original it felt, both with the story and the setting. Personally I have never read a dark romance set in Iceland before, or any book for that matter, and that was pretty interesting.
"She shouldn't have found me, yet she did. I shouldn't be near her, yet I am."
I liked the characters. Elara was definitely a curios one, and I think that fit her character very well. I felt like she was an intelligent young woman who will make up her own mind about a situation and not just listen to what people say around her, and that's a trait I really like.
Vapor was definitely the kind of MMC you want in a dark romance. I loved they layers there is to this character. And once you learn about his backstory I feel like you can't help but love him a little. Every time he shows Elara love, in the way that he loves, my heart melts and my knees go weak.
These two definitely had chemistry between them. (This joke is funny because he is a chemist). I just wish there would have been more of the romance aspect in this book, because those moments worked so well for me. And so did the parts of the book that were more plot heavy. It did feel a bit more dark and a little less romance...
This book is long, and I think it could have been shorter. I felt like it had a very long build up, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are so many long unnecessary descriptions, and sometimes some of it felt like it was being repeated. Some times the author would describe how it wasn't and then afterward describe it as it was. And personally that slowed my reading flow a lot. I do think the writing made the book a bit mor mysterious which worked well for the story, but at times it just felt a little bit confusing.
There was a good chunk in the middle of the book where I was absolutely loving it. I think because a lot happened in the book at that time the pace felt a little faster, the descriptions weren't as many and there was just a lot to keep up with. This was the part of the book I liked the best.
That said; there were things I liked, things I didn't like. There were some great moments in this book and while it felt like it took a long time to read it, I'm happy that I did red it and that I finished the book. And I'm so happy to see that so many other people already loves the book.
2 🌶
"Used wrong, it stops a heart. Used right, it saves one. That balance always fascinated me - the thin line between cure and catastrophe."
Firstly, thank you to Myla Carbo for letting me read your book.
I will start by saying that I really liked the story, but I don't think the writing style was a fit for me.
I loved how original it felt, both with the story and the setting. Personally I have never read a dark romance set in Iceland before, or any book for that matter, and that was pretty interesting.
"She shouldn't have found me, yet she did. I shouldn't be near her, yet I am."
I liked the characters. Elara was definitely a curios one, and I think that fit her character very well. I felt like she was an intelligent young woman who will make up her own mind about a situation and not just listen to what people say around her, and that's a trait I really like.
Vapor was definitely the kind of MMC you want in a dark romance. I loved they layers there is to this character. And once you learn about his backstory I feel like you can't help but love him a little. Every time he shows Elara love, in the way that he loves, my heart melts and my knees go weak.
These two definitely had chemistry between them. (This joke is funny because he is a chemist). I just wish there would have been more of the romance aspect in this book, because those moments worked so well for me. And so did the parts of the book that were more plot heavy. It did feel a bit more dark and a little less romance...
This book is long, and I think it could have been shorter. I felt like it had a very long build up, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are so many long unnecessary descriptions, and sometimes some of it felt like it was being repeated. Some times the author would describe how it wasn't and then afterward describe it as it was. And personally that slowed my reading flow a lot. I do think the writing made the book a bit mor mysterious which worked well for the story, but at times it just felt a little bit confusing.
There was a good chunk in the middle of the book where I was absolutely loving it. I think because a lot happened in the book at that time the pace felt a little faster, the descriptions weren't as many and there was just a lot to keep up with. This was the part of the book I liked the best.
That said; there were things I liked, things I didn't like. There were some great moments in this book and while it felt like it took a long time to read it, I'm happy that I did red it and that I finished the book. And I'm so happy to see that so many other people already loves the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝔸𝕣𝕔 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
𝒜 𝒮𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒟𝒾𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝓇 - 𝑀𝓎𝓁𝒶 𝒞𝒶𝓇𝒷𝑜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
💨 Chemical serial k*ller x Crime Journalist
🩸 Age Gap
💨 Stalking
🩸 Blood play
💨 Breath play
🩸 Hidden Identity
💨 His tremor stops when she’s around
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.
————————————————————————————————
W O W! This book y’all! Such a wild ride and I was here for it!
I have to admit this type of writing style that the author writes, absolutely perfected by the way, was something new to me. Very expressive and detailed. Metaphors that blow you away with how descriptive they are. She sucks you in and makes you literally feel everything these characters do.
Right from the beginning Vapor and Elara were end game for me. I didn’t care how they got there as long as they did 😂 The chemistry right off the bat. Even when it was something that should have never been, it was there alive in the room with them.
Vapor. My man. 🤭
He isn’t quite the monster he feels he is. With his hard edges, Bad-Ass demeanor, killer tendencies, has such an amazing heart deep inside. All he wants is to express it, to be given the chance, to have it returned in the same manner. That love and care that he should have gotten all along but never did from the one person it should have never even been an option to give. And the way he softened for Elara everytime! 🫠 Add him to the book boyfriend list ✍🏼
•
•
‼️Such an amazing story! Make sure to check it out come March 31, 2026!!!! Make sure to check triggers‼️
Thank you so much to Myla Carbo for giving me the opportunity to read this masterpiece! 🫶🏼
𝒜 𝒮𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒟𝒾𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝓇 - 𝑀𝓎𝓁𝒶 𝒞𝒶𝓇𝒷𝑜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
💨 Chemical serial k*ller x Crime Journalist
🩸 Age Gap
💨 Stalking
🩸 Blood play
💨 Breath play
🩸 Hidden Identity
💨 His tremor stops when she’s around
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.
————————————————————————————————
W O W! This book y’all! Such a wild ride and I was here for it!
I have to admit this type of writing style that the author writes, absolutely perfected by the way, was something new to me. Very expressive and detailed. Metaphors that blow you away with how descriptive they are. She sucks you in and makes you literally feel everything these characters do.
Right from the beginning Vapor and Elara were end game for me. I didn’t care how they got there as long as they did 😂 The chemistry right off the bat. Even when it was something that should have never been, it was there alive in the room with them.
Vapor. My man. 🤭
He isn’t quite the monster he feels he is. With his hard edges, Bad-Ass demeanor, killer tendencies, has such an amazing heart deep inside. All he wants is to express it, to be given the chance, to have it returned in the same manner. That love and care that he should have gotten all along but never did from the one person it should have never even been an option to give. And the way he softened for Elara everytime! 🫠 Add him to the book boyfriend list ✍🏼
•
•
‼️Such an amazing story! Make sure to check it out come March 31, 2026!!!! Make sure to check triggers‼️
Thank you so much to Myla Carbo for giving me the opportunity to read this masterpiece! 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Author
The first thing that needs to be said about this book is that the author really took her time to understand her characters.
"A Story to Die For" is the type of book you go into blind. It's like going into a snowstorm, not seeing anything, nor knowing how hard it's going to hit. It hit me pretty hard; I was not ready for the depth that Elara and Vapor had. Their bond was slow but powerful. I appreciated the time we spent with them as individuals, understanding their way of living and their struggles. But them together, they were burning hot.
What blew me away was definitely the poetic writing. The author managed to contrast their fiery and unhinged relationship with the cold, sterile setting. I loved how everything was described with such detail that you could tell there was a meaning behind every gesture, a yearning behind every look. The forbidden, the plot—everything was executed perfectly. I WOULD LET VAPOR DO EXPERIMENTS ON ME ANY DAY!!!
It has a haunting atmosphere that makes you want to unravel every mystery of the plot. And I need to say, the grand reveal was very satisfying, and it made sense in the end. Also, mental health was addressed in the right way, in my opinion, which gave me a reason to love it even more.
Now all I have to say is go get this book pre-ordered because your new obsession is coming out on March 31st!
💉MY FAVORITE QUOTES💉
"Obsession, I have learned, is not always loud. It is a patient thing. It sits and waits for cracks. It knows exactly how much pressure it takes to split a plan."
"When I look at him, that word doesn’t eclipse the others. It sits beside them, crowded by things I don’t know how to name. Earnestness. Wreckage. An intellect that won’t turn off. A loneliness so sharp it warps him from the inside, distorting the way he holds himself, the way he watches me, like I’m a mirror he’s not sure he wants to look into."
"My throat burns. “And do you?” I ask, and I hate how much I need the answer. “Do you know where your line is?” He looks at me for a long time. “My line,” he says quietly, “moves, has blue eyes, and a beating heart.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶/5
(Thank you, Myla Carbo, for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
"A Story to Die For" is the type of book you go into blind. It's like going into a snowstorm, not seeing anything, nor knowing how hard it's going to hit. It hit me pretty hard; I was not ready for the depth that Elara and Vapor had. Their bond was slow but powerful. I appreciated the time we spent with them as individuals, understanding their way of living and their struggles. But them together, they were burning hot.
What blew me away was definitely the poetic writing. The author managed to contrast their fiery and unhinged relationship with the cold, sterile setting. I loved how everything was described with such detail that you could tell there was a meaning behind every gesture, a yearning behind every look. The forbidden, the plot—everything was executed perfectly. I WOULD LET VAPOR DO EXPERIMENTS ON ME ANY DAY!!!
It has a haunting atmosphere that makes you want to unravel every mystery of the plot. And I need to say, the grand reveal was very satisfying, and it made sense in the end. Also, mental health was addressed in the right way, in my opinion, which gave me a reason to love it even more.
Now all I have to say is go get this book pre-ordered because your new obsession is coming out on March 31st!
💉MY FAVORITE QUOTES💉
"Obsession, I have learned, is not always loud. It is a patient thing. It sits and waits for cracks. It knows exactly how much pressure it takes to split a plan."
"When I look at him, that word doesn’t eclipse the others. It sits beside them, crowded by things I don’t know how to name. Earnestness. Wreckage. An intellect that won’t turn off. A loneliness so sharp it warps him from the inside, distorting the way he holds himself, the way he watches me, like I’m a mirror he’s not sure he wants to look into."
"My throat burns. “And do you?” I ask, and I hate how much I need the answer. “Do you know where your line is?” He looks at me for a long time. “My line,” he says quietly, “moves, has blue eyes, and a beating heart.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶/5
(Thank you, Myla Carbo, for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
this book threw me for a loop. i hated it at times, loved it at others. vapor made me want to scream. elara made me want to cry. then elara made me want to scream, and vapor made me want to cry. at no point could i predict the pathway this would take. every change of pace, every subtle tone change threw me off guard and it challenged me. this is unlike any book i've ever read. and for that, i will be honest, it frustrated me. but not in ways you may think. i went into this expecting a typical dark romance. i was terribly mistaken. vapor and elara's connection is vicious, cruel, raw, and so devastatingly beautiful it hurts to even think about. their past, their childhood and buried trauma, it cuts deep. i can't even begin to describe the emotional moodswings i went through with this book, because it broke the mold when it came to predictability. i will say, at times, it felt a bit too intelligent for me with the verbiage and terminology. but, for that i credit myla for her obvious extensive research. i'm truly at a loss for words to accurately describe the feelings i went through. disbelief, confusion, grief, acceptance, sin, worship, anger, devastation... just to name a few. i don't know how i got here. regardless, it was a 5/5 in the end. i'm extremely thankful to myla for sending me this arc and trusting me with something that clearly took so much blood, sweat, and tears to curate.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Myla Carbo for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
5 stars and the spice was there. this book was DARK!?!?! I thought I was ready for it but nope I wasn't.
Elara Vance is a crime journalist who has been researching Iceland most feared man known as Vapor. But when there was a hit on her head, Vapor takes her but not to unalive her but to claims her. She gets to step into his territory and see how he works first hand. he educates her and makes her write his story.
The plot of this book had so much thought put into it. I love how interconnected the past and the present was. the depth that was put into this book was so good. the world building in the beginning was so well thought out. but when we got to the middle of the book, that's were all the twists and turns started to happen and we also started to peel away the layers to Vapor's character. Vapor's character was so complex and he had so many barriers put up due to his childhood. might I add his childhood was horrific. I couldn't imagine that. Elara and another character made him realise that there more to life than his past. His past shouldn’t dictate what his present and future should look like.
Favourite quote “ “If you miss her, don’t punish yourself by pretending you don’t. It’s okay to feel when you can. When your mind allows it after all you’ve been through. It means the missing is real. It means it’s strong.” AHHHHHH HOW TRUER CAN THAT GET!!
5 stars and the spice was there. this book was DARK!?!?! I thought I was ready for it but nope I wasn't.
Elara Vance is a crime journalist who has been researching Iceland most feared man known as Vapor. But when there was a hit on her head, Vapor takes her but not to unalive her but to claims her. She gets to step into his territory and see how he works first hand. he educates her and makes her write his story.
The plot of this book had so much thought put into it. I love how interconnected the past and the present was. the depth that was put into this book was so good. the world building in the beginning was so well thought out. but when we got to the middle of the book, that's were all the twists and turns started to happen and we also started to peel away the layers to Vapor's character. Vapor's character was so complex and he had so many barriers put up due to his childhood. might I add his childhood was horrific. I couldn't imagine that. Elara and another character made him realise that there more to life than his past. His past shouldn’t dictate what his present and future should look like.
Favourite quote “ “If you miss her, don’t punish yourself by pretending you don’t. It’s okay to feel when you can. When your mind allows it after all you’ve been through. It means the missing is real. It means it’s strong.” AHHHHHH HOW TRUER CAN THAT GET!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
a story to die for 💉🩸
(arc review)
tropes📚
~ mutual obsession
~ crime journalist X hitman
~ age gap
review💭
i have to start of by saying that the way myla writes is always so beautiful, poetic and extremely transporting. you could really see the landscapes, the fjords and the bunker, it really made the book that much better being able to picture this. plot wise, i really enjoyed it so much! i loved the poisons, chemicals and the chemistry, it was different to what i’ve read before. i felt so well researched and had such an eerie sense to it, that tied into the black market, human trials and vapor wanting revenge it also had such a mysterious and thrilling element to it. the main characters were also really good, i absolutely loved elara, she wasn’t naive but she had this innocence about her. i loved how strong and brave she was throughout this book. vapor/lucan was such a mystery and the way we learnt more about him broke my heart and i could understand him so much. seeing lucan open up to elara was nice and their chemistry was rather interesting, they were similar in some ways but also the complete opposite, but they still had this pull to each other.
the twists near the end had me spiralling, there wasn’t exactly one big twist but there were lots of little ones that had me on edge and it made this book hard to put down. overall, this was a really interesting and enjoyable read so thank you to myla for this arc 🫶🏼
(arc review)
tropes📚
~ mutual obsession
~ crime journalist X hitman
~ age gap
review💭
i have to start of by saying that the way myla writes is always so beautiful, poetic and extremely transporting. you could really see the landscapes, the fjords and the bunker, it really made the book that much better being able to picture this. plot wise, i really enjoyed it so much! i loved the poisons, chemicals and the chemistry, it was different to what i’ve read before. i felt so well researched and had such an eerie sense to it, that tied into the black market, human trials and vapor wanting revenge it also had such a mysterious and thrilling element to it. the main characters were also really good, i absolutely loved elara, she wasn’t naive but she had this innocence about her. i loved how strong and brave she was throughout this book. vapor/lucan was such a mystery and the way we learnt more about him broke my heart and i could understand him so much. seeing lucan open up to elara was nice and their chemistry was rather interesting, they were similar in some ways but also the complete opposite, but they still had this pull to each other.
the twists near the end had me spiralling, there wasn’t exactly one big twist but there were lots of little ones that had me on edge and it made this book hard to put down. overall, this was a really interesting and enjoyable read so thank you to myla for this arc 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Author
Want to see more...
Bookstagram
Thank you to the author for this book in exchange for an honest review
If you love a dark, twisty romance with a murderous edge, then A Story to Die For is an absolute must-read! This one thrusts you into the gritty world of crime journalism and obsession, where a tenacious reporter finds herself entangled with a killer whose story she never expected to write. This concept alone, ‘a love story interrupted by a serial killer’ has “edge-of-your-seat tension” written all over it, and early chatter suggests the chemistry between the journalist and the enigmatic man she’s pulled toward is intense, complicated, and hauntingly addictive.
What makes this book truly stand out is Myla Carbo’s flair for crafting dark, emotionally charged dynamics that blur the line between fear and desire. Think slow-burn intrigue, secrets that unravel with every chapter, and a connection that surprises even the characters themselves.
Overall, A Story to Die For shaped up to be a thrilling, spicy, and emotionally layered ride that is perfect for fans of crime, romance and dangerous chemistry. Keep an eye out for this one!
Bookstagram
Thank you to the author for this book in exchange for an honest review
If you love a dark, twisty romance with a murderous edge, then A Story to Die For is an absolute must-read! This one thrusts you into the gritty world of crime journalism and obsession, where a tenacious reporter finds herself entangled with a killer whose story she never expected to write. This concept alone, ‘a love story interrupted by a serial killer’ has “edge-of-your-seat tension” written all over it, and early chatter suggests the chemistry between the journalist and the enigmatic man she’s pulled toward is intense, complicated, and hauntingly addictive.
What makes this book truly stand out is Myla Carbo’s flair for crafting dark, emotionally charged dynamics that blur the line between fear and desire. Think slow-burn intrigue, secrets that unravel with every chapter, and a connection that surprises even the characters themselves.
Overall, A Story to Die For shaped up to be a thrilling, spicy, and emotionally layered ride that is perfect for fans of crime, romance and dangerous chemistry. Keep an eye out for this one!
January 29, 2026
A very, very, very good book! ✨
The attention to detail is incredible.
The atmosphere is beautifully conveyed at every stage of the story.
You can really feel it shift - whether it’s tense, soft and romantic, sad, or genuinely happy.
And the plot? Such an interesting idea, with unexpected twists and that constant feeling of, “Okay… what happens next?”
Throughout the book, my perception of the MMC kept changing.
I grew more attached to him and started to understand why he became the way he is.
“I thought I was documenting a monster. But maybe monsters aren’t born. Maybe they’re built.”
And I can’t not mention how much the MMC changes around the FMC.
She’s the one who makes his tremor ease, the one who helps him start to feel again - to become human.
I really liked the FMC too. She’s brave, curious, and stands her ground.
One moment I especially liked was how she didn’t immediately believe the accusations against the MMC. Instead, she demanded to hear the full truth from him first, and only then draw her conclusions. No unnecessary drama - just listening to all sides before deciding. 👏🏻
The attention to detail is incredible.
The atmosphere is beautifully conveyed at every stage of the story.
You can really feel it shift - whether it’s tense, soft and romantic, sad, or genuinely happy.
And the plot? Such an interesting idea, with unexpected twists and that constant feeling of, “Okay… what happens next?”
Throughout the book, my perception of the MMC kept changing.
I grew more attached to him and started to understand why he became the way he is.
“I thought I was documenting a monster. But maybe monsters aren’t born. Maybe they’re built.”
And I can’t not mention how much the MMC changes around the FMC.
She’s the one who makes his tremor ease, the one who helps him start to feel again - to become human.
I really liked the FMC too. She’s brave, curious, and stands her ground.
One moment I especially liked was how she didn’t immediately believe the accusations against the MMC. Instead, she demanded to hear the full truth from him first, and only then draw her conclusions. No unnecessary drama - just listening to all sides before deciding. 👏🏻
January 30, 2026
Wow….
The attention to detail in this book was amazing.
This book had me in a chokehold and I could not put it down.
The precise details on the poisonous flowers and how they can either hurt you or help you depending on how they are used. It was so fascinating.
This story is about Elara who is a crime journalist who is deeply obsessed about writing about the serial killer ‘Vapor’.
She paints him in a light that no other journalists can do and that captures his attention.
When a hit is set for Elara, Vapor accepts.
He’s shows her the monster he truly is.
This is beautifully written as we get to learn more about Vapor and that he does have a human side too, only Elara has survived him.
There is torture, acceptance and understanding throughout this and it is amazing. The yearning was amazing for someone who gave up on their emotions long ago.
Just going to put some of my favourite quotes 👇
“Local journalist dies tragically while hurrying to write about other people dying.”
“Decide, little scribe. You can be buried in ink or in earth. You choose which end your story has.”
“What am I suppose to do with the one person who awakens every forbidden thing in me?”
The attention to detail in this book was amazing.
This book had me in a chokehold and I could not put it down.
The precise details on the poisonous flowers and how they can either hurt you or help you depending on how they are used. It was so fascinating.
This story is about Elara who is a crime journalist who is deeply obsessed about writing about the serial killer ‘Vapor’.
She paints him in a light that no other journalists can do and that captures his attention.
When a hit is set for Elara, Vapor accepts.
He’s shows her the monster he truly is.
This is beautifully written as we get to learn more about Vapor and that he does have a human side too, only Elara has survived him.
There is torture, acceptance and understanding throughout this and it is amazing. The yearning was amazing for someone who gave up on their emotions long ago.
Just going to put some of my favourite quotes 👇
“Local journalist dies tragically while hurrying to write about other people dying.”
“Decide, little scribe. You can be buried in ink or in earth. You choose which end your story has.”
“What am I suppose to do with the one person who awakens every forbidden thing in me?”
February 1, 2026
A Story to Die For is a TRUE slow burn, emotionally charged dark romance that completely pulled me in. I absolutely adored that this wasn’t insta love like so many other stories. Every feeling, every shift in trust felt earned. Watching Elara our FMC slowly break down her emotions and the complicated dynamic between her and the MMC Vapor was one of the most satisfying parts of the story, and their connection unfolded with real tension and depth.
Thank you so much to Kayla Carbo for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This story will stay with me long after I finished, and I can’t stop telling my friends and husband about it. It’s the darkness, the pure obsession and breakdown that will forever live rent free in my head now.
- Age Gap
- Blood Play
- Killer MMC
- Betrayal
- Secrets
- Small Town with dark secrets
- Mental & Physical Breakdowns
- Chemical Weapons
- Poison Plants
- Slow Burn
- Obsession
- Captor / Captive Dynamic
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I prefer my monsters on paper.”
“Monsters on paper don’t watch you at night,”
“You wrote about me, studied me, and my work. You were curious about a faceless monster. Don’t tremble now that he’s breathing in front of you.”
“You made me human, Elara. That was your mistake.”
I loved The Beginnings Duet and was so excited to get an early copy of this book by Myla and it did not disappoint!! It follows a journalist and serial 🔪.. The MMC becomes obsessed with the way she describes his crimes and when the crimes become closer to home things become personal. It was fast paced from the beginning and really kept me captivated. I always love how Myla writes her MMCs they are dark and obsessive in the best ways if you’re a fan of captor x captive this one is for you!
Plus my ARC copy had the most stunning character art 🤩
“Monsters on paper don’t watch you at night,”
“You wrote about me, studied me, and my work. You were curious about a faceless monster. Don’t tremble now that he’s breathing in front of you.”
“You made me human, Elara. That was your mistake.”
I loved The Beginnings Duet and was so excited to get an early copy of this book by Myla and it did not disappoint!! It follows a journalist and serial 🔪.. The MMC becomes obsessed with the way she describes his crimes and when the crimes become closer to home things become personal. It was fast paced from the beginning and really kept me captivated. I always love how Myla writes her MMCs they are dark and obsessive in the best ways if you’re a fan of captor x captive this one is for you!
Plus my ARC copy had the most stunning character art 🤩
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are few books that keep me up all weekend, heart palpitating so hard that I have to physically distract myself by doing something else, just so I don't scream my voice hoarse (which I did, and will do again!). This book is one of them.
The story literally breathes down your neck, pops your eye balls, and fully consumes you, refusing to let go until the very last page. I loved and devoured every line of every chapter of this book. It is clear that an incredible amount of research was done, especially with the crime and thriller elements, and the care taken with the approach on darker, more-sensitive themes.
I love me a good 'adrenaline-skyrocketing' book, and this one abolutely delivered. A story worth losing sleep over - maybe even worth dying for :)
Thank you Myla. You did your big one here!
The story literally breathes down your neck, pops your eye balls, and fully consumes you, refusing to let go until the very last page. I loved and devoured every line of every chapter of this book. It is clear that an incredible amount of research was done, especially with the crime and thriller elements, and the care taken with the approach on darker, more-sensitive themes.
I love me a good 'adrenaline-skyrocketing' book, and this one abolutely delivered. A story worth losing sleep over - maybe even worth dying for :)
Thank you Myla. You did your big one here!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤ARC REVIEW🖤
A Story To Die For by Myla Carbo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
When a Psych student writes a dark romance book about a chemical serial unaliver you JUST KNOW that book is going to be FIRE! 🔥. Myla did not disappoint because this was AMAZING! The attention to detail, and the way Myla writes, brought this story to life. I was locked in the whole time, and truly felt every emotion conveyed!
This story follows a crime journalist, Elara, who has spent her life hunting and writing about Iceland’s most notorious executioner, Vapor. After a contract is placed on Elara’s life, Vapor claims her instead of killing her.
Their story is so dark yet beautiful with the perfect amount of spice to plot ratio 🖤🔥 The twists absolutely left my jaw on the floor and heart racing.
Thank you so much for this advanced copy Myla Carbo! I enjoyed it so much! 🖤🖤
A Story To Die For by Myla Carbo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
When a Psych student writes a dark romance book about a chemical serial unaliver you JUST KNOW that book is going to be FIRE! 🔥. Myla did not disappoint because this was AMAZING! The attention to detail, and the way Myla writes, brought this story to life. I was locked in the whole time, and truly felt every emotion conveyed!
This story follows a crime journalist, Elara, who has spent her life hunting and writing about Iceland’s most notorious executioner, Vapor. After a contract is placed on Elara’s life, Vapor claims her instead of killing her.
Their story is so dark yet beautiful with the perfect amount of spice to plot ratio 🖤🔥 The twists absolutely left my jaw on the floor and heart racing.
Thank you so much for this advanced copy Myla Carbo! I enjoyed it so much! 🖤🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is chilling, immersive, and unapologetically dark. It pulls you into a cat-and-mouse dynamic that feels both terrifying and hypnotic from the very first page.
Elara is a sharp, determined crime journalist, and watching her mind work inside an impossible situation is just as gripping as the violence surrounding her.
Vapor is genuinely unsettling - calculated, methodical, and written with a level of restraint that somehow makes him even more frightening.
The psychological tension is relentless, and the author Myla does an incredible job blurring the line between captor and obsession! If you love dark romance thrillers with strong writing, morally complex characters, and a slow-burn psychological edge, this one will absolutely stay with you long after you finish!
This book is chilling, immersive, and unapologetically dark. It pulls you into a cat-and-mouse dynamic that feels both terrifying and hypnotic from the very first page.
Elara is a sharp, determined crime journalist, and watching her mind work inside an impossible situation is just as gripping as the violence surrounding her.
Vapor is genuinely unsettling - calculated, methodical, and written with a level of restraint that somehow makes him even more frightening.
The psychological tension is relentless, and the author Myla does an incredible job blurring the line between captor and obsession! If you love dark romance thrillers with strong writing, morally complex characters, and a slow-burn psychological edge, this one will absolutely stay with you long after you finish!
January 29, 2026
4.5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was given an opportunity to read A Story to Die For as an ARC and I’m so grateful! When I tell you this book was so so good. Engaging, dangerous, chilling, sexy, and romantic in a way only a dark morally grey MMC can accomplish 😍
Vapor is the embodiment of dark, mysterious, calculated, predator minded and merciless (except when it comes to a certain someone). This story was truthfully so engaging from start to finish and it was so hard to put down! A news journalist and a serial killer combo?? I mean come onnnn what could be better than that!
The writing was so well written and honestly I felt like I learned quite a bit about what all goes into the chemical aspect of things! I highly highly recommend this story! I can’t wait to see what you think about Vapor😉
I was given an opportunity to read A Story to Die For as an ARC and I’m so grateful! When I tell you this book was so so good. Engaging, dangerous, chilling, sexy, and romantic in a way only a dark morally grey MMC can accomplish 😍
Vapor is the embodiment of dark, mysterious, calculated, predator minded and merciless (except when it comes to a certain someone). This story was truthfully so engaging from start to finish and it was so hard to put down! A news journalist and a serial killer combo?? I mean come onnnn what could be better than that!
The writing was so well written and honestly I felt like I learned quite a bit about what all goes into the chemical aspect of things! I highly highly recommend this story! I can’t wait to see what you think about Vapor😉
January 28, 2026
This story starts in a small town with a journalist who catches the attention of a notorious serial killer. This slow burn of fatal attraction is just *cheifs kiss*❤️🔥 Myla’s writing style had me hooked and everything the MMC went through just pulls at your heart strings. The characters aren’t heroes or villains per say. They’re survivors with teeth marks on their hearts. Vapor makes terrible choices, say unforgivable things, and occasionally — in the quietest, most unexpected moments — show a flicker of something tender that almost hurts more than the cruelty. If you’re looking for a beautifully broken story that has you inevitably falling for the villain this is it🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely adored this book. The chemistry between Elara and Vapor was sooo good. I had butterflies every time they were together. I loved Elara’s character. Her ambition and her desire to see the good in everyone was so beautiful and admirable. Vapor was such a cutie to Elara like he did so many cute acts of service for her such as bringing her plants because he knows she loved them. He was soo attentive when it came to Elara which was sooo sweet and it had me swooning. This book was everything and more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 - 𝙰 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈 𝚃𝙾 𝙳𝙸𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚁 🖤
⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔
MY DEAR @mylaauthor THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SUCH AN AMAZING READ OMG!!
Myla writes with such passion and emotions, the depth of these characters makes her story so freaking good and you just can’t stop reading. The compassion I felt for the these characters was so strong.
This story ruined me in the best way, the details were top tier in this story and the connection between these two was tragically beautiful.
Thank you girl for the arc and trusting me with your book (again hehe)
⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔ ⋆˚࿔
MY DEAR @mylaauthor THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SUCH AN AMAZING READ OMG!!
Myla writes with such passion and emotions, the depth of these characters makes her story so freaking good and you just can’t stop reading. The compassion I felt for the these characters was so strong.
This story ruined me in the best way, the details were top tier in this story and the connection between these two was tragically beautiful.
Thank you girl for the arc and trusting me with your book (again hehe)
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had such an amazing time reading this book. When I was reached out to read it, I was already so excited because the plot sounded incredibly interesting and actually reading it exceeded all my expectations. The writing was beautiful, and the passion between the two characters was absolutely breathtaking. This book truly felt like an experience. I think everyone should read it (please check the trigger warnings), but honestly, I’m just so grateful I got to experience this story and read it for the first time🤍!!
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