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The Black Sigil of Naphal #2
In Reich and Ruin
In In Reich and Ruin, a long-overdue reunion ignites hope, until the truth begins to change him. As the past resurfaces, love gives way to transformation, and the man she returns to becomes something forged in secrecy, devotion, and ruin.
- GenresDark Romance
419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2026
3 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 7, 2026
4.5⭐️
in the second book, we follow Reich and get more of his backstory. i felt i was on the edge of my seat the entire book bc it was a little intense at times and never knowing what was around the corner. i love the continuation of Reich & Sage fighting and loving each other through tough situations.
looking forward to the 3rd book :)
Thank you to the author for gifting an early eARC release!
in the second book, we follow Reich and get more of his backstory. i felt i was on the edge of my seat the entire book bc it was a little intense at times and never knowing what was around the corner. i love the continuation of Reich & Sage fighting and loving each other through tough situations.
looking forward to the 3rd book :)
Thank you to the author for gifting an early eARC release!
February 19, 2026
After loving the brutal honesty and showing a writing style I hadnt really seen before in Sage Haven, I was thrilled to get the second book. Could it better book 1? I believe so. It has the same drama and dialogue that i fell in love with, and I cannot wait to read more from this author.
March 16, 2026
“I’ll always find you, Reich. Even in the darkness.”
What a wild ride this was 😭 In Reich & Ruin picks up right after the epilogue in Sage Haven. Secrets are being kept, tensions with the ENA are at an all time high, and Sage & Reich’s relationship is being tested. I absolutely love this series. It has darker elements but it’s written so tastefully that it’s not soul crushing. You still feel all the emotions with Sage & Reich, but I loved that this book focused more on Reich. We really got a more inside look with him.
Thank you for the arc Paige 🥹 already foaming at the mouth for a certain character(s) book 🖤
What a wild ride this was 😭 In Reich & Ruin picks up right after the epilogue in Sage Haven. Secrets are being kept, tensions with the ENA are at an all time high, and Sage & Reich’s relationship is being tested. I absolutely love this series. It has darker elements but it’s written so tastefully that it’s not soul crushing. You still feel all the emotions with Sage & Reich, but I loved that this book focused more on Reich. We really got a more inside look with him.
Thank you for the arc Paige 🥹 already foaming at the mouth for a certain character(s) book 🖤
February 16, 2026
Dark, dominating, bewitching. What a gripping and emotional conclusion to Sage and Reich’s story! Every moment in this epic, shadowy and at times downright terrifying instalment added up to a 5+ star read, that had me constantly sinking into the sheer depth of the feelings.
This book is a masterclass on the intensity of real feelings. On living in the shadows and being forced to carry out the most harrowing of tasks for a secret society. On meeting the love of your life but not knowing how to express that love. How passion can burn us alive and good intentions don’t heal trauma. The scars that Reich and Sage have emotionally and physically create silence and barriers and cause them to retreat inside themselves as they try to puzzle out how to heal themselves enough to dare dream of a future together.
Reich is just absolute perfection wrapped up in trauma. He’s the man I want to fix. His obsession with Sage is so intense and his first instinct is to protect her without sometimes understanding his protection might come at a cost too great for Sage’s own mental health. Sage undergoes some incredible growth. She is able to recognised in Reich all the same behaviours and coping mechanisms, and not push Reich for the answers she so desperately seeks, as she values him holding himself together in the face of fear more.
She didn’t try to fix it. She didn’t pry. She just held me—arms tight, steady and certain—and the silence in her embrace felt like the first safe thing in hours. I let myself breathe into her. Just breathe.
The intense passion between Sage and Reich does not disappoint. This book delivers what the fans want - delicious spicy scenes where Reich flexes his need for control and Sage relents to her submissive side.
I was done pretending I could wait. I wanted her undone. I wanted her wrecked. And I wanted her to know it was me who put her there. That I was the only one who ever would.
The pacing and flow of this book are great. There are truths to be uncovered and in his relentless pursuit of understanding what is going on inside himself, Reich is never able to stay still. This is also because he’s the type of character that is either fighting or hunting down things potentially best left buried.
The world building in this book kicked up a notch as we are introduced to Nael’s bunker and the ENA compound as well as a truly terrifying haunted forest complete with ruins and scary entities hunting in the dark.
I adore Paige Alexandria’s writing. It hooked me from the first moments and I couldn’t help but become so emotionally invested in the main characters, and even the side characters. But it is sinking into the moments of silence and pure emotion between Reich and Sage that made me feel something so real, so intense and so relatable. Anyone who has suffered trauma and loss will relate to these characters.
I highly recommend this book if you love dark romantic tension, mysterious cult-like secret societies, friends who become family and a beautifully broken MMC that you can lose yourself in 🖤
This book is a masterclass on the intensity of real feelings. On living in the shadows and being forced to carry out the most harrowing of tasks for a secret society. On meeting the love of your life but not knowing how to express that love. How passion can burn us alive and good intentions don’t heal trauma. The scars that Reich and Sage have emotionally and physically create silence and barriers and cause them to retreat inside themselves as they try to puzzle out how to heal themselves enough to dare dream of a future together.
Reich is just absolute perfection wrapped up in trauma. He’s the man I want to fix. His obsession with Sage is so intense and his first instinct is to protect her without sometimes understanding his protection might come at a cost too great for Sage’s own mental health. Sage undergoes some incredible growth. She is able to recognised in Reich all the same behaviours and coping mechanisms, and not push Reich for the answers she so desperately seeks, as she values him holding himself together in the face of fear more.
She didn’t try to fix it. She didn’t pry. She just held me—arms tight, steady and certain—and the silence in her embrace felt like the first safe thing in hours. I let myself breathe into her. Just breathe.
The intense passion between Sage and Reich does not disappoint. This book delivers what the fans want - delicious spicy scenes where Reich flexes his need for control and Sage relents to her submissive side.
I was done pretending I could wait. I wanted her undone. I wanted her wrecked. And I wanted her to know it was me who put her there. That I was the only one who ever would.
The pacing and flow of this book are great. There are truths to be uncovered and in his relentless pursuit of understanding what is going on inside himself, Reich is never able to stay still. This is also because he’s the type of character that is either fighting or hunting down things potentially best left buried.
The world building in this book kicked up a notch as we are introduced to Nael’s bunker and the ENA compound as well as a truly terrifying haunted forest complete with ruins and scary entities hunting in the dark.
I adore Paige Alexandria’s writing. It hooked me from the first moments and I couldn’t help but become so emotionally invested in the main characters, and even the side characters. But it is sinking into the moments of silence and pure emotion between Reich and Sage that made me feel something so real, so intense and so relatable. Anyone who has suffered trauma and loss will relate to these characters.
I highly recommend this book if you love dark romantic tension, mysterious cult-like secret societies, friends who become family and a beautifully broken MMC that you can lose yourself in 🖤
March 13, 2026
"𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜. 𝚂𝚘𝚏𝚝 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜. 𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜."
These books and characters mean everything to me. Sage's and Reich's journeys are relatable and incredibly powerful. Paige handles dark and very important themes in such a beautiful way. You will feel part of the story, like it isn't fiction but real life.
I melted every time the nickname 'Wildflower' was spoken.
I highly recommend checking out this brilliant series! I loved every second of it and I cannot wait for book three to come.
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟗𝐭𝐡
Thank you so much @authorpaigealexandria for an ARC of your beautiful novel! ♡
These books and characters mean everything to me. Sage's and Reich's journeys are relatable and incredibly powerful. Paige handles dark and very important themes in such a beautiful way. You will feel part of the story, like it isn't fiction but real life.
I melted every time the nickname 'Wildflower' was spoken.
I highly recommend checking out this brilliant series! I loved every second of it and I cannot wait for book three to come.
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏𝟗𝐭𝐡
Thank you so much @authorpaigealexandria for an ARC of your beautiful novel! ♡
March 1, 2026
I was dying to get my hands on this one after Sage Haven pulled me out of a reading slump late last year, and this book did not disappoint!
This book was just as beautifully and hauntingly dark as the first one, and I absolutely loved the continuation of Sage and Reich’s story. We pick up right where Book 1 left off, and the book never slows down from there.
Thank goodness this one was dual POV, because I so appreciated being in both Sage and Reich’s heads throughout this book. They’re both still enduring all the trauma, and they’ve absolutely been bonded for life through their shared trauma.
The chemistry between Sage and Reich remained strong in this one, even after how Book 1 ended. And the spice in this one is 🥵.
The dark romance coupled with beautifully broken main characters and the horrors of the ENA, a super secret society, lends itself well to a highly captivating story.
The ending and epilogues for this book left me feeling a bit of hope for our favorite characters. And I’m dying to see what’s in store for Sam and Castor in Book 3!
Thank you so much to Paige Alexandria for the gifted copy of this one! 🖤💀✨
This book was just as beautifully and hauntingly dark as the first one, and I absolutely loved the continuation of Sage and Reich’s story. We pick up right where Book 1 left off, and the book never slows down from there.
Thank goodness this one was dual POV, because I so appreciated being in both Sage and Reich’s heads throughout this book. They’re both still enduring all the trauma, and they’ve absolutely been bonded for life through their shared trauma.
The chemistry between Sage and Reich remained strong in this one, even after how Book 1 ended. And the spice in this one is 🥵.
The dark romance coupled with beautifully broken main characters and the horrors of the ENA, a super secret society, lends itself well to a highly captivating story.
The ending and epilogues for this book left me feeling a bit of hope for our favorite characters. And I’m dying to see what’s in store for Sam and Castor in Book 3!
Thank you so much to Paige Alexandria for the gifted copy of this one! 🖤💀✨
March 1, 2026
Mais uma vez não desiludiu. mais uma vez fiquei com mais perguntas do que respostas. Preciso do proximo
Review of advance copy received from Author
⛤ “I’ll always find you, Reich. Even in the darkness.” ✿
This installment raised the emotional stakes in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for. Picking up immediately after book one’s epilogue, the tension never once loosened its grip. Where the first book leaned more into dark romantic suspense, this one expanded the world with unexpected paranormal elements that shifted the trajectory of the story entirely. It wasn’t just a continuation; it was an escalation.
⛤“You’re dangerous, Reich.” ✿
Sage and Reich’s connection was explored in a way that felt haunting and intimate. Paige didn’t simply tell us about their pain, passion, and trauma…she made us sit in it. Every setback, every moment of vulnerability, every crack in their foundation felt tangible. Watching them fight not only their individual trauma but also the shared damage from their separation was deeply satisfying. Their determination to choose each other again and again carried real emotional weight.
⛤ “If I kept touching her, I’d never loosen my grip. Because letting her go once almost destroyed me and I wouldn’t survive it twice.” ✿
The secrecy surrounding the ENA was both gripping and maddening. It kept me in a chokehold, especially when layered with Reich’s unraveling circumstances, but it also left me disoriented at times. Certain revelations felt abrupt, as if they appeared without enough groundwork, which made parts of the story feel jarring rather than shocking.
✿ “Your wildflower grew thorns.” ⛤
While I love Paige’s writing style and her ability to craft an atmosphere, the final stretch felt rushed. For a book that is framed as the conclusion to Sage and Reich’s story, it left me wanting more of them. Instead of a true happily-ever-after, the ending read more like a happy-for-now; intentional or not, it left a lingering sense of unease. The absence of a warning about intentional ambiguity (like we had in book one) made that unsettled feeling even sharper.
✿ “Sage, my wildflower. She was the last real thing I had. My tether. My mercy. My reason. And they tore her from me like it meant nothing. So, I would burn their sanctuary down.” ⛤
Even so, I’m undeniably invested. There are far too many unanswered questions for me to walk away from the series now, so I’ll absolutely be diving into future books for the closure, and chaos, I know is coming.
Stars: 3.5/5 (Rounded Up)
Spice: 1.5/5
Tropes:
⛤ Second Chance ✿
✿ Secret Society ⛤
⛤ Dual POV ✿
✿ Touch Her & ☠️ ⛤
⛤ “Even just the way he said my name…seemed to undo me in a way I never saw coming. Like he was calling me back to myself and had always been the one that could do that.” ✿
✿⛤✿---ARC Review---⛤✿⛤
This installment raised the emotional stakes in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for. Picking up immediately after book one’s epilogue, the tension never once loosened its grip. Where the first book leaned more into dark romantic suspense, this one expanded the world with unexpected paranormal elements that shifted the trajectory of the story entirely. It wasn’t just a continuation; it was an escalation.
⛤“You’re dangerous, Reich.” ✿
✿ “And you…you keep choosing me. That one’s on you, wildflower.” ⛤
Sage and Reich’s connection was explored in a way that felt haunting and intimate. Paige didn’t simply tell us about their pain, passion, and trauma…she made us sit in it. Every setback, every moment of vulnerability, every crack in their foundation felt tangible. Watching them fight not only their individual trauma but also the shared damage from their separation was deeply satisfying. Their determination to choose each other again and again carried real emotional weight.
⛤ “If I kept touching her, I’d never loosen my grip. Because letting her go once almost destroyed me and I wouldn’t survive it twice.” ✿
The secrecy surrounding the ENA was both gripping and maddening. It kept me in a chokehold, especially when layered with Reich’s unraveling circumstances, but it also left me disoriented at times. Certain revelations felt abrupt, as if they appeared without enough groundwork, which made parts of the story feel jarring rather than shocking.
✿ “Your wildflower grew thorns.” ⛤
⛤ “Good. You’ll need them.” ✿
While I love Paige’s writing style and her ability to craft an atmosphere, the final stretch felt rushed. For a book that is framed as the conclusion to Sage and Reich’s story, it left me wanting more of them. Instead of a true happily-ever-after, the ending read more like a happy-for-now; intentional or not, it left a lingering sense of unease. The absence of a warning about intentional ambiguity (like we had in book one) made that unsettled feeling even sharper.
✿ “Sage, my wildflower. She was the last real thing I had. My tether. My mercy. My reason. And they tore her from me like it meant nothing. So, I would burn their sanctuary down.” ⛤
Even so, I’m undeniably invested. There are far too many unanswered questions for me to walk away from the series now, so I’ll absolutely be diving into future books for the closure, and chaos, I know is coming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stars: 3.5/5 (Rounded Up)
Spice: 1.5/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tropes:
⛤ Second Chance ✿
✿ Secret Society ⛤
⛤ Dual POV ✿
✿ Touch Her & ☠️ ⛤
⛤ “Even just the way he said my name…seemed to undo me in a way I never saw coming. Like he was calling me back to myself and had always been the one that could do that.” ✿
Review of advance copy received from Author
6⭐️
First of, thank you once again for the arc, Paige!
In Reich and Ruin picks up right after the epilogue of Sage Haven. It's deeper, it's darker, there's secrets, there is tension and the relationship between Reich and Sage is forever being tested to a higher more intense level. Should I have expected book 2 to emotionally hurt me? Yes. My emotions were running wild all throughout. and I'm damaged emotionally!There were tears, and then some more tears. The emotions between Sage and Reich were so painfully tragic & beautiful. You could truly feel what they were feeling, and that is what I call FANTASTIC writing!! Paige has just such an amazing, magnificent way with her words.
The love between Sage and Reich, I don't know if I could ever get enough. The way Sage refuses to ever walk away, she realizes the risks but she CHOOSES Reich every damn time. You can feel it SO strongly, and they just understand each other so well and their love and emotions for one another is all consuming, and tragic but absolutely beautiful. Their connection in this one is deeper, filled with more danger and more emotional. The devotion these two have for each other.
I loved being able to get more into the head of Reich in this book and the demons he deals with. He's being broken and changed into something darker but the one thing that doesn't change is his love for Sage and his devotion and the willingness to protect her at all cost. The secrets and tension with the ENA are high and you're frustrated they always seem to be just one step ahead, no matter what. and you're basically gripping onto the edge of your seat towards the end of the book just wanting to know WHAT is going to happen. WHO are you able to trust?? I have still what feels like a million questions, and I am in NEED of book 3!! I'm so excited for the next character(s) book and learning more. Absolutely just OBSESSED with The Black Sigil of Naphal world and characters🖤
𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆:
"𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓡𝓮����𝓬𝓱. 𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼."
First of, thank you once again for the arc, Paige!
In Reich and Ruin picks up right after the epilogue of Sage Haven. It's deeper, it's darker, there's secrets, there is tension and the relationship between Reich and Sage is forever being tested to a higher more intense level. Should I have expected book 2 to emotionally hurt me? Yes. My emotions were running wild all throughout. and I'm damaged emotionally!There were tears, and then some more tears. The emotions between Sage and Reich were so painfully tragic & beautiful. You could truly feel what they were feeling, and that is what I call FANTASTIC writing!! Paige has just such an amazing, magnificent way with her words.
The love between Sage and Reich, I don't know if I could ever get enough. The way Sage refuses to ever walk away, she realizes the risks but she CHOOSES Reich every damn time. You can feel it SO strongly, and they just understand each other so well and their love and emotions for one another is all consuming, and tragic but absolutely beautiful. Their connection in this one is deeper, filled with more danger and more emotional. The devotion these two have for each other.
I loved being able to get more into the head of Reich in this book and the demons he deals with. He's being broken and changed into something darker but the one thing that doesn't change is his love for Sage and his devotion and the willingness to protect her at all cost. The secrets and tension with the ENA are high and you're frustrated they always seem to be just one step ahead, no matter what. and you're basically gripping onto the edge of your seat towards the end of the book just wanting to know WHAT is going to happen. WHO are you able to trust?? I have still what feels like a million questions, and I am in NEED of book 3!! I'm so excited for the next character(s) book and learning more. Absolutely just OBSESSED with The Black Sigil of Naphal world and characters🖤
𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆:
"𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓡𝓮����𝓬𝓱. 𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼."
February 16, 2026
Book two in this haunting series delivers an emotional, dark, and deeply intense continuation of Reich and Sage’s story — and while their arc finds a powerful turning point, the overall series is far from finished (in the best way). My true rating is 4.5 ⭐️
Picking up right where book one left off emotionally (even though several years have passed), this installment plunges us straight back into the heartbreak, longing, and unresolved love that has always tied these two together. It reads like a tragic love story wrapped in danger, secrets, and obsession — with an ending that offers hope, but still feels a little HFN rather than full closure.
Reich is darker, more morally gray, and battling forces far bigger than himself, while Sage remains strong, loyal, and unwilling to walk away even when everything screams that she should. Their connection is raw and consuming — built on pain, passion, mistakes, and a fierce, unwavering love that refuses to die. Watching them fight for each other, confront trauma, and claw their way toward healing was both heartbreaking and beautiful.
The story leans heavily into:
🕸️ dark romance
💜 forced proximity & forbidden love
🕸️ secret pasts and shadowy societies
💜 mental health representation & recovery
🕸️ redemption, morally gray MMC energy
💜 high heat, BDSM, and dual POV
🕸️ and yes… the “Wildflower” nickname melted me every time
This was a fantastic conclusion to their chapter of the story while still expanding the larger world and stakes of the series. Emotional, intense, and addictive.
And honestly? Paige Alexandria has quickly become a favorite of mine — her ability to blend darkness, vulnerability, and obsessive love is just chef’s kiss.
If you love tragic-feeling romances with high emotion, dark themes, and couples who give each other their entire heart and soul, this one absolutely delivers. Thank you Paige Alexandria for the ARC. This review is only my opinion.
Picking up right where book one left off emotionally (even though several years have passed), this installment plunges us straight back into the heartbreak, longing, and unresolved love that has always tied these two together. It reads like a tragic love story wrapped in danger, secrets, and obsession — with an ending that offers hope, but still feels a little HFN rather than full closure.
Reich is darker, more morally gray, and battling forces far bigger than himself, while Sage remains strong, loyal, and unwilling to walk away even when everything screams that she should. Their connection is raw and consuming — built on pain, passion, mistakes, and a fierce, unwavering love that refuses to die. Watching them fight for each other, confront trauma, and claw their way toward healing was both heartbreaking and beautiful.
The story leans heavily into:
🕸️ dark romance
💜 forced proximity & forbidden love
🕸️ secret pasts and shadowy societies
💜 mental health representation & recovery
🕸️ redemption, morally gray MMC energy
💜 high heat, BDSM, and dual POV
🕸️ and yes… the “Wildflower” nickname melted me every time
This was a fantastic conclusion to their chapter of the story while still expanding the larger world and stakes of the series. Emotional, intense, and addictive.
And honestly? Paige Alexandria has quickly become a favorite of mine — her ability to blend darkness, vulnerability, and obsessive love is just chef’s kiss.
If you love tragic-feeling romances with high emotion, dark themes, and couples who give each other their entire heart and soul, this one absolutely delivers. Thank you Paige Alexandria for the ARC. This review is only my opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Book 2 picks up right when book 1 left off! Since this is book 2, I won’t be saying too much to not spoil anything but just know the stakes are higher than ever, darker and way more intense!
Sage my girl is going through it! She still has that quiet strength I fell in love with in book one. She’s healing, still fragile in ways that make sense but there’s a steadiness to her now. She refuses to walk away, even when Reich gives her every reason to. Watching her choose him, even when he’s unraveling? Allll the feels!
And Reich… he is not the same man. He’s darker. Sharper. The ENA is reshaping him into something volatile, something he can barely control. But underneath all of it? The devotion is still there. Twisted, protective and so desperate. He would burn for her, even if he believes he’s the monster she needs saving from.
Their connection in this one feels heavier. Less cautious tension and more emotional warfare. It’s devotion tangled up in danger. Love wrapped in secrecy. It’s tragic and Heartbreaking at the same time! It had my heart steadily beating out of my chest!
This was so mysterious and I felt so nervous the ENTIRE BOOK! So many questions I had from book one finally got answered… and somehow I’m left with even more. The deeper we go into the ENA, the less certain everything feels. You truly don’t know who to trust. I again was up late into the night trying to finish this and spiraling!! I absolutely adore Paige’s writing. It’s masterful and beautifully layered! The twists, the shifting loyalties, the constant feeling that something bigger is at play! It will definitely keep you guessing and never fully settled!
Fully invested and need book 3 IMMEDIATELY 😭
Sage my girl is going through it! She still has that quiet strength I fell in love with in book one. She’s healing, still fragile in ways that make sense but there’s a steadiness to her now. She refuses to walk away, even when Reich gives her every reason to. Watching her choose him, even when he’s unraveling? Allll the feels!
And Reich… he is not the same man. He’s darker. Sharper. The ENA is reshaping him into something volatile, something he can barely control. But underneath all of it? The devotion is still there. Twisted, protective and so desperate. He would burn for her, even if he believes he’s the monster she needs saving from.
Their connection in this one feels heavier. Less cautious tension and more emotional warfare. It’s devotion tangled up in danger. Love wrapped in secrecy. It’s tragic and Heartbreaking at the same time! It had my heart steadily beating out of my chest!
This was so mysterious and I felt so nervous the ENTIRE BOOK! So many questions I had from book one finally got answered… and somehow I’m left with even more. The deeper we go into the ENA, the less certain everything feels. You truly don’t know who to trust. I again was up late into the night trying to finish this and spiraling!! I absolutely adore Paige’s writing. It’s masterful and beautifully layered! The twists, the shifting loyalties, the constant feeling that something bigger is at play! It will definitely keep you guessing and never fully settled!
Fully invested and need book 3 IMMEDIATELY 😭
February 28, 2026
"Slowly, silently, she began to wipe what was left of the blood from my hands. Her touch was careful and tentative, but also deliberate. It meant everything. Because it was more than just cleaning—it was acceptance. She saw all of me, even now, and still chose to help. To stay. And that truth alone broke me."
Picking up from where book 1 'Sage Haven' ended, i found myself in a deep psychological thrill. i loved it. It's so well written with high intensity, mystery and suspense. i couldn't put this down, racing through to get the answers i was craving.
Reich and Sage CAN'T catch a break, no time to breathe or rest. Equally searching for the same answers i was .. do i have all the answers? Nope, but that makes this series all the more exciting.
Getting to know Reich more was eye opening - i did not for one second see that coming! Who he truly is and what he does .. and Sage, now knowing, fully accepts him, growing together into an unstoppable partnership. The character development from book one is insane, honestly, i couldn't have predicted it.
Normally i can suss where a book is going and get a good feeling how it will end but i still, even now, can't figure out the E.N.A 🫣🤣
For a quick second, i was like, "wait, are we touching on paranormal here?" 😆 it's not, i doN't think 🤔 i blame Paige's attention to detail, some scenes were incredibly eerie.
The unpredictability and Paige's writing style makes me love this soo much 😍 and i can't wait to receive my shelf trophies and the rest of the series.
I know Sam and Cas are next .. and I'm hoping keenan and Nael have books too? .. theres so much mystery around them and I NEED MORE 🤣
Dark Romance- Psychological unraveling - Cult horror - Secret society - Dual pov - second chance - wax play - tasteful spice - book II of series
Picking up from where book 1 'Sage Haven' ended, i found myself in a deep psychological thrill. i loved it. It's so well written with high intensity, mystery and suspense. i couldn't put this down, racing through to get the answers i was craving.
Reich and Sage CAN'T catch a break, no time to breathe or rest. Equally searching for the same answers i was .. do i have all the answers? Nope, but that makes this series all the more exciting.
Getting to know Reich more was eye opening - i did not for one second see that coming! Who he truly is and what he does .. and Sage, now knowing, fully accepts him, growing together into an unstoppable partnership. The character development from book one is insane, honestly, i couldn't have predicted it.
Normally i can suss where a book is going and get a good feeling how it will end but i still, even now, can't figure out the E.N.A 🫣🤣
For a quick second, i was like, "wait, are we touching on paranormal here?" 😆 it's not, i doN't think 🤔 i blame Paige's attention to detail, some scenes were incredibly eerie.
The unpredictability and Paige's writing style makes me love this soo much 😍 and i can't wait to receive my shelf trophies and the rest of the series.
I know Sam and Cas are next .. and I'm hoping keenan and Nael have books too? .. theres so much mystery around them and I NEED MORE 🤣
Dark Romance- Psychological unraveling - Cult horror - Secret society - Dual pov - second chance - wax play - tasteful spice - book II of series
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was not what I expected, in a good way. Thank you to the author for gifting me this ARC. In Reich and Ruin is a dual POV dark romance with paranormal elements. It is the second book of The Black Sigil of Naphal series and also serves as the conclusion to Reich and Sage's journey. It begins three years after the conclusion of Sage Haven and immediately after the second epilogue. It follows Reich and Sage as they are reunited and attempt to escape the ENA.
This book was much darker than the first and it left so many questions unanswered that I can't figure out how I feel! It was atmospheric, tense, and emotional. It had me completely immersed in the story. The writing is evocative and beautiful. I felt Sage's frustration at the unknown and her love for Reich. I could almost taste Reich's fear and need to protect Sage from everything. I would love to read a prequel that focuses on their lives before they met each other in Providence. I'd also love a book about the three years they were apart. A lot of events seemed to take place during those three years, but are just mentioned in passing, and I'm so curious about them!
This book had me at the edge of my seat, wondering what was around each corner. Now, I can't wait to see what's in store for Castor and Sam.
4 out of 5 stars
1 out of 5 spicy peppers
Memorable line: “Fate isn’t something you choose," she whispered. "It’s something you surrender to.”
Read this if you like: Dark romance, cult horror, paranormal, prophecy, second chance, secret society
F*ck appears: 19 times
Spicy chapters: ch. 2, ch. 10, ch. 20, ch. 22, ch. 40, ch. 43
This book was much darker than the first and it left so many questions unanswered that I can't figure out how I feel! It was atmospheric, tense, and emotional. It had me completely immersed in the story. The writing is evocative and beautiful. I felt Sage's frustration at the unknown and her love for Reich. I could almost taste Reich's fear and need to protect Sage from everything. I would love to read a prequel that focuses on their lives before they met each other in Providence. I'd also love a book about the three years they were apart. A lot of events seemed to take place during those three years, but are just mentioned in passing, and I'm so curious about them!
This book had me at the edge of my seat, wondering what was around each corner. Now, I can't wait to see what's in store for Castor and Sam.
4 out of 5 stars
1 out of 5 spicy peppers
Memorable line: “Fate isn’t something you choose," she whispered. "It’s something you surrender to.”
Read this if you like: Dark romance, cult horror, paranormal, prophecy, second chance, secret society
F*ck appears: 19 times
Spicy chapters: ch. 2, ch. 10, ch. 20, ch. 22, ch. 40, ch. 43
February 19, 2026
“For the ones who stay even when hope isn’t enough.”💜
In this second book of the series we get more insight into Reichs backstory to give the reader a better understanding of his past and the ENA. It takes a darker approach as we are shown the cult-like rituals the ENA and we catch a glimpse of paranormal activity or as Reich is quoted saying “Not something we can kill.”
“I’ll always find you, Reich. Even in the darkness.”
Did I enjoy this story? Yes, I flew by the first half of it. As we got closer to the end I felt conflicted on some of the spice scenes and there were questions left unanswered that I’m really hoping the author dives into the next book. I felt like some of spice scenes were thrown in there just to make it “spicy” as they were in a predicament that would have made it difficult for any sane person to be in the mood to get jiggy with it, that’s just my opinion.
“Sage, my wildflower. She was the last real thing I had. My tether. My mercy. My reason.”
Would I recommend it? Absolutely!💯 it’s dark, riveting and the writing is great. Plus, who doesn’t love a man willing to burn down the world for the love of his life.
“And if he had Sage-if he had hurt her in any way-Id tear these walls down brick by brick. I’d rip the skeleton from this sanctified hell and salt the earth beneath its foundation and then I would burn it all until the sky choked on the smoke.”
Thank you to the author for eArc! I can’t wait to read what book 3 brings to the series.✨
Tropes
🖤Dark Romance
🖤Dual POV
🖤Morally Grey MMC
🖤Psychological unraveling
🖤Secret Society
🖤Second chance
🖤Wax play
🖤Cult horror
Rating
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶️🌶️
In this second book of the series we get more insight into Reichs backstory to give the reader a better understanding of his past and the ENA. It takes a darker approach as we are shown the cult-like rituals the ENA and we catch a glimpse of paranormal activity or as Reich is quoted saying “Not something we can kill.”
“I’ll always find you, Reich. Even in the darkness.”
Did I enjoy this story? Yes, I flew by the first half of it. As we got closer to the end I felt conflicted on some of the spice scenes and there were questions left unanswered that I’m really hoping the author dives into the next book. I felt like some of spice scenes were thrown in there just to make it “spicy” as they were in a predicament that would have made it difficult for any sane person to be in the mood to get jiggy with it, that’s just my opinion.
“Sage, my wildflower. She was the last real thing I had. My tether. My mercy. My reason.”
Would I recommend it? Absolutely!💯 it’s dark, riveting and the writing is great. Plus, who doesn’t love a man willing to burn down the world for the love of his life.
“And if he had Sage-if he had hurt her in any way-Id tear these walls down brick by brick. I’d rip the skeleton from this sanctified hell and salt the earth beneath its foundation and then I would burn it all until the sky choked on the smoke.”
Thank you to the author for eArc! I can’t wait to read what book 3 brings to the series.✨
Tropes
🖤Dark Romance
🖤Dual POV
🖤Morally Grey MMC
🖤Psychological unraveling
🖤Secret Society
🖤Second chance
🖤Wax play
🖤Cult horror
Rating
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶️🌶️
February 19, 2026
The Kind of Dark That Stays With You
I knew book two was going to be darker.
I knew it was going to hurt more.
I just didn’t expect it to heal me too.
I fell in love with Sage and Reich in Sage Haven, but In Reich and Ruin took everything deeper. Heavier. More raw.
Sage, who ran from her past trying to survive it.
Reich — our MMC — protective, obsessive, murderous “touch her and die,” yet impossibly soft for her.
In this book, we finally get closure… but not the easy kind. The earned kind.
The way Paige writes this world — the secret society, the rules, the tension, the secrets layered into every interaction — it’s immersive in a way that makes you feel everything. The pain. The yearning. The unspoken words. The subtle shifts in tone and body language.
As someone who can feel when someone’s vibe is off, the small looks, the tiny changes, the emotional undercurrents? I felt them page by page, line by line, word for word.
And the secret society? Fascinating. Complex. Dangerous. You never quite know what’s coming next, and that constant tension keeps you locked in.
By the end of this book, I had 100 highlights. Yes — one hundred.
And when I finished it? I was in a slump because nothing else compared.
It was deep. It was emotional. It was consuming.
The ending — the epilogues, the name, the final moments — gave me peace… while also reminding me this is only the beginning.
I knew book two was going to be darker.
I knew it was going to hurt more.
I just didn’t expect it to heal me too.
I fell in love with Sage and Reich in Sage Haven, but In Reich and Ruin took everything deeper. Heavier. More raw.
Sage, who ran from her past trying to survive it.
Reich — our MMC — protective, obsessive, murderous “touch her and die,” yet impossibly soft for her.
In this book, we finally get closure… but not the easy kind. The earned kind.
The way Paige writes this world — the secret society, the rules, the tension, the secrets layered into every interaction — it’s immersive in a way that makes you feel everything. The pain. The yearning. The unspoken words. The subtle shifts in tone and body language.
As someone who can feel when someone’s vibe is off, the small looks, the tiny changes, the emotional undercurrents? I felt them page by page, line by line, word for word.
And the secret society? Fascinating. Complex. Dangerous. You never quite know what’s coming next, and that constant tension keeps you locked in.
By the end of this book, I had 100 highlights. Yes — one hundred.
And when I finished it? I was in a slump because nothing else compared.
It was deep. It was emotional. It was consuming.
The ending — the epilogues, the name, the final moments — gave me peace… while also reminding me this is only the beginning.
February 19, 2026
In Reich and Ruin by Paige Alexandria is a dark, immersive journey into a world filled with both breathtaking beauty and harrowing destruction. The blend of fantasy and tension is masterfully executed, drawing you into a society on the brink of collapse. The world-building is intricate and vivid, with a sense of looming dread that permeates every chapter, setting the stage for the high-stakes drama that unfolds.
The characters are layered and compelling, each dealing with their own personal demons and larger-than-life obstacles. I found myself invested in their growth and struggles, and the dynamics between them are rich and nuanced. The protagonist, in particular, stands out as someone you can't help but root for—flawed, but determined to find a way out of the ruin.
The pacing is strong, though it does slow down in places, allowing for character development and world exploration. The slow build-ups lead to explosive moments that are worth the wait, though there were times when I wished the stakes were higher or more tightly woven. The book doesn’t quite reach the emotional heights of a five-star read, but it's an engaging and rewarding experience nonetheless.
Overall, In Reich and Ruin is a well-crafted fantasy that hooks you in with its world, characters, and tension, leaving you eagerly anticipating what comes next.
The characters are layered and compelling, each dealing with their own personal demons and larger-than-life obstacles. I found myself invested in their growth and struggles, and the dynamics between them are rich and nuanced. The protagonist, in particular, stands out as someone you can't help but root for—flawed, but determined to find a way out of the ruin.
The pacing is strong, though it does slow down in places, allowing for character development and world exploration. The slow build-ups lead to explosive moments that are worth the wait, though there were times when I wished the stakes were higher or more tightly woven. The book doesn’t quite reach the emotional heights of a five-star read, but it's an engaging and rewarding experience nonetheless.
Overall, In Reich and Ruin is a well-crafted fantasy that hooks you in with its world, characters, and tension, leaving you eagerly anticipating what comes next.
February 19, 2026
Reich and Ruin by Paige Alexandria is book two in The Black Sigil of Naphal and delivers an emotional, dark, and deeply intense continuation of Reich and Sage’s story — and while their arc hits a powerful turning point, the series is far from over… in the best way.
Even with years having passed, we’re thrown right back into the heartbreak, longing, and unresolved love that binds them. It reads like a tragic love story wrapped in danger, secrets, and obsession — with an ending that offers hope but feels more happy for now than full closure.
Reich is darker and more morally gray than ever, battling forces bigger than himself. And Sage? Strong, loyal, and unwilling to walk away — even when every warning sign says she should.
Their connection is raw and consuming — built on pain, passion, mistakes, and a love that refuses to die. Watching them confront trauma and fight their way toward healing was both heartbreaking and beautiful.
If you love dark romance with forbidden love, secret societies, mental health representation, BDSM elements, and a morally gray MMC — this delivers.
And honestly? Paige Alexandria is quickly becoming a favorite. Her blend of darkness, vulnerability, and obsessive love is chef’s kiss.
Thank you to Paige Alexandria for the ARC — all opinions are my own.
Even with years having passed, we’re thrown right back into the heartbreak, longing, and unresolved love that binds them. It reads like a tragic love story wrapped in danger, secrets, and obsession — with an ending that offers hope but feels more happy for now than full closure.
Reich is darker and more morally gray than ever, battling forces bigger than himself. And Sage? Strong, loyal, and unwilling to walk away — even when every warning sign says she should.
Their connection is raw and consuming — built on pain, passion, mistakes, and a love that refuses to die. Watching them confront trauma and fight their way toward healing was both heartbreaking and beautiful.
If you love dark romance with forbidden love, secret societies, mental health representation, BDSM elements, and a morally gray MMC — this delivers.
And honestly? Paige Alexandria is quickly becoming a favorite. Her blend of darkness, vulnerability, and obsessive love is chef’s kiss.
Thank you to Paige Alexandria for the ARC — all opinions are my own.
February 22, 2026
After the ending of Sage Haven left me devastated, I knew I was going to be in a world of hurt with this one. And boy, did Paige deliver on that!
Despite everything Reich left behind in order to keep Sage safe, they reunite in the most unlikely of circumstances. And once they do, it’s clear he can never leave her again.
But, that reunion is a bittersweet one as they find themselves on the run from the ENA and the destiny that could either bring them closer together or tear them apart for good.
In Reich and Ruin was filled with so much heartbreak and healing. I really felt for Reich, as he tried to break free of the abuse inflicted upon him by the ENA. He was breed to be a weapon, a monster, an executioner. And for most of his life, he believed that was all he was good for. Until now. Until her.
Sage’s fierce defiance and unwavering loyalty to Reich was the only thing that kept them moving forward. Especially when they realize, she’s been a part of this world for far longer than anyone realized.
With a love and future worth fighting for, Reich and Sage face every betrayal and obstacle head on. And the full circle moment amongst the field of wildflowers at the end might have healed my heart, and theirs, just a little.
Although their story may be at a close, the fight against the ENA is far from over. With more to unravel, I can’t wait for Castor and Sam’s story.
Despite everything Reich left behind in order to keep Sage safe, they reunite in the most unlikely of circumstances. And once they do, it’s clear he can never leave her again.
But, that reunion is a bittersweet one as they find themselves on the run from the ENA and the destiny that could either bring them closer together or tear them apart for good.
In Reich and Ruin was filled with so much heartbreak and healing. I really felt for Reich, as he tried to break free of the abuse inflicted upon him by the ENA. He was breed to be a weapon, a monster, an executioner. And for most of his life, he believed that was all he was good for. Until now. Until her.
Sage’s fierce defiance and unwavering loyalty to Reich was the only thing that kept them moving forward. Especially when they realize, she’s been a part of this world for far longer than anyone realized.
With a love and future worth fighting for, Reich and Sage face every betrayal and obstacle head on. And the full circle moment amongst the field of wildflowers at the end might have healed my heart, and theirs, just a little.
Although their story may be at a close, the fight against the ENA is far from over. With more to unravel, I can’t wait for Castor and Sam’s story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy crap! Where do I even begin!?! Jumping 3 years from where Sage Haven left off we are thrown into an emotion loop! We see Reich who tried to stay away but couldn’t and Sage who tried to move on but wouldn’t. Which to be honest if I were in their shoes I would be the same way. After these years their emotions haven’t changed and they are still wild about one another.
While Reich has been doing business for the ENA, he’s been secretly fighting his own demons and trying to figure out what’s going on without Sage noticing. While Sage doesn’t push for more information she most definitely notices something’s up with Reich. But before Sage and Reich had reconnected Sage had been doing her own research on her mom and her connection with the ENA. While they work together to fight for one another they are also trying to figure out how to take down the organization that “seems” to want to tear them apart. The script turns when hidden identities are revealed and circumstances change on Reich and Sage.
I loved every second of this book! The ending of Sage Haven killed me and the ending of this book left me with more questions than I started! I can’t wait for book 3!
While Reich has been doing business for the ENA, he’s been secretly fighting his own demons and trying to figure out what’s going on without Sage noticing. While Sage doesn’t push for more information she most definitely notices something’s up with Reich. But before Sage and Reich had reconnected Sage had been doing her own research on her mom and her connection with the ENA. While they work together to fight for one another they are also trying to figure out how to take down the organization that “seems” to want to tear them apart. The script turns when hidden identities are revealed and circumstances change on Reich and Sage.
I loved every second of this book! The ending of Sage Haven killed me and the ending of this book left me with more questions than I started! I can’t wait for book 3!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In Reich and Ruin by Paige Alexandria
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
And Paige does it again.
She serves you a giant platter of emotional and mental damage… and it hurts so good!!
Book 2 picks up exactly where Sage Haven left off with Sage and Reich, and gosh dang it, I love them. I love their love. It’s deep. It’s tragic. It’s consuming. It’s perfect.
I won’t say much because the reveals are part of the experience, but the questions from Book 1… They get answered with even more questions. You don’t know who to trust. You fall harder for Reich and Sage with every chapter.
And you start to realize something…
We are not readers.
We are pawns.
Paige is orchestrating this emotional chess game and we are simply along for the ride. Hold on tight!
Expect more emotional damage, deep love, spice, twists, suspense, and a whole lot of:
What is actually going on?!
If you thought Book 1 wrecked you, get ready for book 2.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Second Chance Romance
• Dark Psychological Romance
• Cult Vibes/ Secret society
• Emotional Trauma Bond
• Morally Gray MMC
• Suspense & Mystery
• Unreliable Truths
• Deep, Tragic Love
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
And Paige does it again.
She serves you a giant platter of emotional and mental damage… and it hurts so good!!
Book 2 picks up exactly where Sage Haven left off with Sage and Reich, and gosh dang it, I love them. I love their love. It’s deep. It’s tragic. It’s consuming. It’s perfect.
I won’t say much because the reveals are part of the experience, but the questions from Book 1… They get answered with even more questions. You don’t know who to trust. You fall harder for Reich and Sage with every chapter.
And you start to realize something…
We are not readers.
We are pawns.
Paige is orchestrating this emotional chess game and we are simply along for the ride. Hold on tight!
Expect more emotional damage, deep love, spice, twists, suspense, and a whole lot of:
What is actually going on?!
If you thought Book 1 wrecked you, get ready for book 2.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Second Chance Romance
• Dark Psychological Romance
• Cult Vibes/ Secret society
• Emotional Trauma Bond
• Morally Gray MMC
• Suspense & Mystery
• Unreliable Truths
• Deep, Tragic Love
Review of advance copy
Luckily one of the few selected for Paige’s ARC of Reich and Ruin.
After fully reading the book applause to Paige for getting out book two as quickly as she did after book one because to be honest, I don’t know much longer I could have gone without closure from Sage Haven. Book two picks up three years after the events of book one. What starts out as a simple trek to the bloodwine to find answers about Sage’s mom and her past gets turned upside down with a run in with the ENA. The signature duel POV is back - still following Sage and Reich. However, how book one feels like it was SAGE’s book (obviously from the book title) - book two is DEFINITELY about Reich and his demons. The initial plan gets derailed and Reich gets summoned to the Elders compound where he learns the ENA has plans for him and Sage that neither one of them could have seen coming. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series unfolds because by the end of book two you’ll have tons of answers but with every answer becomes another question to be solved. Remember. The ENA is always one step ahead
After fully reading the book applause to Paige for getting out book two as quickly as she did after book one because to be honest, I don’t know much longer I could have gone without closure from Sage Haven. Book two picks up three years after the events of book one. What starts out as a simple trek to the bloodwine to find answers about Sage’s mom and her past gets turned upside down with a run in with the ENA. The signature duel POV is back - still following Sage and Reich. However, how book one feels like it was SAGE’s book (obviously from the book title) - book two is DEFINITELY about Reich and his demons. The initial plan gets derailed and Reich gets summoned to the Elders compound where he learns the ENA has plans for him and Sage that neither one of them could have seen coming. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series unfolds because by the end of book two you’ll have tons of answers but with every answer becomes another question to be solved. Remember. The ENA is always one step ahead
February 20, 2026
This one didn’t just hurt hit consumed me. The emotional weight of Sage and Reich’s story felt heavier this time because everything they’ve been carrying finally cracked open, and there was no hiding from it anymore.
Reich is intense in that quiet, dangerous way because his love shows up as protection first and vulnerability second, and watching him wrestle with that had me fully invested. And Sage? Her strength felt steady instead of loud because she chooses patience over pressure, which made their connection feel mature and real instead of dramatic for the sake of it.
The atmosphere was darker, more suffocating because the world around them felt just as unstable as what was happening inside them, and it added this constant edge of tension. The passion is definitely there, but it hits harder because it’s tangled up in fear, devotion, and the need to hold on before everything falls apart.
By the end, I just sat there staring at the wall for a minute. Emotionally drained in the best way.
Reich is intense in that quiet, dangerous way because his love shows up as protection first and vulnerability second, and watching him wrestle with that had me fully invested. And Sage? Her strength felt steady instead of loud because she chooses patience over pressure, which made their connection feel mature and real instead of dramatic for the sake of it.
The atmosphere was darker, more suffocating because the world around them felt just as unstable as what was happening inside them, and it added this constant edge of tension. The passion is definitely there, but it hits harder because it’s tangled up in fear, devotion, and the need to hold on before everything falls apart.
By the end, I just sat there staring at the wall for a minute. Emotionally drained in the best way.
February 23, 2026
This series has me completely ruined — in the best, most obsessive way.
Every chapter peels back another layer, revealing secrets that feel intentional and carefully woven into something much larger. There’s a constant undercurrent of darkness throughout the story — an almost ritualistic, occult atmosphere that lingers in the background and makes everything feel heavier, more fated, more dangerous. It’s not just dramatic… it feels charged.
The romance is intense and emotionally consuming. Protective, tangled, and deeply tied to the larger forces at play, which makes every twist hit even harder. The chemistry is undeniable, the stakes feel real, and the unpredictability kept me completely locked in.
This installment doesn’t just continue the story — it expands the interconnected world in a way that makes you realize there’s so much more still unfolding. And I am absolutely ready for it.
If you loved the Souls Trilogy by Harley Laroux, you’ll devour this series.
Dark, spicy, occult-tinged, twisty — with a morally grey “happy” ever after that you don’t want to miss.
Every chapter peels back another layer, revealing secrets that feel intentional and carefully woven into something much larger. There’s a constant undercurrent of darkness throughout the story — an almost ritualistic, occult atmosphere that lingers in the background and makes everything feel heavier, more fated, more dangerous. It’s not just dramatic… it feels charged.
The romance is intense and emotionally consuming. Protective, tangled, and deeply tied to the larger forces at play, which makes every twist hit even harder. The chemistry is undeniable, the stakes feel real, and the unpredictability kept me completely locked in.
This installment doesn’t just continue the story — it expands the interconnected world in a way that makes you realize there’s so much more still unfolding. And I am absolutely ready for it.
If you loved the Souls Trilogy by Harley Laroux, you’ll devour this series.
Dark, spicy, occult-tinged, twisty — with a morally grey “happy” ever after that you don’t want to miss.
February 24, 2026
Second Chances, Darker Consequences
Besties… that cliffhanger from "Sage Haven" had me pacing, so when "In Reich and Ruin" dropped, I RAN. And let me tell you... Book 2 did NOT disappoint!! This book puts the 'R' in romance and then drags it through darkness, obsession, and psychological unraveling in the best way possible.🖤
Sage and Reich’s reunion? Not soft. Not sweet. It’s scarred, intense, and tangled in secrets. The ENA has its claws in Reich, and watching him battle the monster he’s becoming while trying to protect Sage? Goosebumps. OBSESSIVE MMC energy on another level. The tension, the secret society and cult horror vibes, the dual POV spiral, the spice (yes… including that wax play 🫠)? Paige Alexandria immerses you so deeply you can feel every ounce of angst and devotion bleeding off the page.
You absolutely MUST read Book 1 and 2 together. Their tumultuous, twisted second-chance love is so worth the emotional damage.🖤
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
Besties… that cliffhanger from "Sage Haven" had me pacing, so when "In Reich and Ruin" dropped, I RAN. And let me tell you... Book 2 did NOT disappoint!! This book puts the 'R' in romance and then drags it through darkness, obsession, and psychological unraveling in the best way possible.🖤
Sage and Reich’s reunion? Not soft. Not sweet. It’s scarred, intense, and tangled in secrets. The ENA has its claws in Reich, and watching him battle the monster he’s becoming while trying to protect Sage? Goosebumps. OBSESSIVE MMC energy on another level. The tension, the secret society and cult horror vibes, the dual POV spiral, the spice (yes… including that wax play 🫠)? Paige Alexandria immerses you so deeply you can feel every ounce of angst and devotion bleeding off the page.
You absolutely MUST read Book 1 and 2 together. Their tumultuous, twisted second-chance love is so worth the emotional damage.🖤
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is book 2 in The Black Sigil of Naphal series and picks up right where it leaves off in book 1 and Reich and Sage are finally reunited! I was really curious where the story line would go and it did not disappoint! I knew it would be dark and sinister, but you must read it for yourself. It was intriguing to get some backstory and finally find out the secrets Reich has been keeping and test the limits of Reich and Sage’s relationship. Will it survive? Check it out for yourself! It is definitely a wild roller coaster ride with some plot twists towards the end. Some questions are answered but then more questions arise. I’m excited to see what more will unfold. If you enjoy dark romance, psychological unraveling, secret societies, second chance love, mystery, and trauma bonding then you should check out this series.
Thank you so much to the author for a gifted advanced reader copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review, and all thoughts are my own.
Thank you so much to the author for a gifted advanced reader copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review, and all thoughts are my own.
February 23, 2026
I get the same feeling as with reading Insatiable, that I hate what is happening but only because I care about the characters deeply.
"I'd always known how to die for strangers. I'd never learned how to live for myself." (I can already feel the villain arc coming)
This is book 2 in the series, so I won't tell you anything about the plot, but WOW. Somehow we went from a regular dark romance to dark romance with supernatural elements / cult? Yes, I am also confused, but I can't wait to find out what is happening here.
As usual in this series, everyone is suffering (thank you author), and I just want the happy ending! With every book I love Sage and Reich more and more (although i wish they weren't having sex everytime we had a conflict because I wanted answers but I will blame my impatience for this one)
"-You're dangerous, Reich.
-And you keep choosing me. That one's on you wildflower."
Did I mention that he calls her Wildflower??
"I'd always known how to die for strangers. I'd never learned how to live for myself." (I can already feel the villain arc coming)
This is book 2 in the series, so I won't tell you anything about the plot, but WOW. Somehow we went from a regular dark romance to dark romance with supernatural elements / cult? Yes, I am also confused, but I can't wait to find out what is happening here.
As usual in this series, everyone is suffering (thank you author), and I just want the happy ending! With every book I love Sage and Reich more and more (although i wish they weren't having sex everytime we had a conflict because I wanted answers but I will blame my impatience for this one)
"-You're dangerous, Reich.
-And you keep choosing me. That one's on you wildflower."
Did I mention that he calls her Wildflower??
March 3, 2026
I am obsessed with this series. Book two is even better than book one and I am just blown away.
We continue to follow Reich and Sage through their journey to take down the ENA. We learn more about their purpose and delve deeper into other characters and their world.
Reich is amazing, the way he loves Sage and everything he does is to try and protect her, even if she can't see it. And the way Sage can see him, all of him, keeps him grounded and prevents him from losing control when everything is imploding around them.
Everything in this book is just so amazing. I feel like I am there with them, I was holding my breath through so many chapters and on edge for the others. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style, I wanted to rush through the book to find out what happens, but I couldn't because I was enjoying the ride they were taking me on.
I cannot wait for book three to continue this journey!
We continue to follow Reich and Sage through their journey to take down the ENA. We learn more about their purpose and delve deeper into other characters and their world.
Reich is amazing, the way he loves Sage and everything he does is to try and protect her, even if she can't see it. And the way Sage can see him, all of him, keeps him grounded and prevents him from losing control when everything is imploding around them.
Everything in this book is just so amazing. I feel like I am there with them, I was holding my breath through so many chapters and on edge for the others. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style, I wanted to rush through the book to find out what happens, but I couldn't because I was enjoying the ride they were taking me on.
I cannot wait for book three to continue this journey!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m telling you guys, I honestly don’t know what to make of this story so far because we’re missing so much information. Once again, Paige proves what an incredible storyteller she is, and you can clearly see on the page that she has real knowledge and background in everything she writes about.
All the emotions are right there, and you can’t help but feel everything Sage and Reich are going through. This is a very heavy book, and you’re on the edge of your seat the entire time because you truly have no idea what’s coming next.
It feels like my brain is completely fried from all the spiraling I’ve done since finishing this book — and I don’t even think I’m anywhere close to figuring things out, to be honest. Paige’s brain just works differently. I’m so incredibly fortunate to be able to read these books early.
In Reich And Ruin releases February 14th.
All the emotions are right there, and you can’t help but feel everything Sage and Reich are going through. This is a very heavy book, and you’re on the edge of your seat the entire time because you truly have no idea what’s coming next.
It feels like my brain is completely fried from all the spiraling I’ve done since finishing this book — and I don’t even think I’m anywhere close to figuring things out, to be honest. Paige’s brain just works differently. I’m so incredibly fortunate to be able to read these books early.
In Reich And Ruin releases February 14th.
February 16, 2026
Thank you to Paige Alexandria for providing me with a ARC.
I must say… 6 ⭐️ read!!! 🙌
In Reich and Ruin was a WILD ride. It picks up right after Sage Haven (book 1) I am completely ruined. Silly me thinking book 2 wasn’t gonna damage me not only mentally but emotionally more than book 1 (jokes on me😅)… I was only 30% in before my emotions were at an all time high. I cried a few times and then cried some more. Like it hurts… but it’s hurts so good!!! It’s truly beautiful, feeling the emotions itself through Sage and Reich… now that is MAGNIFICENT writing 🙌 I’m telling you guys she has a way with words that are so poetic and just leaves you wanting more and those words stick to you.
Sage and Reich, I just love them. Their love is so deep and pure. It’s tragic. It’s perfect and consuming. It’s beautiful. They are crazy in love with each other. They both can sense and feel when something is wrong with one another. I love their love so damn much.
Book 2 we get more of an inside look at Reich, and his demons he struggles with, more secrets, tensions with the ENA are high and are always a step ahead. Towards the end I was at the edge of my seat hyperventilating and what seemed like a million questions running through my head when I finished. I’m beyond ready to see what will be happening next. I need book 3 ASAP😭😭😭 I am 100000000% fully invested in The Black Sigil of Naphal universe. it’s one of those series that lingers in your chest after you read the last page.
6 ⭐️
3 🌶️
*******************************************************
Pre review
I loved this book!!! I’m emotionally destroyed 😭😭 and I don’t know how I can go on ahhh. Will have a more detailed review soon once I get my thoughts together
I must say… 6 ⭐️ read!!! 🙌
In Reich and Ruin was a WILD ride. It picks up right after Sage Haven (book 1) I am completely ruined. Silly me thinking book 2 wasn’t gonna damage me not only mentally but emotionally more than book 1 (jokes on me😅)… I was only 30% in before my emotions were at an all time high. I cried a few times and then cried some more. Like it hurts… but it’s hurts so good!!! It’s truly beautiful, feeling the emotions itself through Sage and Reich… now that is MAGNIFICENT writing 🙌 I’m telling you guys she has a way with words that are so poetic and just leaves you wanting more and those words stick to you.
Sage and Reich, I just love them. Their love is so deep and pure. It’s tragic. It’s perfect and consuming. It’s beautiful. They are crazy in love with each other. They both can sense and feel when something is wrong with one another. I love their love so damn much.
Book 2 we get more of an inside look at Reich, and his demons he struggles with, more secrets, tensions with the ENA are high and are always a step ahead. Towards the end I was at the edge of my seat hyperventilating and what seemed like a million questions running through my head when I finished. I’m beyond ready to see what will be happening next. I need book 3 ASAP😭😭😭 I am 100000000% fully invested in The Black Sigil of Naphal universe. it’s one of those series that lingers in your chest after you read the last page.
6 ⭐️
3 🌶️
*******************************************************
Pre review
I loved this book!!! I’m emotionally destroyed 😭😭 and I don’t know how I can go on ahhh. Will have a more detailed review soon once I get my thoughts together
February 12, 2026
Thank you Paige Alexandria for allowing me the opportunity to read this arc!
I was impatiently waiting for book 2 and when I saw that I had the opportunity to read it I was beyond excited I loved book 1 Sage Haven so much and honestly love Reich and Ruin just as much.
Following Sage and Reichs story was something I needed and when I tell you I was not ok reading this I was not ok. My heart broke for Reich so much I wanted to just wrap him up in the biggest hug and protect him. I just love these two together true soulmates. A love deep and tragic with obstacles but they are so drawn to each other and he would burn everything for her.
A lot of questions swirled in my head, a lot of omgs, tears, anger, confusion, and the spice as always was just perfect.
Now I’m impatiently waiting for book 3 cause I have sooooo many questions!
I was impatiently waiting for book 2 and when I saw that I had the opportunity to read it I was beyond excited I loved book 1 Sage Haven so much and honestly love Reich and Ruin just as much.
Following Sage and Reichs story was something I needed and when I tell you I was not ok reading this I was not ok. My heart broke for Reich so much I wanted to just wrap him up in the biggest hug and protect him. I just love these two together true soulmates. A love deep and tragic with obstacles but they are so drawn to each other and he would burn everything for her.
A lot of questions swirled in my head, a lot of omgs, tears, anger, confusion, and the spice as always was just perfect.
Now I’m impatiently waiting for book 3 cause I have sooooo many questions!
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