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Noxious Lies
Nox
My last job was simple. Two men in a café, two shots each. One in the head, one in the chest. I was in and out in three minutes. Now the client wants the witnesses dead. I don’t kill innocents. Or at least I hadn’t before this, but the money.... this job is enough to walk away after. The first one is easy. But the second one? I made the mistake of watching her first. Instead of killing her as I was paid to do, I am now in her apartment listening to her open the front door. Instead of a bullet to her brain, it’s a sedative in her neck. Instead of a grave somewhere, I have her in my spare bedroom in my house while I make her food.
Lilah
I just wanted a warm drink and a quiet table to read the rest of my book. I never saw his face, only his mask.
Black with three white slashes across it.
It’s been a few days, everyone asking me if I was okay, if I was sleeping, the cops checking in to see if I remembered anything else. So it’s a pleasant change when the hot guy with the tattoos and eyes that look like starbursts comes into the bar. It’s a little odd when he is somehow at the restaurant I have a brunch “date” with a friend at. But weirdest of all, when I mutter to myself in my empty apartment about needing to leave a light on when I work late and he agrees with me. Shocking when he comes into view wearing the same mask I described to the cops after the murders. Confusing when a feel a sting in my neck before my world goes black.
Noxious lies is a standalone. It takes place in the same universe as The Deadly Little Thing trilogy. So there will be character crossover, but can be read on its own or before.
My last job was simple. Two men in a café, two shots each. One in the head, one in the chest. I was in and out in three minutes. Now the client wants the witnesses dead. I don’t kill innocents. Or at least I hadn’t before this, but the money.... this job is enough to walk away after. The first one is easy. But the second one? I made the mistake of watching her first. Instead of killing her as I was paid to do, I am now in her apartment listening to her open the front door. Instead of a bullet to her brain, it’s a sedative in her neck. Instead of a grave somewhere, I have her in my spare bedroom in my house while I make her food.
Lilah
I just wanted a warm drink and a quiet table to read the rest of my book. I never saw his face, only his mask.
Black with three white slashes across it.
It’s been a few days, everyone asking me if I was okay, if I was sleeping, the cops checking in to see if I remembered anything else. So it’s a pleasant change when the hot guy with the tattoos and eyes that look like starbursts comes into the bar. It’s a little odd when he is somehow at the restaurant I have a brunch “date” with a friend at. But weirdest of all, when I mutter to myself in my empty apartment about needing to leave a light on when I work late and he agrees with me. Shocking when he comes into view wearing the same mask I described to the cops after the murders. Confusing when a feel a sting in my neck before my world goes black.
Noxious lies is a standalone. It takes place in the same universe as The Deadly Little Thing trilogy. So there will be character crossover, but can be read on its own or before.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 15, 2026
Where Love Turns Venomous
Thank you to Epica Book PR for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
‘Noxious Lies’ by Noxious Lies is the kind of dark romance that feels suffocating in the best possible way. Heavy with tension, emotional damage, manipulation, and attraction so intense it almost feels dangerous to witness. From the very first pages, the story wraps itself around the reader like smoke, thick with secrets and the constant feeling that disaster is waiting just around the corner.
What made this story work so well was the emotional volatility between the characters. Nothing ever felt stable. Every conversation carried hidden meaning, every moment of vulnerability felt risky, and every touch came with the possibility of destruction. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was sharp and emotionally charged, creating a constant push and pull between hatred, obsession, and reluctant trust.
The morally gray MMC was impossible to fully figure out, which made him even more compelling. Protective one moment, terrifying the next. His presence dominated every scene with an intensity that kept the tension painfully high throughout the entire story. The hitman × witness trope added an underlying sense of danger that never truly disappeared, making even quieter moments feel uneasy.
One of the strongest elements was the atmosphere. The emotional darkness slowly intensified chapter by chapter, pulling the story deeper into obsession, fear, and emotional chaos. Once the darkest part of the book began, the pacing became incredibly addictive. The emotional weight hit harder with every chapter, yet the story never lost control of its tension.
The characters themselves were deeply flawed and emotionally damaged in ways that felt messy, frustrating, and realistic. Their relationship was far from healthy, but that toxicity became part of what made the emotional connection feel so consuming. The charged power dynamics constantly blurred the line between vulnerability and control, creating scenes that felt both intimate and dangerous at the same time.
‘Noxious Lies’ is not a soft romance. It is emotionally raw, dark, addictive, and filled with the kind of tension that lingers long after finishing the final page.
Protective but dangerous hero | Old enemies | Morally gray MMC | Hitman × Witness | Charged power dynamics | Angsty romance
Thank you to Epica Book PR for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
‘Noxious Lies’ by Noxious Lies is the kind of dark romance that feels suffocating in the best possible way. Heavy with tension, emotional damage, manipulation, and attraction so intense it almost feels dangerous to witness. From the very first pages, the story wraps itself around the reader like smoke, thick with secrets and the constant feeling that disaster is waiting just around the corner.
What made this story work so well was the emotional volatility between the characters. Nothing ever felt stable. Every conversation carried hidden meaning, every moment of vulnerability felt risky, and every touch came with the possibility of destruction. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was sharp and emotionally charged, creating a constant push and pull between hatred, obsession, and reluctant trust.
The morally gray MMC was impossible to fully figure out, which made him even more compelling. Protective one moment, terrifying the next. His presence dominated every scene with an intensity that kept the tension painfully high throughout the entire story. The hitman × witness trope added an underlying sense of danger that never truly disappeared, making even quieter moments feel uneasy.
One of the strongest elements was the atmosphere. The emotional darkness slowly intensified chapter by chapter, pulling the story deeper into obsession, fear, and emotional chaos. Once the darkest part of the book began, the pacing became incredibly addictive. The emotional weight hit harder with every chapter, yet the story never lost control of its tension.
The characters themselves were deeply flawed and emotionally damaged in ways that felt messy, frustrating, and realistic. Their relationship was far from healthy, but that toxicity became part of what made the emotional connection feel so consuming. The charged power dynamics constantly blurred the line between vulnerability and control, creating scenes that felt both intimate and dangerous at the same time.
‘Noxious Lies’ is not a soft romance. It is emotionally raw, dark, addictive, and filled with the kind of tension that lingers long after finishing the final page.
Protective but dangerous hero | Old enemies | Morally gray MMC | Hitman × Witness | Charged power dynamics | Angsty romance
May 11, 2026
B. Mackenzie did it again! Loved this book. 4.75 ⭐️ The first bit was a little slow for me, but the twist that comes hooked me and I ate it up. The trauma the Nox had to go through yet, he is still the most adorable hitman ever. The surprising hobby that he has, made my heart warm and love him even more. I loved seeing side characters in the story from her Little Deadly Trilogy. When I said the fit bit was slow, it had to do with me not liking Lilah but even she grew on me.
May 20, 2026
I have no words for what this book did to me. It completely altered my brain chemistry, I was obsessed, and read it all in one sitting. And damn it has been so long since I got a case of the “just one more chapter”. This book was everything I didn’t know I needed: a serial killer, his captive, and a plot much bigger than both of them. I will warn you that this book is very dark and intense, but I adored it and I will probably never be the same again. The plot was amazing, it starts off like your regular captor and captive romance, he kidnaps her and Stockholm syndrome kicks in. Now I gotta say I loved Nox from the start, he was hilarious (or maybe I just liked his dark humor) and totally obsessed with Lilah. And part 1 was good, there was chemistry, banter and an amazing hate to love plot. But, brace yourself for part 2 because that’s when the real shit happens. When I say my jaw dropped down to all the way to the floor at those plot twists I am not exaggerating. I could not physically tear my eyes away from the book because I swear I would die if I didn’t know what happened. It was dark, traumatic, and utterly fucked up. My heart is not recovering from the extreme pain it went through and my eyes are still red with tears as I’m writing this. I was a sobbing mess when I was reading this because I’ve never read a couple so perfect but separated by circumstance and trauma. Both characters have been through so much as kids, and they came out stronger in their own ways. Without knowing each other’s trauma, they fit perfectly, but after knowing they seem unbelievably more perfect together. They both go through so much development, remembering past mistakes, traumas, and finally moving past it. The way I sobbed my way through part 2, should have seriously been studied. Even after I’ve finished this for a while, I know Lilah and Nox will hold a very special place in my heart. I give this a 5/5
April 17, 2026
ARC REVIEW
I’m giving it 3.75 (Goodreads I need you to have partial stars please!!) and could give it 4 if I were into darker topics! For this to be a lesser known author, this book was SO well written! Loved it! A couple of tropes were just a little cheesier than I like and some things got a little dark for my comfort (yes I read the tropes and yes I was ok with that but you never know how graphic that content may be) but overall really good! If you like dark romance then you’ll enjoy this! The plot was very good & there were some great plot twists and good comic relief moments!!
I’m giving it 3.75 (Goodreads I need you to have partial stars please!!) and could give it 4 if I were into darker topics! For this to be a lesser known author, this book was SO well written! Loved it! A couple of tropes were just a little cheesier than I like and some things got a little dark for my comfort (yes I read the tropes and yes I was ok with that but you never know how graphic that content may be) but overall really good! If you like dark romance then you’ll enjoy this! The plot was very good & there were some great plot twists and good comic relief moments!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review ✨
Noxious Lies — 💀🤍
@b.mackenzie_author ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was wild in the best way.
Nox (our MMC) is a skull-mask-wearing hitman trying to make enough money to escape the life that trapped him. Enter Lilah — a nursing student who accidentally witnesses one of his kills… except she barely saw anything because she was reading with headphones on, is what she tells the police.
When Nox is hired to eliminate both witnesses, things get messy fast, because the more he watches Lilah… the more obsessed he becomes.
And Lilah? She’s just as drawn to him.
What starts as a “he’s stalking her to kill her” situation quickly spirals into forced proximity, kidnapping, and a *very* unsettling domestic era where they’re playing house while he’s actively trying to protect her from the very world he’s part of.
But then part two HITS — and everything you thought you knew flips.
Lilah isn’t just a soft, slightly alternative nursing student… she’s been playing a long game…
And Nox? Not quite the villain he thinks he is.
The twists?? INSANE.
The trauma backstory?? HEARTBREAKING.
The revenge plot?? SATISFYING.
I loved the contrast between Nox’s brutality and his softness — crocheting toys for kids, donating to shelters, refusing to harm women/children… you feel the humanity under the mask.
And Lilah’s switch from quiet observer to calculated, morally grey badass? Obsessed.
Their relationship is chaotic, intense, and somehow still soft in moments — built in survival, lies, and truth unraveling at the worst possible time.
By the end, it all comes full circle in a way that feels both dark and… weirdly comforting. Also in the mix I found myself laughing through some parts of the book. A good balance.
**Tropes:**
* Dark romance
* Hitman x witness
* Morally grey MMC
* Forced proximity / captivity
* Stalker vibes (but make it obsession)
* Hidden identity / double life
* Trauma bonding
* Revenge plot
* Touch her and ☠️
* Plot twist heavy
If you love dark romances with layered characters, shocking twists, and a “villain who might actually be the hero” — this one is worth the ride 🖤
Thank you @epicabookpr and @b.mackenzie_author for the opportunity to read this ARC Review - opinions are my own 🤍💜
Noxious Lies — 💀🤍
@b.mackenzie_author ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was wild in the best way.
Nox (our MMC) is a skull-mask-wearing hitman trying to make enough money to escape the life that trapped him. Enter Lilah — a nursing student who accidentally witnesses one of his kills… except she barely saw anything because she was reading with headphones on, is what she tells the police.
When Nox is hired to eliminate both witnesses, things get messy fast, because the more he watches Lilah… the more obsessed he becomes.
And Lilah? She’s just as drawn to him.
What starts as a “he’s stalking her to kill her” situation quickly spirals into forced proximity, kidnapping, and a *very* unsettling domestic era where they’re playing house while he’s actively trying to protect her from the very world he’s part of.
But then part two HITS — and everything you thought you knew flips.
Lilah isn’t just a soft, slightly alternative nursing student… she’s been playing a long game…
And Nox? Not quite the villain he thinks he is.
The twists?? INSANE.
The trauma backstory?? HEARTBREAKING.
The revenge plot?? SATISFYING.
I loved the contrast between Nox’s brutality and his softness — crocheting toys for kids, donating to shelters, refusing to harm women/children… you feel the humanity under the mask.
And Lilah’s switch from quiet observer to calculated, morally grey badass? Obsessed.
Their relationship is chaotic, intense, and somehow still soft in moments — built in survival, lies, and truth unraveling at the worst possible time.
By the end, it all comes full circle in a way that feels both dark and… weirdly comforting. Also in the mix I found myself laughing through some parts of the book. A good balance.
**Tropes:**
* Dark romance
* Hitman x witness
* Morally grey MMC
* Forced proximity / captivity
* Stalker vibes (but make it obsession)
* Hidden identity / double life
* Trauma bonding
* Revenge plot
* Touch her and ☠️
* Plot twist heavy
If you love dark romances with layered characters, shocking twists, and a “villain who might actually be the hero” — this one is worth the ride 🖤
Thank you @epicabookpr and @b.mackenzie_author for the opportunity to read this ARC Review - opinions are my own 🤍💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Because I’d have to put one in my own head right after.”
Yeah. That line destroyed me.
Noxious Lies completely hooked me from page one and never let go. Nox is one of those morally gray MMCs that should absolutely terrify you, but instead you end up obsessed with him almost immediately.
A hitman with a conscience is already interesting. A hitman who kidnaps the witness he was supposed to kill because he can’t stop watching her? Even better.
The chemistry between Nox and Lilah was addictive because neither of them ever fully has control. Lilah constantly keeps both Nox and the reader off balance, and the reveal that she had actually been hunting him the entire time was one of my favorite twists I’ve read recently.
This book is brutal, sarcastic, emotionally messy, violent, weirdly funny, and surprisingly tender at times.
Also: Nox crocheting stuffed animals for sick children while simultaneously being one of the deadliest hitmen in the world is peak fictional man behavior and I will not be explaining further.
The side characters were incredible too. Ava, Liam, Colin, Mark, and Gunner all added so much personality and energy to the story that I genuinely wanted more scenes with them.
This is definitely one of my favorite dark romances I’ve read this year. If morally gray chaos, obsession, betrayal, and protective kidnapping romances are your thing, absolutely pick this up. 🖤
Yeah. That line destroyed me.
Noxious Lies completely hooked me from page one and never let go. Nox is one of those morally gray MMCs that should absolutely terrify you, but instead you end up obsessed with him almost immediately.
A hitman with a conscience is already interesting. A hitman who kidnaps the witness he was supposed to kill because he can’t stop watching her? Even better.
The chemistry between Nox and Lilah was addictive because neither of them ever fully has control. Lilah constantly keeps both Nox and the reader off balance, and the reveal that she had actually been hunting him the entire time was one of my favorite twists I’ve read recently.
This book is brutal, sarcastic, emotionally messy, violent, weirdly funny, and surprisingly tender at times.
Also: Nox crocheting stuffed animals for sick children while simultaneously being one of the deadliest hitmen in the world is peak fictional man behavior and I will not be explaining further.
The side characters were incredible too. Ava, Liam, Colin, Mark, and Gunner all added so much personality and energy to the story that I genuinely wanted more scenes with them.
This is definitely one of my favorite dark romances I’ve read this year. If morally gray chaos, obsession, betrayal, and protective kidnapping romances are your thing, absolutely pick this up. 🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
Solid 4.25 - It was such a chaotic, toxic, addictive ride in the best way possible. This book leans hard into the dark romance/suspense vibe with obsession, and manipulation and intense chemistry.
Lilah witnesses a brutal double execution and suddenly finds herself hunted, kidnapped, and trapped in the orbit of Nox (who is the guy who was hired to kill her.) The psychological tension throughout the book was honestly the strongest part for me. The constant fear, isolation, and blurred lines between captor and protector made it impossible to stop reading.
Nox himself was peak dark romance material: possessive, dangerous, emotionally repressed, and completely toxic in a way that somehow still works for the dark romance genre. Their relationship is messy, unhealthy, and intense, so if you love morally gray men and high emotional angst, this absolutely delivers.
The reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me is because I wanted a little more depth in certain emotional moments and character development outside the central relationship. But overall? Super bingeable, very tense, and also needs to come with some trigger warnings if you get queezy with drugs or being trapped...
Also - just a little spoiler for anyone scared to start it because of the torture and darkness - Lilah does survive the story, though the book definitely makes you worry she won’t.
Lilah witnesses a brutal double execution and suddenly finds herself hunted, kidnapped, and trapped in the orbit of Nox (who is the guy who was hired to kill her.) The psychological tension throughout the book was honestly the strongest part for me. The constant fear, isolation, and blurred lines between captor and protector made it impossible to stop reading.
Nox himself was peak dark romance material: possessive, dangerous, emotionally repressed, and completely toxic in a way that somehow still works for the dark romance genre. Their relationship is messy, unhealthy, and intense, so if you love morally gray men and high emotional angst, this absolutely delivers.
The reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars for me is because I wanted a little more depth in certain emotional moments and character development outside the central relationship. But overall? Super bingeable, very tense, and also needs to come with some trigger warnings if you get queezy with drugs or being trapped...
Also - just a little spoiler for anyone scared to start it because of the torture and darkness - Lilah does survive the story, though the book definitely makes you worry she won’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the ARC given to me by B. Mackenzie. This was a fast, high-energy read with strong twists that kept me engaged. The beginning and ending are especially strong, and this feels like some of B. Mackenzie’s cleanest writing yet as a developing writer. Our MMC Nox stands out as a softer, more layered character, and the blend of dark romance and rom-com hits a solid middle ground. The crochet element was a fun and adorable touch too.
The middle felt a bit chaotic at times. It moves quickly, which makes some moments feel less impactful than they could be. I also noticed some repetition and sentence fragmentation that occasionally pulled me out or made things feel a bit vague when I wanted more clarity.
A few moments leaned a little convenient or unbelievable, but the humour does a lot of heavy lifting there and keeps things enjoyable. The ending was especially satisfying if you’ve read the Deadly Little Things trilogy by Mackenzie. That context really adds to it.
Overall, this is an entertaining, easy-to-fly-through read that feels familiar in structure but works. And yes, this is a 5-star rating. Is it unbiased? Absolutely not. But it is a fun time!
The middle felt a bit chaotic at times. It moves quickly, which makes some moments feel less impactful than they could be. I also noticed some repetition and sentence fragmentation that occasionally pulled me out or made things feel a bit vague when I wanted more clarity.
A few moments leaned a little convenient or unbelievable, but the humour does a lot of heavy lifting there and keeps things enjoyable. The ending was especially satisfying if you’ve read the Deadly Little Things trilogy by Mackenzie. That context really adds to it.
Overall, this is an entertaining, easy-to-fly-through read that feels familiar in structure but works. And yes, this is a 5-star rating. Is it unbiased? Absolutely not. But it is a fun time!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I review this honestly since I received this as a free ARC from the author.
I loved the plot and storyline.
When part two came- I did not see it coming. It was such a well written plot twist my jaw literally dropped.
I did end up reaching out to the author and asking two questions- one of which is because it was explained if you weren’t openly missing it. I missed a nick name for the FMCs meaning because I was oblivious. It was obvious once it was explained. I was just info reading too deeply to catch it.
The second question would have been answered if I was patient enough to wait for another book. And I wasn’t. So, those aren’t really complaints as much as my own personal flaws.
I had to google his piercing. And now I have questions for anyone who has this or has a partner who has- HMU privately lol.
This was very well written and it was such a good book. I loved the MMC; and I loved the cross over characters as well as the best friends. I do want to explore this world more: and have books explaining other characters like Wyck. But I loved this and really appreciate being chosen to have this arc!
I loved the plot and storyline.
When part two came- I did not see it coming. It was such a well written plot twist my jaw literally dropped.
I did end up reaching out to the author and asking two questions- one of which is because it was explained if you weren’t openly missing it. I missed a nick name for the FMCs meaning because I was oblivious. It was obvious once it was explained. I was just info reading too deeply to catch it.
The second question would have been answered if I was patient enough to wait for another book. And I wasn’t. So, those aren’t really complaints as much as my own personal flaws.
I had to google his piercing. And now I have questions for anyone who has this or has a partner who has- HMU privately lol.
This was very well written and it was such a good book. I loved the MMC; and I loved the cross over characters as well as the best friends. I do want to explore this world more: and have books explaining other characters like Wyck. But I loved this and really appreciate being chosen to have this arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I just finished reading Noxious Lies and i love how intense it really is. It’s a very dark, heavy read right from the start, but completely gripping. Nox is a complex morally grey, dangerous character but there's a glimpse of his inner conflict that makes you understand him more than you expect. Lilah felt so real and I loved her throughout the book. I found myself smiling at her scenes. She’s just so easy to like. You can feel something building between them, but you're also sitting there like, this could go so wrong. And there’s always that edge of danger that keeps you hooked.
Definitely not a light read, but if you love dark romance with strong characters, this one is worth it. I’m really excited to see how others react when it releases!! Also, quick mention, the author does warn you that this book gets really dark. I appreciated that heads-up because some of the themes are heavy, and it helps you go in prepared.
If you love, Dark romance, Morally Gray MMC, Hitman x witness, Angsty Romance, Stalker, trauma-Bonded Characters, then this book is for you!
Definitely not a light read, but if you love dark romance with strong characters, this one is worth it. I’m really excited to see how others react when it releases!! Also, quick mention, the author does warn you that this book gets really dark. I appreciated that heads-up because some of the themes are heavy, and it helps you go in prepared.
If you love, Dark romance, Morally Gray MMC, Hitman x witness, Angsty Romance, Stalker, trauma-Bonded Characters, then this book is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Noxious Lies by B. Mackenzie is a dark, psychological romance wrapped in obsession, moral conflict, and a dangerous cat-and-mouse dynamic that constantly blurs the line between predator and protector.
Nox is not a hero in the traditional sense. He’s an assassin operating in a world built on violence, control, and moral compromise. But everything shifts when he refuses to complete a job—and instead becomes entangled with the very woman he was meant to erase.
Lilah, meanwhile, is unknowingly caught in something far bigger than her understanding. What begins as fear and confusion slowly transforms into a disturbing kind of proximity—where safety and danger start to feel indistinguishable.
What makes this story stand out is its unsettling dual perspective:
* assassin vs target
* control vs vulnerability
* obsession vs protection
* truth vs deception
The relationship is intense, morally complex, and deeply psychological. It’s not built on softness—it’s built on fixation, proximity, and choices that cannot be undone.
This is a romance that lives in the shadows.
Nox is not a hero in the traditional sense. He’s an assassin operating in a world built on violence, control, and moral compromise. But everything shifts when he refuses to complete a job—and instead becomes entangled with the very woman he was meant to erase.
Lilah, meanwhile, is unknowingly caught in something far bigger than her understanding. What begins as fear and confusion slowly transforms into a disturbing kind of proximity—where safety and danger start to feel indistinguishable.
What makes this story stand out is its unsettling dual perspective:
* assassin vs target
* control vs vulnerability
* obsession vs protection
* truth vs deception
The relationship is intense, morally complex, and deeply psychological. It’s not built on softness—it’s built on fixation, proximity, and choices that cannot be undone.
This is a romance that lives in the shadows.
April 22, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ARC Review✨
💀 Morally Gray MMC
💀 Hitman x Witness
💀 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Stalker
💀 Dark Romance
The newest release by B. Mackenzie comes out on May 15th and I was lucky enough to get a copy of the ARC.
In this new book it follows a Hitman (Nox) and he’s been tasked to end a witness (Lilah) who saw too much. Problem is…he can’t, he’s in too deep.
He ends up taking her, obviously against her will, to a remote cabin in the hopes that he can get her life back and he doesn’t need to fulfill the contract.
This book had so many twists and turns. Will the enemies become lovers? Will it be a HEA? Will there be ☠️?
There are some surprises thrown in with minor characters and the book kept me wanting more. I really enjoyed this book but please check the trigger warnings and author note before proceeding…it’s definitely more heavy than previous work.
Thank you B. Mackenzie and Epica Books for the advanced reader copy. This review is my opinion and thoughts.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ARC Review✨
💀 Morally Gray MMC
💀 Hitman x Witness
💀 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Stalker
💀 Dark Romance
The newest release by B. Mackenzie comes out on May 15th and I was lucky enough to get a copy of the ARC.
In this new book it follows a Hitman (Nox) and he’s been tasked to end a witness (Lilah) who saw too much. Problem is…he can’t, he’s in too deep.
He ends up taking her, obviously against her will, to a remote cabin in the hopes that he can get her life back and he doesn’t need to fulfill the contract.
This book had so many twists and turns. Will the enemies become lovers? Will it be a HEA? Will there be ☠️?
There are some surprises thrown in with minor characters and the book kept me wanting more. I really enjoyed this book but please check the trigger warnings and author note before proceeding…it’s definitely more heavy than previous work.
Thank you B. Mackenzie and Epica Books for the advanced reader copy. This review is my opinion and thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️ 3.75! The book was pretty captivating and had you hooked really early on. I enjoyed the dynamic between Nox and Lilah. This book was dark but not pitch black, however I do appreciate the author's notes, both at the beginning and right before it got really dark to prep the reader. I think sometimes readers don't grasp just how dark certain stories can really get. I also appreciate that the reader could understand the darkness without the author getting overly descriptive with the visual. It's definitely a more tolerable dark romance and I'd recommend the book for individuals trying to step in the genre. The plot twist was not one I was expecting AT ALL. A couple phrases were repeated and there were a few spelling errors but overall I found this to be a great read. I'll definitely be reading from this author again cause I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. Thank you B. Mackenzie for the ARC opportunity!
May 13, 2026
Nox is exactly what you expect on the surface. He's cold, calculated, and fully capable of doing what needs to be done. Oh, and did I mention he's masked? But the longer the story goes, the more you see the cracks in all that. Sure, there's brutality, but also this underlying softness that shows up.
Lilah comes across pretty straightforward, but once things start unfolding, there’s a lot more going on. The shift in her character added a whole different layer to the story.
Together they are messy, intense, and built on some very questionable circumstances. It leans into the obsession, the tension, and that push and pull between danger and connection. And the twists… It kept things interesting without feeling overdone. Overall, a solid dark romance with enough twists and character layers to keep it engaging the whole way through.
Thank you to B. Mackenzie and Epica Book PR for the ARC.
Lilah comes across pretty straightforward, but once things start unfolding, there’s a lot more going on. The shift in her character added a whole different layer to the story.
Together they are messy, intense, and built on some very questionable circumstances. It leans into the obsession, the tension, and that push and pull between danger and connection. And the twists… It kept things interesting without feeling overdone. Overall, a solid dark romance with enough twists and character layers to keep it engaging the whole way through.
Thank you to B. Mackenzie and Epica Book PR for the ARC.
May 15, 2026
Noxious Lies B. Mackenzie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Okay I throughly enjoyed this book! I was sucked in from the start and binged it in a day!!
Nox is a masked hit man who runs into Lilah doing a job. When a job goes wrong and he later has to kill the witnesses that watched him do the job, he starts stalking Lilah and ultimately falls for her!!
Lilah is a nursing student who works at a bar in order to get through school! I loved her character a lot! You start the book thinking she just a shy little thing, and then BANG you get the biggest plot twist of all! I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say I never saw this coming! It was a plot twist that worked so well for the story I think.
Both main characters went through so much not only together, but separately as well. I think that’s part of the reason I love them together so much.
This was my first book by this author, and after this one I will definitely be reading her other works!!
Tropes✨
💉masked mmc
🩸he falls first
💉love as survival
🩸trauma bonded characters
💉fear & desire dynamic
🩸revenge plot
💉stalkers 👀
Thank you so much to B. Mackenzie for letting me arc read Noxious Lies!❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Okay I throughly enjoyed this book! I was sucked in from the start and binged it in a day!!
Nox is a masked hit man who runs into Lilah doing a job. When a job goes wrong and he later has to kill the witnesses that watched him do the job, he starts stalking Lilah and ultimately falls for her!!
Lilah is a nursing student who works at a bar in order to get through school! I loved her character a lot! You start the book thinking she just a shy little thing, and then BANG you get the biggest plot twist of all! I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say I never saw this coming! It was a plot twist that worked so well for the story I think.
Both main characters went through so much not only together, but separately as well. I think that’s part of the reason I love them together so much.
This was my first book by this author, and after this one I will definitely be reading her other works!!
Tropes✨
💉masked mmc
🩸he falls first
💉love as survival
🩸trauma bonded characters
💉fear & desire dynamic
🩸revenge plot
💉stalkers 👀
Thank you so much to B. Mackenzie for letting me arc read Noxious Lies!❤️
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Holy shit! This book was so good. Literally just finished it in one sitting and i'm just blown away. I am a HUGE fan of B's and this, in my opinion, is her best book to date. This is saying something as her Deadly Little Things trilogy is in my top dark mafia romances ever. B has a knack of completely gutting her readers and this is of course no exception. This book deals with very sensitive triggering topics and you should definitely read the note before embarking on this story.
I absolutely LOVED Nox & Lilah from the get go, everything about them was written so well. B also has a hidden talent for blowing your socks off so be prepared for that.
All in all i'm in awe and so pumped that I was given this opportunity to read this before the masses.
READ THIS BOOK!
I absolutely LOVED Nox & Lilah from the get go, everything about them was written so well. B also has a hidden talent for blowing your socks off so be prepared for that.
All in all i'm in awe and so pumped that I was given this opportunity to read this before the masses.
READ THIS BOOK!
May 15, 2026
If you are a fan of dark romance with a twist, you need to read Noxious Lies by B. Mackenzie! Nox is a mask-wearing hitman. After taking out two targets in a café, he is then tasked with going back to kill the two witnesses. He takes out the first one with no issues, but, after watching Lilah, he becomes obsessed with her. Rather than eliminating her, he kidnaps her and takes her home with him, where they begin a very toxic back-and-forth. Just when you think you have things figured out, there is a huge twist that throws you for a loop! If you like dark romance, suspense, morally grey characters, enemies-to-lovers tropes, you need to read this one!
May 15, 2026
✨Trigger Warnings ✨
Nox takes a final job, kill two witnesses and he will have enough to get out of this life. Except while watching Lilah he becomes obsessed and he can’t kill her. Nox is a very multilayered character who I absolutely loved! This book is well written, has great characters, a well balanced plot with suspense and wild twists and the comedic aspect really lightens a lot of the darker moments. Chaotic, intense and nothing in this book is what it seems. This was an excellent read.
Nox takes a final job, kill two witnesses and he will have enough to get out of this life. Except while watching Lilah he becomes obsessed and he can’t kill her. Nox is a very multilayered character who I absolutely loved! This book is well written, has great characters, a well balanced plot with suspense and wild twists and the comedic aspect really lightens a lot of the darker moments. Chaotic, intense and nothing in this book is what it seems. This was an excellent read.
April 25, 2026
Wow! The twists and turns in this book had me second guessing everything! What a great read!!
Nox and Lilah are not what you expect, each with secrets and regrets. Each with pasts that make a TW page a necessity.
The secondary characters we totally unexpected (if you've read the Deadly Little Thing Trilogy, though not a requirement to read this book)
This dark romance is dark so don't skip the TW page if you have any triggers!!
Nox and Lilah are not what you expect, each with secrets and regrets. Each with pasts that make a TW page a necessity.
The secondary characters we totally unexpected (if you've read the Deadly Little Thing Trilogy, though not a requirement to read this book)
This dark romance is dark so don't skip the TW page if you have any triggers!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you B Mackenzie for the ARC.
This book had me captivated from the very beginning. I loved the hitman x witness trope, this was the first book I’ve read with that trope and it’s safe to say Lilah and Nox have me hooked! This book had me on the edge of my seat, while also kicking my feet and giggling. I do strongly recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading as there is some heavy topics in the story.
This book had me captivated from the very beginning. I loved the hitman x witness trope, this was the first book I’ve read with that trope and it’s safe to say Lilah and Nox have me hooked! This book had me on the edge of my seat, while also kicking my feet and giggling. I do strongly recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading as there is some heavy topics in the story.
May 11, 2026
Where do I even start with this book! Many times I thought I knew exactly where this book was going or knew what was happening onto to be hit by twists I never for a second saw coming.
The story of Lilah and Nox was a roller coaster ride of emotions. The things they went through because of each other and by others was so captivating I didn’t want to put the book down! Definitely recommend this book!
The story of Lilah and Nox was a roller coaster ride of emotions. The things they went through because of each other and by others was so captivating I didn’t want to put the book down! Definitely recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! This book had me giggling and screaming at the same time! I loved the story, the back story and of course it had my fave microtrope 😏 spice was spicing and the banter! 🤤 I love good banter!!
Excellent must read book, must add to my collection of trophies!
Excellent must read book, must add to my collection of trophies!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark Romance. Dark themes. Great Spice and story. The characters are extra interesting and a twist you won’t see coming! Highly recommend this book!
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