The Cannibal

The Poisoner #3

by I.V. Ophelia

The explosive final book in I.V. Ophelia’s darkly addictive Poisoner trilogy—a bestselling gothic romance series about a botanist who kills unsavory men, and the one man who's resistant to her deadly poisons while she finds herself intoxicated by his deadly charms...

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dark Romance, Gothic, Vampires, Paranormal

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author I.V. Ophelia is known for the gothic vampire series The Poisoner. Born in small-town New England, she now haunts the streets of New York City, writing the most unhinged tales she can conjure. When not crafting gothic romance, she works as a full-time artist, hoards nineteenth-century gowns and antique furniture, dotes on her menagerie of pets, and plots her next literary transgression.
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Reviews

[I.V. Ophelia]

The end is near. Welcome THE CANNIBAL is the last installment of The Poisoner Series. The Duet audiobook will be available with the standard formats on release day!

The paperback will include sprayed edges on the first print run, just like Poisoner and Arachnid.

🖤 Last book in a trilogy
🖤 Vampire Society, Hierarchies, and Biology
🖤 Drama, Tension, Revenge
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Deadly Women

🥀Release Sep 1
🥀Sprayed edges limited to the first print run
🥀Spot gloss and embossing
🥀4 POVs
🥀Custom illustrated title page and chapter headers
🥀Duet audiobook
🥀Paperback preorders open!

Shop the series: https://www.simonandschuster.com/auth...

[Laura Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ What a perfect conclusion to the trilogy. I feel like everything came full circle and we had a poetic and fitting ending. I am going to miss these characters dearly!! 😭❤️‍🩹🥹

[Jessica Rau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really connected with the haunting feelings from the third book in this series! What started in the Poisoner as a fun dose of vampiric primal play turned into a series of moments where Alina struggles to find her place in a world where she’s at the bottom of the food chain and looking for some peace and community. She has endured a lot of pain, trauma, and loneliness.

Just when Alina has built something so healing and community-based in The Arachnid, that too all changes by the time we pick back up with The Cannibal.

We see her make sacrifices while she feels forgotten standing alone in a room filled with familiar faces. Alina is trying to understand the rules of vampiric society, and things are so chaotic no one really has the time to guide her, given the inconvenient timing.

I connected with the loneliness she struggles with as a result of so many losses and traumas. I like seeing the vulnerable sides of Alina, all while knowing she’s someone with a hard shell and doesn’t let people see the softer sides of her easily.

I also love that we get to see Alina reclaim her power and find her place in the world again. It’s a bittersweet ending but I loved it and wouldn’t change a thing.

Silas’ transformation was truly so fun to see as well. He started out as a morally black, villainous vampire and became someone with complex layers and capable of some truly beautifully poetic, romantic gestures and words.

Thank you for letting me read this early! What a beautiful gothic romantic horror story.

🥀Third Book In Trilogy
🥀Vampire Society, Hierarchies, and Biology
🥀Women In Stem
🥀Found Family
🥀Victorian Gothic Romantic Horror
🥀Check Your TWS

[Ashley G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC!

The Cannibal was a perfect ending to the Poisoner series. I went through all of the emotions, especially in the last 20% of the book. There were tears, anger that developed into all out rage, and more heartbreak but with Silas and Alina, there was no other way to end their story! I liked the multiple POVs, it adds depth to the story by getting into everyone’s head and see how they were coping with everything that was happening. I’m sad the series is over but it really was a fitting end for these two!

[Victoria Werngreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️this was such a great ending to this series!! I was hooked from beginning to end👏🏼

always love a man who yearns, and Silas is absolutely doing that tehehehe - I just love them togehter 🫶🏼

I really didn’t think I would end up enjoying Luka’s character as much as I did, if I think back to how I felt about him after finishing The Poisoner 😂 so compliments to the chef aka I. V. Ophelia 😌

I think I have read too many fantasy books, because what was supposed to hit hard in the ending just had me in denial for an embarissingly long time 😂 I was like, “nope, something else happened”.. but no… it was what happened😭 I did guess the (main??) plot twist fairly early one, but I didn’t mind - it just made it more fun to look for clues to confirm me theory🤭

I really enjoyed how the ending played out and I just know Silas and Alina are going be together for always💗 and now I lowkey want to go back and reread The Poisoner 👀🖤

thank you to Netgalley for en eARC in exchange for an honest review

2.5/5 🌶️

[Sasha Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A love as steadfast as arsenic, a pair as deadly as so. Dreadfully, indisputably, made for each other."🥀🩸

The Cannibal is by far my most anticipated read of the year alongside The Arachnid. I'm beyond honored to have had the chance to experience the finale early in ARC form. All thoughts are completely honest. I can confidently say that it's exceeded every expectation I had and then some!

I.V. Ophelia's skill as a writer truly shines through. There's some great use of foreshadowing and dread-inducing elements throughout that build to a crescendo. Alina's nightmare/dream scenes have become something I look forward to with each book. This was the first to turn one of my biggest fears into a dream scene, and it left me extremely uncomfortable and disturbed. In a good way. Kind of.

These are the characters we know and love, yet they still surprise us at every turn. Luka grows on you like a tumor. Phoebe is her chipper self and yet you'll feel the closest to her out of all three books. Silas is his ever-handsome, yearning self and yet there are still new depths to explore. And Alina, well you'll see… There are many revelations and reveals. You'll struggle to keep your jaw off the floor!

There's a beauty in this ending, but it also feels kinda bittersweet. I feel as though I've been stabbed with this being the end of The Poisoner books (though I know Ophelia has mentioned the possibility of books set in this universe in the future). Obviously, I knew this was coming, but ultimately, the journey from reading the indie OOP cover of The Poisoner freshly published with its fashion plates, to its traditionally published ending in 2026 has been one hell of a ride! We got the last two books so quickly.

I will never forget the connections I've made through this series, the opportunities or the creativity it inspires in me. I'll still have every reason to come back to it, and it's many editions time and time again.

Tread with caution because The Poisoner series will never leave you. You'll see Phoebe in every pink dress, Alina in every poisonous bloom and Silas haunting your every dream.

And let's be honest, NO REAL MAN COULD EVER BE SILAS. But, I'm still incredibly hopeful that we'll get an adaptation the likes of IWTV.

[Makenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Otherwise, I’ll keep my actual review short until closer to publication. But OMG SO GOOD 1000000/10 the last 20% of this book had my jaw on the ground. An amazing end to an incredible series!

[ROSIE !!]

Oh, my god! I can’t believe we are coming to the grand finale! This series has been such an emotional ride for me, and I am so excited to see where it goes!!

[syd · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ thank u to simon maverick books and netgalley for this arcccc they come in clutch for me for this series period.

i definitely liked this one better than the second!! it was much easier to read and follow and captured my attention more than the second. sad the series is over but also it was a perfect ending and i have no complaints whatsoever of how it ended!

the first book is still one of the best books ever lol and will always be recommending it as long as we carry it.

i was a lil confused at some parts tho like about phoebe and i don’t wanna give any spoilers in this review about it but that situation was kinda weird but did i misread it idk… anyway.

overall i did enjoy it! 😌😌

[whatjessreads___ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to begin. This series is by far one of my favourite series ever. It is god tier!

I was so happy to dive back into this world and be reunited with Alina and Silas again. (Even Luka, yes I have a soft spot for him!)

I loved that we still got to see the strong, fierce and independent women Alina is, but I also really enjoyed that we got to see a vulnerable side to her as well.

There is a mystery going on throughout this and I honestly couldn’t put my finger on it. Usually I am quite good with guessing but I just couldn’t figure out where this was going - in a good way!

My heart was broken, I cried, laughed, giggled whilst kicking my feet. I had the best time reading this. My jaw was on the floor at the ending. Alina and Silas just compliment each other in every way and I will truly be sad to leave this world behind.

Thank you so much for the arc I. V. Ophelia and Simon Maverick.

[Nancy Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect but my god, this was perfection. And now I need to immediately go back to book one and re read them all again because I don’t want to leave Silas & Alina.

Alina is trying to navigate this new life of hers and it’s hard to so say the least. The nest is having issues and it leads you into so much suspense. I have always loved Silas, Alina, Phoebe and even Lucas but reading this makes me love them even more if that’s possible?

So much more in depth character information and really, more clarity on who to trust. It feels more high stakes in this book as well with Levi looming over them.

The way I.V. Ophelia writes is just absolutely top tier, it immediately draws you in with the world and the characters. The chemistry! Oh god the chemistry and banter is the best I’ve read in a book. The heartfelt emotions between the two and then the little references which makes me as a reader think back to the first book had me in tears.

Just an amazing ending to this series, and twists you will not see coming.

Thank you so much Simon Maverick Books for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[BigAzzReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sad that the series is over. Very sad and very happy to have finished another five star read in said series.

It was hard to out this book down. Just as good as the first two if not better. I.V. Has a way of making her books feel alive. I often found myself wondering how does someone come up with something like this? And I mean that in a very good way.

Alina goes through A LOT in this book. And Silas. God. He’s got to be in my top five for book boyfriends. Silas, Silas, Silas.

If there are any novellas or short stories or spin offs to this series, I will be reading them asap. Just putting that out there. I can’t wait to add this book to my collection when it comes out!

**A huge thank you to Simon Maverick Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC. This is my honest review**

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love as steadfast as arsenic, a pair as deadly as so.
The Cannibal starts off right where The Arachnid ends, which made me super ready to read this installment! From the get-go I was so into this world.. but…I wasn’t expecting my heart to break!
Just like the other two books in the series Silas and Alina really make it all worth it. Especially when we got to those spice scenes. We got extra spoiled with this final installment because we get four different POVs in this book (one more than in The Arachnid), which really adds to the full story!

I will totally say this again; SILAS! Everyone deserves a love like he has for Alina, especially when they are both on trial together.

This is easily one of my favorite series!

[julie ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so sad it’s over and finishing this book really made me want to reread the first one. The ending is bittersweet even though I still loved the way it concludes, the things we had to go through before were so sad. I’ll really cherish this series and will miss these characters a lot.

[Darkly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ate this up! Absolutely devoured it!! Ecstatic to be part of Ophelia’s street team.
Usually sequels lose my interest, and the character development ends up falling flat, but Ophelia never fails to disappoint. The execution, is a hard nail on the head. These characters evolved so naturally and compelling. And Alina and Silas' hate-fucked fueled back-and-forth had me completely hooked from start to finish. I couldn't put it down!

Luka peaked for me in Cannibal and is now my favourite character. There was a scene with him that me completely hooked, and the subtle hints of depravity has me hoping he'll get a book of his own. There was just enough glimpses of trauma to leave me reeling and craving more.

Without spoiling anything, I also came to the surprising realization that, despite knowing I absolutely shouldn't have been rooting for the villain... I was completely captivated. There's just something about a wicked smirk paired with impeccable tailoring that makes resisting impossible.

[Miya Char]

going to be eating this up. BUT I DONT WANT IT TO ENDD.

but i still cant wait to see what happens in this book hehehehe

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and IV Ophelia for the eARC and for the amazing opportunity to read this early. ✨🖤


Such a bittersweet ending to a truly phenomenal series.

It’s no secret that IV Ophelia is a mastermind when it comes to storytelling and setting the scene. The way The Cannibal wraps up The Poisoner series is outstanding. The atmosphere was well and truly set from the beginning and you just knew you were going to be in for an absolute treat and I was not let down.

The Cannibal picks up right where The Arachnid finished and it flowed on perfectly. I couldn’t pick which direction The Cannibal was going to go and it took me by utter surprise, I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next and it was thrilling. I was literally on the edge of my seat and I loved every, single moment of it. In true IV Ophelia fashion, some absolute crazy scenes went down and I was left crashing out from time to time but that’s why I’m such a fan.

The pacing and setting was pure perfection, it was still dark, gritty and beautifully gruesome however there was also a softer tone to it in some parts. The dynamic between Alina and Silas had be biting my nails, you could actually feel the yearning on both parts and they came undone in such a way that took my breath away. Both kept their wits about them, their fire and still morally grey as ever. As an FMC, I just adore Alina, formidable, intelligent and equally terrifying, I can’t help that she’s a favourite. And Silas, our creature, at times his indifference towards Alina scared me but once the underlying reason is understood, it makes sense and behind closed doors we get to see the way this man worships her and the ground she walks on, he’s quite literally willing to sacrifice it all for Alina and I love him, I love them and how utterly gruesome they are.

Of course I couldn’t mention our sweet Phoebe and Luka… Both amazing characters and getting chapters from their POVs was one of my favourite parts about this book. I felt as though they add the perfect balance to the story and have paved their way into my heart. Luka had his redemption era and Phoebe’s protective nature shone through and is unmatched.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad. Sad that this series is over, sad that I don’t have another book with them to look forward to but every good series must come to an end and I don’t have the adequate words to express how much I loved this book and this series. I.V’s writing holds so much emotion in it and I am continually blown away her ability to create such striking stories and characters. Im now going to retreat to a hole while I mourn the ending of this series.

[that bookish ghoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon Maverick Books and NetGalley for my ARC in return for my honest review.

I’m so sad this series is now over, but what an ending!
This was one of my most anticipated reads for the second half of 2026 and IV Ophelia did not disappoint.

I loved the fact that the characters can both have so much growth but still stay true to their roots throughout.

I was just as frustrated as Alina at being fed crumbs from everyone when it came to what on earth was going on behind the scenes and I wasn’t ready for Ophelia to drop that jaw dropping plot twist! (No spoilers, I can’t relive it again!)

Alina and Silas will forever be one of my favourite couples and I’ve loved every minute of their story.

[Kelsey 📖]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuester for this ARC, here are my thoughts:

That last 30% was absolutely phenomenal.
I’m definitely between a 4/4.5 because it quite literally stole the show.

This was giving Jennifer’s Body.
AND I LOVED IT.

My girl Alina forever 🖤
I am and will always be obsessed with her

Also, the UNMATCHED yearning
I’m so down bad for this pair??? Like stop
Silas is one of the only blonde mmc that earned book boyfriend

I can’t believe it’s over 😭😭
But, I am so satisfied with how this ended.

What an amazing story but the twists in this one (not all did I see coming) but mannnn I was shocked lol

[Remy Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Silas & Alina will forever be one of my favorite couples of all time.

This book had me in tears and by the end I was steaming in rage. I love to see a woman finally taking control and getting the revenge she so gratefully deserved.

[Teressa Oliverio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect ending to the trilogy and I absolutely loved the entire series. Alina’s journey has been dark, intense, and completely addictive from beginning to end.

This final book delivered everything I wanted with shocking twists, dangerous alliances, betrayal, and so much emotional depth. I loved watching Alina face the darkness within herself while fighting for the people she loves. The tension between Alina, Silas, and Luka kept me hooked, and the world building was incredible.

This series was such a thrilling ride filled with vampires, romance, secrets, and characters I couldn’t get enough of. I’m so happy with how it ended and I will definitely miss this world.

[The Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m part of I.V Ophelia’s street team and omg I loved the story. It’s 6 stars for me. It was also heartbreaking and I had some tears. I really recommend this book. Put this book on your TBR!🖤🥀

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

El cierre perfecto para la historia de Alina y su Criatura

Puntuación: 4.5 ⭐️

Muchas gracias a la autora, Simon Maverick, y NetGalley por permitirme leer una copia adelantada de este libro. Las opiniones que leerán son mías y solo mías.

No puedo creer que hace menos de dos años haya leído por primera vez The Poisoner ni cómo mi relación con esta historia ha cambiado. Leer The Cannibal fue la culminación de ese viaje y no puedo estar más satisfecha con cómo ha terminado.

Como siempre, Alina ha consolidado su lugar como una de mis protagonistas femeninas favoritas. Verla lidiar con su nueva identidad ofrece una nueva perspectiva sobre su personalidad. Me parece que en este libro muestra más vulnerabilidad sin dejar de ser la misma persona fría y distante que conocemos desde el primer libro. Su relación con la ciencia es algo que siempre me ha gustado y, aunque no tengo ni idea de si realmente es posible destilar un veneno como ella lo hace, su inteligencia es su mejor cualidad.

Una vez más, me hubiera gustado leer más sobre Silas. Aunque descubrimos un poco más sobre su pasado, siempre me queda la sensación de que su personaje podría haberse explorado más a fondo. Dicho esto, puede que sea un poco psicópata, pero sus declaraciones de amor hacia Alina son suficientes para derretirte el corazón.

Me pareció que la incorporación del punto de vista de Phoebe fue un auténtico acierto. Al igual que me pasó con Lukas en el libro anterior, no entendía del todo qué podía aportar a la trama, pero mis dudas se disiparon por completo a medida que se desarrollaba la historia. Phoebe se convirtió en uno de los personajes más entrañables de la trilogía.

Y ahora llegamos a Lukas. En este caso, me cuesta más explicar lo que siento. Tras el primer libro, para mí era un personaje sin posibilidad de redención. En "The Arachnid", la autora me convenció de que su punto de vista ofrecía un complemento interesante y único a la historia de Alina y Silas. Pero en este libro, no he podido evitar acabar simpatizando con él. Se ha redimido, sí, y me alegro de que la autora haya cambiado la polémica escena del primer libro indie en la versión tradicional, porque, de lo contrario, no creo que este arco de redención hubiera sido posible.

La escritura de la autora sigue siendo cautivadora. Sus descripciones crean una especie de sinestesia con el ambiente (esta vez, newyorkino) que hace que el lujo resulte opresivo o que el ajetreo constante de los preparativos parezca cobrar vida. Las entradas de Silas envueltas en humo se me grabaron vívidamente en la mente. Además, hiló muy bien cada detalle en este libro, y, llegados a cierto punto en la trama, me pareció coherente lo que sucede, incluso si fue una sorpresa para mí.

Este libro es, quizás, el menos «picante» que he leído de esta autora, que supo incluir las escenas adecuadas para mantener vivo ese aspecto de la relación entre Alina y Silas, al tiempo que daba paso a un juego político que entrelaza todas las tensiones que se han ido acumulando desde el principio.

Dicho esto, no puedo evitar señalar algunos pequeños problemas (que no afectaron a mi experiencia de lectura; aún así lo disfruté como un niño en Navidad), pero que podrían haberse explicado o desarrollado mejor. Por un lado, el reencuentro de Alina y Silas se retrasó demasiado para mi gusto, y no siempre entendí las razones que lo motivaban. Luego, a medida que avanza la trama y se revelan los detalles de la nueva identidad de Alina, hay una pregunta importante (y, en mi opinión, absolutamente crucial para entender lo que está sucediendo) que queda sin respuesta. Hay intentos de explicación que dejan las cosas un poco en el aire, pero la sensación persistente de curiosidad insatisfecha sigue acechándome.

En cualquier caso, terminar esta trilogía me hace sentir feliz de haberle dado una segunda oportunidad a la historia. Siempre recordaré a la brillante Alina y sus peculiaridades, y solo puedo esperar que, si te adentras en este mundo, lo disfrutes tanto como yo.

PD. Los agradecimientos al lector son de los mejores que he leído. Revela un toque muy personal de la autora y transmite mucho sentimiento.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The perfect ending to the story of Alina and her Creature

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Many thanks to the author, Simon Maverick, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. The opinions you’ll read here are mine and mine alone.

I can’t believe it’s been less than two years since I first read "The Poisoner", nor how my relationship with this story has changed. Reading "The Cannibal" was the culmination of that journey, and I couldn’t be happier with how it ended.

Once again, Alina has cemented her place as one of my favorite female protagonists. Watching her struggle with her new identity offers a fresh perspective on her personality. I feel like in this book she shows more vulnerability without ceasing to be the same cold, distant person we’ve known since the first book. Her relationship with science is something I’ve always enjoyed, and even though I have no idea if it’s actually possible to distill a poison the way she does, her intelligence is her best trait.

Once again, I would have liked to read more about Silas. Although we learn a little more about his backstory, I’m always left with the feeling that his character could have been explored further. That said, he may be a bit of a psychopath, but his declarations of love for Alina are enough to make you swoon.

I thought the addition of Phoebe’s point of view was a real stroke of genius. Just as I felt with Lukas in the previous book, I didn’t fully understand what he could bring to the plot, but my doubts were thoroughly dispelled as the story unfolded. Phoebe became one of the most endearing characters in the story after that book.

And now we come to Lukas. Here, my feelings are harder to explain. After the first book, to me he was a character with no possible redemption. In "The Arachnid", the author convinced me that his point of view offered an interesting and unique complement to Alina and Silas’s story. But in this one, I couldn’t help but end up liking him. He redeemed himself, yes, and I’m glad the author changed the controversial scene from the first indie book in the traditional version, because otherwise, I don’t think this arc of redemption would have been possible.

The author’s writing remains captivating. Her descriptions create a kind of synesthesia with the setting (this time, New York) that makes luxury feel oppressive or the constant bustle of preparation seem alive. Silas’s smoke-filled entrances felt vivid inside my head.

This book is, perhaps, the least “spicy” one I’ve read by this author, who knew just how to include the right scenes to keep that aspect of Alina and Silas’s relationship alive, while making way for a political game that ties together all the tensions that have been building since the beginning.

That said, I can’t help but point out a few minor issues—which didn’t affect my reading experience (I still enjoyed it like a kid at Christmas)—but that could have been explained or developed better. For one thing, Alina and Silas’s reunion was delayed far too long for my taste, and I didn’t always understand the reasons behind it. Then, as the plot progresses and the details of Alina’s new identity are revealed, there’s a major question (and, in my opinion, one that’s absolutely crucial to understanding what’s happening) that remains unanswered. There are attempts at explanations that leave things a bit up in the air, but the lingering feeling of unfulfilled curiosity still haunts me.

In any case, finishing this trilogy makes me happy that I gave the story a second chance. I’ll always remember the brilliant Alina and all her quirks, and I can only hope that if you dive into this world, you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

[Reja · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were tears, there was laughter, there was frustration, and there was complete and utter disbelief.

I have been anticipating this book for what feels like forever, just waiiiiting to finally get my hands on it, so the moment I received the ARC, I dove straight in. And I don’t regret it for a second.

The Cannibal has to be some of I.V’s finest work yet.

Silas and Alina have had me by the throat since The Poisoner. There has always been something so alluring about their relationship, the intensity of it, the toxicity that occasionally bleeds through, and the complexity of two characters who seem to simultaneously bring out the best and worst in one another. Watching their dynamic evolve, while getting to understand them both beyond the surface, has been one of my favourite parts of this series. But The Cannibal took everything I already loved about them and elevated it to a level I couldn’t have dreamt of.

This book was incredibly intricate and emotionally charged. It genuinely never gave you a moment to breathe. Every time I started a new chapter, I had absolutely no idea what I was walking into because there was this constant, almost palpable tension simmering beneath the surface. You could feel that everything was building towards something monumental.
And trust me, when that moment came? My mind was BLOWN.

There was heartbreak. There was chaos. There was spice 👀. And there was one particular moment where I genuinely thought, If this is how this ends, I don’t think I can finish this book. I was STRESSED. But by the time I reached that final page, every ounce of emotional turmoil was worth it.

Silas and Alina will forever have a piece of my heart. These are two characters I’ve grown ridiculously attached to and probably think about far more often than I should. Their story has been turbulent, complicated and, at times, completely devastating, but watching everything finally come together made the ending feel incredibly cathartic. I can’t quite believe this is the end. There’s something so bittersweet about closing the final page and realising there isn’t another book waiting for me, no more little Silas and Alina crumbs to anticipate, no more theories to obsess over, no more waiting to see where their story takes us next. But I know that, when the time is right, I’ll find my way back to them. And somehow, I think it’ll hurt just as beautifully the second time around.

And to all the other characters I’ve grown to love along the way, I’ll miss you dearly. Saying goodbye to one of my favourite fictional universes feels strangely like saying goodbye to somewhere I’ve actually lived for a while.

What a phenomenal way to end a series.

It’s devastatingly bittersweet to see it come to an end, but if this is I.V closing one chapter, then I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most anticipated read of the year, and what a journey it’s been! This series has always been suspenseful in many ways, but The Cannibal has really kept me on my toes from beginning to end. If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. And it was so worth the wait.

We’re all so used to the confidence of Alina. Her strong wits and clever mind, so to see her light dim was hard to read. In this new world of hers, I was learning everything alongside her while the biggest trial was happening. Alina struggled to find her footing, to gain information, and trust of others. She had lost herself in many ways, and relearning everything was surely an interesting ride. Her body wasn’t her own anymore, and I could only feel sad when she struggled. The survival she once knew, was a completely different ball game.

Even when it came to her one and only Creature.

“All my life, if you choose to forgive me—it belongs to you.”

Is it bad that I craved to see Silas and Alina’s little game? Their relationship isn’t your typical love, no, it ruins deeper. Wicked. Violent to the core. Raw in the way that they share these emotions and vulnerability. Through the hunt, the chase, and mutual stalking, lies an underlying connection that can only be understood between the two.

“The way we loved would always be vicious. As long as we vowed to take care of each other, knowing this about ourselves, we would always come together in the end.”

Speaking of Silas, it was so nice to see a different side of him. We have always been able to see his thoughts, know how he feels. But this is different. He’s broken and vulnerable, along with everyone else. For once, Silas felt human to me. So much so, it scared me because I knew the end was near for this lovely creature.

We have watched these character grow into something bigger, their relationship becoming stronger. I didn’t know what to really expect for the ending when everyone else had lost hope in something good. And everything that lead up to the end, what I learned in the process, was something so shocking, I didn’t mentally prepare myself for such a twist. But boy was the rest so, so, SO sweet.

I will miss Alina, Silas, Phoebe, and Luka, just as much as I’ll miss this world. I’m so grateful to have received this arc and to have met such an amazing set of characters.

[Mishay Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Simon Maverick for the gifted arc of this book!


I was so excited for this final book in The Poisoner series but it just didn’t live up to the reputation of books one and two.

This book was extremely slow paced and very repetitive. The same things and conversations happened so many times that I just started skimming at one point. The amount of detail the author went into explaining the dress designs and room layouts was great the first time, then every single time any character changed their outfit or walked into a room we had to read paragraphs for the smallest details.

Alina constantly being told that she doesn’t understand and that she is a danger to the nest and then asking someone to tell her what happened and what to do to be better only for them to once again tell her that she doesn’t understand and is a danger was getting very annoying. The fogginess of the first few chapters was expected after the events of book two but for it to stay like that for 65% of the book was very difficult to keep going. I feel like the only character that even cared about Alina’s feeding problem and possible rejection to the change was Luka. And Luka somehow came to be the only character that I enjoyed and wanted to be reading the POV of because he actually used his critical thinking skills and worked to solve the problems instead of just pushing them to the side. By the end I was honestly hoping Alina would just get with him even though I loved Silas. I did not like how anytime Silas and Alina had a moment together they had sec and it was always in a degrading way toward her and he made sure to let her know he was livid with her even though she had died and woke up six months later and no one was telling her what happened or what to do now or trying to help her not starve to death.

While the first 33 chapters were dull and repetitive, I did end up liking the last few chapters and how it ended even if it felt extremely anticlimactic after the entire series. This book felt more like the middle filler book rather than the conclusion to the entire series. Every character except for Luka had such an extreme regression that I just ended up not really caring by the end, I just wanted it to be a finished story already.

[Michelle Grimison · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review!
Alina wakes up 6 months after the end of book 2 in the Manhattan Nest that Silas created completely changed (physiologically speaking: she Vipera now). We follow her through her adjustment and into the next chapter of her life.
While she is adjusting, Silas, Luka & Phoebe are getting ready to host the elders in an assessment to validate their nest & kind of go through a trial about killing off their entire previous nest (happened in book 1, but mentioned in book 2).
As always shit hits the fan & Papa Levi is a manipulating asshole who can’t stand loosing anything he wants…

A good conclusion to the trilogy.
Although a touch predictable in the ending, it was still a satisfying end, both to the conflict & to Silas & Alina’s story. I still want more of my Luka!

Spoilers below:
My hatred for Alina is ever present after her torture of Luka in book 2, and continues in book 3 with her “poor me” hypocrisy. Silas deserves better! But thankfully she finds her spine and becomes the bad ass she was in book 1 by the end of this book. (I still hate her though)
The Cannibal factor was obvious by the title as well as how she couldn’t stomach any blood, yet could drink from Silas while they were fucking.
There will never be enough Luka for me unless he gets his own story…
I kinda saw the Phoebe thing happening, just not quite like that. I knew her father was gonna kill her, again cause he can’t stand loosing control… but to make Alina think she ate her best friend?! Fucking rude! And I definitely did not see them sharing a mother?! Wtf?!
Also the final breakfast with the Sires was a beautiful way to eliminate the pompous elders/sires that want to keep the misogynistic bullshit going!

🌶️🌶️/5
Silas & Alina are back with their “hate” fucking (even though it’s just words of degradation rather than praise kink)… some primal play in the woods too.
And we get a glimpse at Luka’s sadistic side, but sadly to no completion…

Thank you NetGalley & IV Ophelia for allowing me to read this story early!

[Alexis Metz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning to the world of The Poisoner trilogy for its final installment! The Cannibal brings all the dark Victorian atmosphere, laboratory alchemy, and visceral horror aesthetics I’ve come to love from this series.

Thrust back into the land of the living after months of dark slumber, Alina awakens within the gilded, treacherous walls of Silas's New York Nest. As her own body transforms into something monstrous and unfamiliar, the shadows close in around her. With an imminent Tribunal threatening everything they’ve built, survival demands more than just endurance, it demands blood.

I absolutely loved the late 19th-century Gilded Age setting, the macabre botanical motifs, the laboratory alchemy, and the unique predator vs. predator dynamic that makes this series stand out. I also really appreciated how the author left Luka’s storyline open at the end, leaving great potential for a future spin-off series. However, the pacing felt a bit off for me. The book had a bit of a slow start, and then the ending felt rushed, leaving me wishing we had gotten far more page-time for Alina and Silas together.

Because so much of the narrative is spent building up the mystery around Alina's unique survival needs and the high stakes of the international Tribunal, the actual conclusions felt somewhat anticlimactic after all that anticipation.

Even with the pacing hiccups, I still really enjoyed the gothic horror atmosphere, the toxicological warfare, and the overall series concept. If you love dark romance with heavy gothic aesthetics and visceral body horror, this trilogy is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to Simon Maverick Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Gothic Dark Romance with explicit sexual scenes, cannibalism, violence, and gore. References to reproductive trauma (discussion only) and eating disorders tied to vampirism themes. Features BDSM concepts.

[xaravis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Rounded up for Goodreads

Thank you NetGalley and the Simon Maverick for the ARC of The Cannibal by I. V. Ophelia, to be published on 1st of September 2026.

🖤 “A love as steadfast as arsenic, a pair as
deadly as so. Dreadfully, indisputably, made for each other.” 🖤

The Cannibal is a final instalment to The Poisoner series and a perfect conclusion to the story. A bittersweet ending. I absolutely adored first 2 books and was worried about the final instalment but it did not disappoint.

The gothic atmosphere, Victorian setting, horror elements, beautiful and vivid writing as well as very unique take on the vampires makes these books really memorable and addictive. The Cannibal focuses on Alina trying to navigate her new ‘reality’ while the rest of the characters are focusing on the Nest politics and dealing with the repercussions of Silas actions from the ending of The Arachnid. The plot twists, as always, had me staring at the wall.

I adore Silas and Alina and their dynamics, their relationship is so dark and twisted, their interactions are never predictable. I was left wanting more ‘page time’ for these two, I wanted more or ‘my wife’. We only have couple of chapters from Silas POV and I wish we have seen a bit more of his side and look into his head.

What really surprised me is Luka’s redemption arc. I read the original chapter 48, before it got toned down, so I always look at him though the prism of that chapter, but my boy worked HARD, to earn Alina’s and the others trust. I actually felt for him at times and I wish we have seen where his story goes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I laughed, I cried and I stopped breathing at the last 20% of the book. I wish we have seen a bit more of the aftermath as all was wrapped up really quickly. I cannot wait to read them all again and this series will have a very special place in my (dead) heart 🖤


PS. I also loved the Polish elements thought the series 🇵🇱 Made my Slavic heart sing 🥰

[Damsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to I.V. Ophelia, Simon Maverick, and NetGalley for the earc to The Cannibal, the final installment in The Poisoner series.

The Cannibal will consume your heart and entire being.


I’m rating The Cannibal 6 out of 5 stars.

We are following Alina’s story as she navigates new surroundings in NYC and comes to terms with how far her life has changed since the events in Buffalo. There is a high-stakes trial called ‘The Appraisal’ known in the Vipera society, which Alina has to prepare for along with Silas for the mass murder of the London nest. On top of the trial, our characters must help Alina, who is suffering through an ailment that could claim her life.

The pacing is slower at the start of the book and, in true I.V. Ophelia style, chaos ensues with more plot, much like petrol added into a roaring bonfire. The book encapsulates moments that felt like nostalgia from previous books. You do see character growth and their inner thoughts more clearly with the added POVs. There were depths of intense emotions, drama, trauma, suspense, and betrayal layered in the pages that had me in a locked chokehold.

Reading about Alina and Silas’s dynamic and their intense romantic chemistry in this book had me in shambles. They are feverish and completely passionate towards each other almost to the point of insanity. I loved the spice and kinks of this book, some of the best I’ve ever read. Their love is so moving that I was brought to tears by their passion in several moments.

Huge congratulations to the author; she deserves her flowers for such a captivating trilogy. I’m very excited for future works on the horizon from the author. I view The Poisoner series as a sweeping, dark, gothic romance to outlast lifetimes.

Will recommend this series for people who crave a true love/hate dynamic couple, excellent S-tier banter, hidden vampire societies, women in STEM, a growing feminine rage, and an appreciation of a darker kind of romance.