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Wrought In Flesh: The Vollmagus and The Etched One
- GenresHorror
397 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2026
About the author
Corinne Price
2 books16 followersCorinne Price is an Alberta based author and Red Seal industrial mechanic. She spends her working life as a coordinator of her fellow mechanics, and her off-time reading, writing, or working with stained glass. She currently lives with her three rabbits, two dogs, and one partner. Corinne has always had love for dark and twisted tales. Whether fantasy, horror, or the strange realms between, she writes stories where the monsters and the humans traverse the same knife-edge. Wrought in Flesh was her first novel, book one of The Vollmagus and The Etched series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 25, 2026
Wrought in Flesh by Corinne Price
4.5/5 stars
Wrought in Flesh is the debut book of Corinne Price and goodness gracious I thoroughly enjoyed this one so, so much. She delivered a solid, entertaining and gripping read.
The book starts with a memory that took place in the past. Sybil is a leertek, someone born without magical powers, and her best friend and boyfriend Quinn just stole a book with a spell in it that should grant Sybil powers. The second they start it all goes down the drain and Quinn dies horribly.
10 years have past and Sybil still carries the guilt and the pain of his loss within her. But she also made important steps to move on. She is living with her partner Killian and she is a warden. She is struggling in certain areas as a warden, but everything she does is to help the people around her.
This story is told from a dual point of view and we are also introduced to Raekin. He is an Etched and is covered in wounds and scars. His master is Naz'tek and his entire life revolves around serving him. He is in a dysfunctional relationship and he is rather ruthless and single minded.
Both characters have such a strong storyline. Both of them are chasing their truth and they both need answers about the things that haunt them. And then one vital moment happens that changes their entire lives. But also creates a tether that keeps them tied tightly.
The only reason why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the book starts off very slowly. A bit too slow for my liking. I also missed some explanation of how the magic system works and how it all started. At the start you need to guess a lot. And it took a good 200 pages before the story started taking momentum and became utterly addictive.
But the second the characters were thrust together, I just couldn't stop reading. Them being in the same room elevated this story to a solid five star read and I just loved the tension and character growth that happened from that point onwards. The past and present get tied together and I loved how fast paced the second part of the book was.
The supporting characters are so rich and stunning too. I loved how all the characters don't shy away from being themselves and expressing their honest thoughts and feelings. It might sound harsh at times, but I admired their strong willed characters and I love how that self confidence creates different bonds between different people. It felt like every action had an immediate, or saved reaction within it. And truly elevated the second part of the book to an addictive and all-consuming read.
And that ending!!! Goodness gracious I need book 2 NOW please! This story is so addictive and it was so easy to connect with all the characters. I loved how brutal and raw this story is. And I love how horror-like some elements were.
I wish I picked this up way sooner! This will definitely be a book that I will read more than once. It was that good! And I truly hope certain characters have more time together in the second book!
4 ... no, I'll change it to 4.5 HUGE stars from me for Wrought in Flesh!
4.5/5 stars
Wrought in Flesh is the debut book of Corinne Price and goodness gracious I thoroughly enjoyed this one so, so much. She delivered a solid, entertaining and gripping read.
The book starts with a memory that took place in the past. Sybil is a leertek, someone born without magical powers, and her best friend and boyfriend Quinn just stole a book with a spell in it that should grant Sybil powers. The second they start it all goes down the drain and Quinn dies horribly.
10 years have past and Sybil still carries the guilt and the pain of his loss within her. But she also made important steps to move on. She is living with her partner Killian and she is a warden. She is struggling in certain areas as a warden, but everything she does is to help the people around her.
This story is told from a dual point of view and we are also introduced to Raekin. He is an Etched and is covered in wounds and scars. His master is Naz'tek and his entire life revolves around serving him. He is in a dysfunctional relationship and he is rather ruthless and single minded.
Both characters have such a strong storyline. Both of them are chasing their truth and they both need answers about the things that haunt them. And then one vital moment happens that changes their entire lives. But also creates a tether that keeps them tied tightly.
The only reason why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the book starts off very slowly. A bit too slow for my liking. I also missed some explanation of how the magic system works and how it all started. At the start you need to guess a lot. And it took a good 200 pages before the story started taking momentum and became utterly addictive.
But the second the characters were thrust together, I just couldn't stop reading. Them being in the same room elevated this story to a solid five star read and I just loved the tension and character growth that happened from that point onwards. The past and present get tied together and I loved how fast paced the second part of the book was.
The supporting characters are so rich and stunning too. I loved how all the characters don't shy away from being themselves and expressing their honest thoughts and feelings. It might sound harsh at times, but I admired their strong willed characters and I love how that self confidence creates different bonds between different people. It felt like every action had an immediate, or saved reaction within it. And truly elevated the second part of the book to an addictive and all-consuming read.
And that ending!!! Goodness gracious I need book 2 NOW please! This story is so addictive and it was so easy to connect with all the characters. I loved how brutal and raw this story is. And I love how horror-like some elements were.
I wish I picked this up way sooner! This will definitely be a book that I will read more than once. It was that good! And I truly hope certain characters have more time together in the second book!
4 ... no, I'll change it to 4.5 HUGE stars from me for Wrought in Flesh!
April 16, 2026
Wrought on Flesh
By Corinne Price
Pub Date Apr 10 2026
This book has everything I want in a fantasy book: great character development. Great world building. Interesting magic system. Dark and generally a fun read.
The only issue I have and it is a personal preference is the writing can become too descriptive and slows down the pacing at times. Other than that this book is fantastic.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
By Corinne Price
Pub Date Apr 10 2026
This book has everything I want in a fantasy book: great character development. Great world building. Interesting magic system. Dark and generally a fun read.
The only issue I have and it is a personal preference is the writing can become too descriptive and slows down the pacing at times. Other than that this book is fantastic.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to BookSirens and Corinne Price for this ARC
This review contains NO spoilers! And all that is said is my honest and non-biased opinion.
I am not going to give spoilers or massive details of what happens in this book. That would be silly and counterproductive!
Release date for this book is 10th April 2026
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All in all I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Extremely well put together, great plot. nice and unique events.
The horror aspect was impeccable! There is death, gore and guts. The magical elements with the runes and how they were forced. Goodness, I loved it.
I really enjoyed almost every character. The only criticism I would give is that I wanted more attitude, more character, and more of the characters' personality with some of the scenes/ speech/ actions.
Other than that I think this book is great!
There are a lot of triggers in this book, for example:
- Blood
- Gore
- Death
- Murder
- Bodily harm
- Self harm
- magical harm
- Demons
- Sexual scenes
- Sexual talk
- Male dominance/ Manipulation
- Retirement due to Disability
and so on
Thank you again to BookSirens and Corinne Price!
This review contains NO spoilers! And all that is said is my honest and non-biased opinion.
I am not going to give spoilers or massive details of what happens in this book. That would be silly and counterproductive!
Release date for this book is 10th April 2026
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All in all I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Extremely well put together, great plot. nice and unique events.
The horror aspect was impeccable! There is death, gore and guts. The magical elements with the runes and how they were forced. Goodness, I loved it.
I really enjoyed almost every character. The only criticism I would give is that I wanted more attitude, more character, and more of the characters' personality with some of the scenes/ speech/ actions.
Other than that I think this book is great!
There are a lot of triggers in this book, for example:
- Blood
- Gore
- Death
- Murder
- Bodily harm
- Self harm
- magical harm
- Demons
- Sexual scenes
- Sexual talk
- Male dominance/ Manipulation
- Retirement due to Disability
and so on
Thank you again to BookSirens and Corinne Price!
May 11, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC for review.
This is a pretty good debut novel. The author had some interesting and unique ideas, and these were mostly executed well.
That being said, something about it just didn't click for me. I found it quite a slog to get through, which at under 300 pages was surprising. For a fantasy novel it would have benefited from more comprehensive world building.
A decent book, which I did enjoy, just not my favourite.
This is a pretty good debut novel. The author had some interesting and unique ideas, and these were mostly executed well.
That being said, something about it just didn't click for me. I found it quite a slog to get through, which at under 300 pages was surprising. For a fantasy novel it would have benefited from more comprehensive world building.
A decent book, which I did enjoy, just not my favourite.
April 6, 2026
3.5 stars. I went into this book with high expectations, drawn in by its intriguing premise and the promise of a darker narrative. From the start, the author’s writing style stood out being both rich and descriptive, it made it easy to vividly imagine each scene as it unfolded. The atmospheric, dark elements were especially compelling and added depth to the story.
That said, there were moments where the plot felt somewhat confusing, which occasionally pulled me out of the experience. Some parts could have been clearer or more smoothly developed. Despite this, the overall journey was still enjoyable. The strengths in writing and tone ultimately made it a worthwhile read, even if it didn’t fully meet all of my expectations.
That said, there were moments where the plot felt somewhat confusing, which occasionally pulled me out of the experience. Some parts could have been clearer or more smoothly developed. Despite this, the overall journey was still enjoyable. The strengths in writing and tone ultimately made it a worthwhile read, even if it didn’t fully meet all of my expectations.
May 14, 2026
4.5 stars* tentative, as what distinguishes a 5 star book to me is if it actually sticks in my mind and I keep coming back to it so tentative 4.5 star for now.
Hey, ever wonder what if magic was class privilege, trauma had a body count, and the government was somehow worse than the underground monsters? Me neither! Then I picked up this book which proceeded to fling me into the pit. I mean, "even hate was company?". What a line.
(If you liked Emily Tesh's The Incandescent and Tasmyn Muir's Locked Tomb series, stop reading now and just pick up this book).
Anyways, to start, our girl, Sybil is born into a city where magic is basically the premium subscription tier of personhood, except she has none, which is already rude. Then her father tries to “fix” this by using someone very close to her- trying to keep this spoiler free, let me live- as the unwilling magical battery in a forbidden ritual (as forbidden rituals are totally known for their safety), because apparently family bonding now includes ritual mutilation and catastrophic emotional damage. Anyways, to the surprise of almost no reader, the ritual backfires so hard it burns into Sybil’s body, leaving her yes, with power, but also with scars, and the deeply reasonable desire to become everyone’s problem. Now she has power, scars, guilt, and the energy of someone who may or may not burn down every corrupt structure in walking distance. Girl, I feel you.
Raekin, meanwhile, is an Etched, which is fantasy-speak for “your body is now a magical employee handbook written by demons.” Bound by runes, forced to obey, and treated like a weapon instead of a person (late-stage capitalism's dream), he is trapped in one of the most horrifying versions of magical servitude: the kind where even your bones have terms and conditions, the whole nightmare buffet. But worry not, Raekin begins the fantasy-protagonist tradition of asking, “What if I simply became ungovernable?".
This is actually dark fantasy, just the way I like it. Feels like playing Dark Souls but less frustrating. This is for readers who like their fantasy bloody, political, romantic, furious, and spiritually damp. There are runes carved into bodies, institutions rotting from the inside, ancient power with terrible vibes, and enough betrayal to make a therapist start charging hazard pay. It has that delicious “everyone is traumatized but also hot and dangerous” energy. I really admire how the world building literally makes bodies political and the relationships between the characters (no spoilers~). This could have easily veered into melodramatic or like just edgy for the sake of edgy, which is always a risk with dark fantasy, but it doesn't and I'm extremely impressed that this is a debut novel, when many novelists don't manage to reach this level of subtlety and complexity. To the point, that I had to check if the author was actually a debut author.
Basically:
a magicless girl gets trauma-upgraded,
a rune-bound warrior wants out of his magical HR violation,
a corrupt society is begging to be set on fire,
for fans of dark fantasy that looks at softness and says, “Cute. Anyway, here’s a knife.”
A deeply stressful time. Loved the vibes. Would not survive one chapter.
Hey, ever wonder what if magic was class privilege, trauma had a body count, and the government was somehow worse than the underground monsters? Me neither! Then I picked up this book which proceeded to fling me into the pit. I mean, "even hate was company?". What a line.
(If you liked Emily Tesh's The Incandescent and Tasmyn Muir's Locked Tomb series, stop reading now and just pick up this book).
Anyways, to start, our girl, Sybil is born into a city where magic is basically the premium subscription tier of personhood, except she has none, which is already rude. Then her father tries to “fix” this by using someone very close to her- trying to keep this spoiler free, let me live- as the unwilling magical battery in a forbidden ritual (as forbidden rituals are totally known for their safety), because apparently family bonding now includes ritual mutilation and catastrophic emotional damage. Anyways, to the surprise of almost no reader, the ritual backfires so hard it burns into Sybil’s body, leaving her yes, with power, but also with scars, and the deeply reasonable desire to become everyone’s problem. Now she has power, scars, guilt, and the energy of someone who may or may not burn down every corrupt structure in walking distance. Girl, I feel you.
Raekin, meanwhile, is an Etched, which is fantasy-speak for “your body is now a magical employee handbook written by demons.” Bound by runes, forced to obey, and treated like a weapon instead of a person (late-stage capitalism's dream), he is trapped in one of the most horrifying versions of magical servitude: the kind where even your bones have terms and conditions, the whole nightmare buffet. But worry not, Raekin begins the fantasy-protagonist tradition of asking, “What if I simply became ungovernable?".
This is actually dark fantasy, just the way I like it. Feels like playing Dark Souls but less frustrating. This is for readers who like their fantasy bloody, political, romantic, furious, and spiritually damp. There are runes carved into bodies, institutions rotting from the inside, ancient power with terrible vibes, and enough betrayal to make a therapist start charging hazard pay. It has that delicious “everyone is traumatized but also hot and dangerous” energy. I really admire how the world building literally makes bodies political and the relationships between the characters (no spoilers~). This could have easily veered into melodramatic or like just edgy for the sake of edgy, which is always a risk with dark fantasy, but it doesn't and I'm extremely impressed that this is a debut novel, when many novelists don't manage to reach this level of subtlety and complexity. To the point, that I had to check if the author was actually a debut author.
Basically:
a magicless girl gets trauma-upgraded,
a rune-bound warrior wants out of his magical HR violation,
a corrupt society is begging to be set on fire,
for fans of dark fantasy that looks at softness and says, “Cute. Anyway, here’s a knife.”
A deeply stressful time. Loved the vibes. Would not survive one chapter.
May 15, 2026
I applied for this as an ARC through netgalley without realizing the book was published, but was granted it anyway. So, let's talk about it.
First, the prologue???? I have never come to care for and be hurt by characters so quickly in my life. But I did and it happened. It honestly made it a little difficult for me to grasp onto the story at first because I was reeling from that, it really stuck with me. It also made me struggle to connect to Sybil for a while which made the book difficult to convince myself to read.
Despite that, Sybil's struggle made my heart ache for her on more than one occasion and I related to her a lot in wanting to ensure Quinn would be proud of her; her grief was very relatable to me. I may not have always liked her, but she had her redeeming qualities.
Raekin, though, was nuanced and I really enjoyed his perspective and the insight between his external appearance and actions and his mind. Chapters with him in it, especially early on, were such a welcome reprieve. And they only got better over time.
"He may have hated her, but he was only a monster when he chose to be. Now, the bigger monster was before them."
Then came the moment I was plot twisted and hooked and my heart was crushed all at the same second. It was a slow moving train I could not avert my eyes from despite knowing it was not going to be good. There is not a lot of joy and happiness to be found in this book, and I was reminded violently of that.
"You finally got it. You got everything you wanted."
I truly was so consumed with my feelings at this part that I couldn't stop thinking about it. This was about a third of the way through the book and it went from having to convince myself to read it, to convincing myself to put it down and needed to take breaks for my emotions. I was obsessed, enthralled, and utterly consumed.
I cannot wait for book two (I read on google that this was a book 1 to a series). I really thought this review would be different, I expected needing to force myself to finish, but instead I was met with a story that consumed me, characters I wanted to know more about (imperfections and all), and questions I need to have answered. I was mad and hurt during most chapters and honestly, that fits for the world this story takes place in. This is not a light and happy story, but if you're okay with stepping into the dark and hunkering down, this is absolutely worth the read.
If you're like me and the beginning is a little rough and you may not like Sybil, Varena made you want to scream, and you want to throw Killian against a wall.. stick with it. I'll be here not so patiently waiting for book 2. Because I am not recovering from this ending.
First, the prologue???? I have never come to care for and be hurt by characters so quickly in my life. But I did and it happened. It honestly made it a little difficult for me to grasp onto the story at first because I was reeling from that, it really stuck with me. It also made me struggle to connect to Sybil for a while which made the book difficult to convince myself to read.
Despite that, Sybil's struggle made my heart ache for her on more than one occasion and I related to her a lot in wanting to ensure Quinn would be proud of her; her grief was very relatable to me. I may not have always liked her, but she had her redeeming qualities.
Raekin, though, was nuanced and I really enjoyed his perspective and the insight between his external appearance and actions and his mind. Chapters with him in it, especially early on, were such a welcome reprieve. And they only got better over time.
"He may have hated her, but he was only a monster when he chose to be. Now, the bigger monster was before them."
Then came the moment I was plot twisted and hooked and my heart was crushed all at the same second. It was a slow moving train I could not avert my eyes from despite knowing it was not going to be good. There is not a lot of joy and happiness to be found in this book, and I was reminded violently of that.
"You finally got it. You got everything you wanted."
I truly was so consumed with my feelings at this part that I couldn't stop thinking about it. This was about a third of the way through the book and it went from having to convince myself to read it, to convincing myself to put it down and needed to take breaks for my emotions. I was obsessed, enthralled, and utterly consumed.
I cannot wait for book two (I read on google that this was a book 1 to a series). I really thought this review would be different, I expected needing to force myself to finish, but instead I was met with a story that consumed me, characters I wanted to know more about (imperfections and all), and questions I need to have answered. I was mad and hurt during most chapters and honestly, that fits for the world this story takes place in. This is not a light and happy story, but if you're okay with stepping into the dark and hunkering down, this is absolutely worth the read.
If you're like me and the beginning is a little rough and you may not like Sybil, Varena made you want to scream, and you want to throw Killian against a wall.. stick with it. I'll be here not so patiently waiting for book 2. Because I am not recovering from this ending.
July 10, 2026
Wrought In Flesh by Corinne Price is dark fantasy at its most visceral. Bloody, brutal, intimate, and grotesque all at once, as the author balanced between macabre transformation and aching humanity. Between horror and longing.
The world is merciless from the very beginning. The magic is less whimsical and more invasive. The Void is barbaric. A place where people are cruelly carved apart and reconstructed. Branded, chained, mutilated, and reshaped into weapons before being assigned mates for breeding.
Violently losing your person, spending years mourning them, and then being forced to confront what actually remains is diabolically devastating. Especially when the person standing before you is no longer entirely your person, but also not entirely someone else either. I can’t even begin to imagine how intensely horrifying it would be to love someone so completely that not even grief, time, or torture can loosen its grip on your soul.
Book one only begins to scratch at something far more dangerous as it slowly uncovers the larger horrors still lurking underneath the surface. Not only within the Void, but within the corruption existing above ground as well. The story gradually pushes the realization that monsters are not isolated to one place, and that cruelty thrives differently depending on who is allowed to wield power.
The enchanted runes and the instability of Sybil’s abilities made every interaction feel volatile and constantly on the verge of catastrophe. There is clearly still so much left to uncover surrounding Sybil’s mark, her fractured magic, and what it truly means to exist as something unstable.
Nobody escapes this world untouched, not even a reader of it… especially as love, loyalty, sacrifice, identity, and survival blur together.
The world is merciless from the very beginning. The magic is less whimsical and more invasive. The Void is barbaric. A place where people are cruelly carved apart and reconstructed. Branded, chained, mutilated, and reshaped into weapons before being assigned mates for breeding.
Violently losing your person, spending years mourning them, and then being forced to confront what actually remains is diabolically devastating. Especially when the person standing before you is no longer entirely your person, but also not entirely someone else either. I can’t even begin to imagine how intensely horrifying it would be to love someone so completely that not even grief, time, or torture can loosen its grip on your soul.
Book one only begins to scratch at something far more dangerous as it slowly uncovers the larger horrors still lurking underneath the surface. Not only within the Void, but within the corruption existing above ground as well. The story gradually pushes the realization that monsters are not isolated to one place, and that cruelty thrives differently depending on who is allowed to wield power.
The enchanted runes and the instability of Sybil’s abilities made every interaction feel volatile and constantly on the verge of catastrophe. There is clearly still so much left to uncover surrounding Sybil’s mark, her fractured magic, and what it truly means to exist as something unstable.
Nobody escapes this world untouched, not even a reader of it… especially as love, loyalty, sacrifice, identity, and survival blur together.
May 20, 2026
This book exceeded my expectations!
This book is dual POV and also has a dual setting: it's set above ánd below ground. The story and the world are dark, almost dystopian.
Nightmares don't seem so daunting when you forget dreams exist.
Sybil grew up without magic. In an attempt to grant her powers her best friend Quinn gets sucked into the Nether world and leaves behind a traumatised Sybil. She vows to make her life mean something and make up for his loss.
Far beneath the surface, an enslaved Etched named Raekin serves the Void. Bound by runes he is forced to be a weapon. When their paths collide the road to the truth and vengeance starts to get paved..
With elements of dark dystopian fantasy, horror and romantasy this book has something for lovers of many genres. The character building is strong, and the worldbuilding slow but steady. This book keeps the part of the world we know small, but there is potential to expand much further. I'm looking forward to see where it goes next!
This book is dual POV and also has a dual setting: it's set above ánd below ground. The story and the world are dark, almost dystopian.
Nightmares don't seem so daunting when you forget dreams exist.
Sybil grew up without magic. In an attempt to grant her powers her best friend Quinn gets sucked into the Nether world and leaves behind a traumatised Sybil. She vows to make her life mean something and make up for his loss.
Far beneath the surface, an enslaved Etched named Raekin serves the Void. Bound by runes he is forced to be a weapon. When their paths collide the road to the truth and vengeance starts to get paved..
With elements of dark dystopian fantasy, horror and romantasy this book has something for lovers of many genres. The character building is strong, and the worldbuilding slow but steady. This book keeps the part of the world we know small, but there is potential to expand much further. I'm looking forward to see where it goes next!
June 2, 2026
Sybil is the queen at not reading the room. She was a very relatable main character which was a bit frustrating at times but those moments were always in character. I found the magic system to be super interesting especially when talking about how people can “buy” powers. The pacing and writing was really well done. I think the characters were compelling and fit into the story perfectly. I think Raekin’s inner struggle after the heist was written really well and I could feel the inner turmoil. The grittier parts of the story were done well without going overboard. I’m curious as to where this is going to go in the next book and will be keeping up with the series in the future!
May 28, 2026
I felt her pain at being different to those around her as she had not got the magic inside her. I could feel her horror as she watch her friend suffer during a ritual. I wanted to save her friend and her from the horror they are facing. A great read which made me realize I wanted to keep them safe
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a magical read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a magical read
June 3, 2026
This took some considerable patience on my end… this book is SO SLOW! when you finally get to it it was worth the emotional torment i suffered through(3.5 stars from me). The character development is key to understanding the flashbacks and layered mess that is the connection. Worth the read if you have patience for intense, symbolic, piece together the pieces type books.
May 30, 2026
Wrought in flesh is a good debut novel and the writing style was good and easy to read. I just didn’t connect with characters that much and I think it just isn’t what I was expecting but I think it’s worth reading. Thank you for the ARC from NetGalley.
May 31, 2026
It starts off pretty slow, duel POV isn't my favorite so that might have contributed to getting me into the storyline. It was interesting, the magic system was a bit confusing at times, but it got better as it progressed. A solid first release for the author.
May 18, 2026
Hey! 👋🏻 Pst Pst I NEED the sequel like rn! This was so good and balanced between everything going on.
July 1, 2026
Great book! Loved the horror elements! Looking forward to book 2!
May 13, 2026
Wrought In Flesh is a dark and immersive fantasy filled with mystery, rich worldbuilding, and compelling stakes.
Corinne Price creates a fascinating and atmospheric story that draws readers into a vividly imagined world of power, conflict, and hidden truths.
Overall, it’s an engaging and imaginative read that will appeal to fantasy readers who enjoy depth, intrigue, and ambitious storytelling.
Corinne Price creates a fascinating and atmospheric story that draws readers into a vividly imagined world of power, conflict, and hidden truths.
Overall, it’s an engaging and imaginative read that will appeal to fantasy readers who enjoy depth, intrigue, and ambitious storytelling.
July 5, 2026
I am so fortunate to have gotten to know Corinne Price prior to reading Wrought In Flesh. She is a fascinating person with so many talents, and I can say with vehement enthusiasm that writing is one of them!
Wrought In Flesh is an incredibly well-written, intricately conceptualized dark romantasy that blends elements of a dystopian world with a strong magic system and rich history. We learn a lot about how Crae Vost operates and learn to question it's past, present and future as Sybil, our FMC does. Price writes the world in a way that is exciting and accessible, and made all the more interesting with the phenomenal main characters we are introduced to.
Sybil is a loveable mix of stubborn, inquisitive and uncertain that really endears her to readers and makes her perspective relatable. There's something really likeable about a main character who makes mistakes with the best of intentions and that they don't stop her from her curiosity and her moral compass. Her journey is full of grief and perseverance and you can't help but root for Sybil.
Raekin is the tortured bad boy MMC that dreams are made of. He endures and endures and endures and makes us want to see him endure again. His story of torture and servitude is a fascinating one, providing us with a completely different view of what is happening behind the scenes (and underground) in Crae Vost. The dual perspectives gives a fuller view of the world and really gives a full story. He is a man full of complex feelings and your heart will absolutely shatter over him.
I am really intrigued by the story Price has crafted, and eager to see if the characters can triumph and reconcile. Consider me eagerly waiting for book two!
Wrought In Flesh is an incredibly well-written, intricately conceptualized dark romantasy that blends elements of a dystopian world with a strong magic system and rich history. We learn a lot about how Crae Vost operates and learn to question it's past, present and future as Sybil, our FMC does. Price writes the world in a way that is exciting and accessible, and made all the more interesting with the phenomenal main characters we are introduced to.
Sybil is a loveable mix of stubborn, inquisitive and uncertain that really endears her to readers and makes her perspective relatable. There's something really likeable about a main character who makes mistakes with the best of intentions and that they don't stop her from her curiosity and her moral compass. Her journey is full of grief and perseverance and you can't help but root for Sybil.
Raekin is the tortured bad boy MMC that dreams are made of. He endures and endures and endures and makes us want to see him endure again. His story of torture and servitude is a fascinating one, providing us with a completely different view of what is happening behind the scenes (and underground) in Crae Vost. The dual perspectives gives a fuller view of the world and really gives a full story. He is a man full of complex feelings and your heart will absolutely shatter over him.
I am really intrigued by the story Price has crafted, and eager to see if the characters can triumph and reconcile. Consider me eagerly waiting for book two!
June 25, 2026
Really enjoyed this one. It has a dark atmosphere, an interesting world, and enough mystery to keep me turning the pages. I liked learning more about the magic and the Nether as the story went on.
The ending definitely left me wanting more, and I'll be picking up book two to see where the story goes next. If you like darker fantasy with some horror elements, I'd recommend this one.
The ending definitely left me wanting more, and I'll be picking up book two to see where the story goes next. If you like darker fantasy with some horror elements, I'd recommend this one.
May 4, 2026
Wrought in Flesh by Corinne Price is exactly what the title promises: spooky, fleshy, and deliciously grungy.
My greatest appreciation for this read was how the world-building of magic reflects our own human experience, what people will trade for power. Individuals literally sacrifice limbs to attain magical abilities or perform rituals without consequence to avoid the shame of an unfulfilled legacy.
The book starts off with a bang! It’s dark, it’s visceral, and then it gets spicy—what more could a dark fantasy romance ask for?
I definitely recommend this book if you’re into this kind of genre.
My greatest appreciation for this read was how the world-building of magic reflects our own human experience, what people will trade for power. Individuals literally sacrifice limbs to attain magical abilities or perform rituals without consequence to avoid the shame of an unfulfilled legacy.
The book starts off with a bang! It’s dark, it’s visceral, and then it gets spicy—what more could a dark fantasy romance ask for?
I definitely recommend this book if you’re into this kind of genre.
May 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for access to this fantastic book.
I felt ALL the emotions while reading, following these painfully broken characters on their journey. Definitely hooked from the first chapter. It’s heartbreaking, and raw… examining all the pieces of yourself you’d break for love. I can’t wait for the next book!
I felt ALL the emotions while reading, following these painfully broken characters on their journey. Definitely hooked from the first chapter. It’s heartbreaking, and raw… examining all the pieces of yourself you’d break for love. I can’t wait for the next book!
April 27, 2026
I considered giving this book a 4 star review, until I hit the ending. Solid 5 star draw for me!
It isn’t easy to create a new world of magic, especially as a debut author. A lot of work, dedication, and detail went into this book and you can see it in the way the whole world unfolds throughout the book. At times, the descriptiveness felt too intense or seemed to slow the pace of the book down. But isn’t that really the balance we, as fantasy readers, constantly find lacking in one way or another? Too much, too slow. Not enough, too fast. I pushed through the world building until about 60% into the book and then found the story to unfold at a pleasing pace.
The characters are well thought through and grow at a decent pace. I found the magic system to be interesting and didn’t get too lost in the way it was explained and presented throughout the book. The story unfolded over time (again, a bit slowly), and by the ending I was ready for the next book. AM ready for the next book. This was a solid fantasy read that will leave you wondering, “What happens next?”
It isn’t easy to create a new world of magic, especially as a debut author. A lot of work, dedication, and detail went into this book and you can see it in the way the whole world unfolds throughout the book. At times, the descriptiveness felt too intense or seemed to slow the pace of the book down. But isn’t that really the balance we, as fantasy readers, constantly find lacking in one way or another? Too much, too slow. Not enough, too fast. I pushed through the world building until about 60% into the book and then found the story to unfold at a pleasing pace.
The characters are well thought through and grow at a decent pace. I found the magic system to be interesting and didn’t get too lost in the way it was explained and presented throughout the book. The story unfolded over time (again, a bit slowly), and by the ending I was ready for the next book. AM ready for the next book. This was a solid fantasy read that will leave you wondering, “What happens next?”
April 26, 2026
4⭐️ Strong concept, but didn’t fully pull me in
I found Wrought in Flesh to be an interesting read with a genuinely unique concept at its core. The rune based magic system was easily the standout element for me it was creative, dark, and woven into the world in a way that felt fresh compared to a lot of fantasy I’ve read recently. You can really see the thought that’s gone into the lore and overall world building.
That said, I didn’t feel as fully pulled into the story as I’d hoped. While the ideas are strong, the pacing at times made it difficult to stay consistently engaged, and I found myself wanting a bit more momentum to keep me hooked. The plot has its moments, but it didn’t quite grip me from start to finish.
Overall, this is a solid read with a lot of potential, especially for readers who enjoy darker fantasy with detailed magic systems and slower, more descriptive storytelling. For me, it was good rather than great, but I’d still be open to seeing where the story goes next.
I found Wrought in Flesh to be an interesting read with a genuinely unique concept at its core. The rune based magic system was easily the standout element for me it was creative, dark, and woven into the world in a way that felt fresh compared to a lot of fantasy I’ve read recently. You can really see the thought that’s gone into the lore and overall world building.
That said, I didn’t feel as fully pulled into the story as I’d hoped. While the ideas are strong, the pacing at times made it difficult to stay consistently engaged, and I found myself wanting a bit more momentum to keep me hooked. The plot has its moments, but it didn’t quite grip me from start to finish.
Overall, this is a solid read with a lot of potential, especially for readers who enjoy darker fantasy with detailed magic systems and slower, more descriptive storytelling. For me, it was good rather than great, but I’d still be open to seeing where the story goes next.
April 27, 2026
Wrought in Flesh has a genuinely intriguing magic system, and the idea of runes woven into the world is one of the book’s strongest elements. I appreciated the creativity behind the lore and the way the author tried to build something distinct.
That said, I struggled to stay engaged with the story itself. The plot never fully gripped me, and I found it hard to maintain momentum as a reader. While the concepts are compelling, the execution didn’t quite pull me in the way I hoped.
Readers who enjoy dark fantasy with detailed magical mechanics may connect with it more than I did. For me, the premise was strong, but the storytelling didn’t quite match the potential.
Thank you for Netgallery for the ARC opportunity
That said, I struggled to stay engaged with the story itself. The plot never fully gripped me, and I found it hard to maintain momentum as a reader. While the concepts are compelling, the execution didn’t quite pull me in the way I hoped.
Readers who enjoy dark fantasy with detailed magical mechanics may connect with it more than I did. For me, the premise was strong, but the storytelling didn’t quite match the potential.
Thank you for Netgallery for the ARC opportunity
April 26, 2026
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Wow this was good, like really good. I finished this book in just 2 days because it was so hard to put down.
The atmosphere was dark, creepy, and extremely descriptive. The world building was so strong, I felt as if I could visualize everything as if it were happening right in front of me.
Our FMC, Sybil, struggles with controlling her magic, but she doesn't let that stop her. She's strong and determined to help other people as a Warden.
I am very excited to see where book 2 takes us and will definitely be picking up a copy! I NEED to know what happens between Sybil and the MMC.
My rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 round up to 5 ⭐️
Wow this was good, like really good. I finished this book in just 2 days because it was so hard to put down.
The atmosphere was dark, creepy, and extremely descriptive. The world building was so strong, I felt as if I could visualize everything as if it were happening right in front of me.
Our FMC, Sybil, struggles with controlling her magic, but she doesn't let that stop her. She's strong and determined to help other people as a Warden.
I am very excited to see where book 2 takes us and will definitely be picking up a copy! I NEED to know what happens between Sybil and the MMC.
My rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 round up to 5 ⭐️
May 1, 2026
Wrought in Flesh
by Corinne Price
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me be upfront: I am not a fantasy girly. My brain struggles to keep up with new terms, worlds, and types of beings. I probably learned 50 new words reading this: leertek, molhund, vollmagus … you get the idea. It took effort to stay oriented.
But also? The level of detail is kind of wild. You can tell how much thought went into building this world. There are layers on layers, and it’s impressive even when it’s a little overwhelming.
The first chapter? Insane. I was hooked immediately. The book, the blood, the emotion, all of it.
Then I hit a stretch where I was honestly just trying to keep up and make sense of everything. But once Sybil gets her promotion, it’s game on. From that point forward, the pacing doesn’t let up.
The dynamics between all the characters were believable and a little traumatic - the relationship I enjoyed the most was (of course) Quinn and Sybil. Who he had become, how she wanted to understand. I really want them to find their way back to each other. Also, F Killian. Verdicts still out on Varena ....
Standout character: Kreb.
This is not a lighthearted book, and she brings just enough humor to balance things out (and no, not a bearded man. Which somehow matters here).
As for that ending ... I want ... no, need to know what happens next.
In my head I'm thinking Price is setting this up for a sequel, and honestly … I’ll be there.
Overall … I tried. Fantasy still might not be my thing.
And yet, I’ll absolutely be picking up book two, because I need answers about Sybil and Quinn.
Thank you to Corinne Price for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
#BookReview #FantasyReads #DarkFantasy #Bookstagram #SeriesStarter
by Corinne Price
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me be upfront: I am not a fantasy girly. My brain struggles to keep up with new terms, worlds, and types of beings. I probably learned 50 new words reading this: leertek, molhund, vollmagus … you get the idea. It took effort to stay oriented.
But also? The level of detail is kind of wild. You can tell how much thought went into building this world. There are layers on layers, and it’s impressive even when it’s a little overwhelming.
The first chapter? Insane. I was hooked immediately. The book, the blood, the emotion, all of it.
Then I hit a stretch where I was honestly just trying to keep up and make sense of everything. But once Sybil gets her promotion, it’s game on. From that point forward, the pacing doesn’t let up.
The dynamics between all the characters were believable and a little traumatic - the relationship I enjoyed the most was (of course) Quinn and Sybil. Who he had become, how she wanted to understand. I really want them to find their way back to each other. Also, F Killian. Verdicts still out on Varena ....
Standout character: Kreb.
This is not a lighthearted book, and she brings just enough humor to balance things out (and no, not a bearded man. Which somehow matters here).
As for that ending ... I want ... no, need to know what happens next.
In my head I'm thinking Price is setting this up for a sequel, and honestly … I’ll be there.
Overall … I tried. Fantasy still might not be my thing.
And yet, I’ll absolutely be picking up book two, because I need answers about Sybil and Quinn.
Thank you to Corinne Price for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
#BookReview #FantasyReads #DarkFantasy #Bookstagram #SeriesStarter
April 16, 2026
Wrought In Flesh is a dark, dual-POV fantasy using a unique magic system of runes being inscribed on the body.
We follow Sybil, a magicless girl whose life changes forever when she learns that all magic has a cost. A ritual with her friend to give her the power she has always longed for goes terribly wrong, and in the years that follow, she joins the Portcullis to serve as a Warden. She hopes this will give her life and her friend's sacrifice meaning.
Raekin, an enslaved Etched marked by runes carved into his body, is forced to serve the Void Born. As he searches for a way to free himself and the other Etched he must balance the good of the collective over his own desires.
I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put it down! The writing is beautiful, with twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and descriptions so graphic I had to pause occasionally just to steady myself. The pacing dipped a little in the last few chapters due to scene setting, description, and the characters inner thoughts but it didn’t take away from the overall suspense.
If you enjoy dark themes, slow- burn romance, complex relationships, betrayal, corruption, and a unique magic system, you will fall hard for this book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I can’t wait for the next one to be released and have already purchased a physical copy of Wrought in Flesh for my bookshelf.
Content Warnings: Violence, gore, torture, mutilation, body horror, enslavement, loss of autonomy, trauma/PTSD, sexual content, abuse, death, murder
Thank you to Corinne Price and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for this review.
We follow Sybil, a magicless girl whose life changes forever when she learns that all magic has a cost. A ritual with her friend to give her the power she has always longed for goes terribly wrong, and in the years that follow, she joins the Portcullis to serve as a Warden. She hopes this will give her life and her friend's sacrifice meaning.
Raekin, an enslaved Etched marked by runes carved into his body, is forced to serve the Void Born. As he searches for a way to free himself and the other Etched he must balance the good of the collective over his own desires.
I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put it down! The writing is beautiful, with twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and descriptions so graphic I had to pause occasionally just to steady myself. The pacing dipped a little in the last few chapters due to scene setting, description, and the characters inner thoughts but it didn’t take away from the overall suspense.
If you enjoy dark themes, slow- burn romance, complex relationships, betrayal, corruption, and a unique magic system, you will fall hard for this book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I can’t wait for the next one to be released and have already purchased a physical copy of Wrought in Flesh for my bookshelf.
Content Warnings: Violence, gore, torture, mutilation, body horror, enslavement, loss of autonomy, trauma/PTSD, sexual content, abuse, death, murder
Thank you to Corinne Price and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for this review.
April 24, 2026
This is the exact horroresque fantasy that I LOVE. I was very excited from the start because I immediately got Full Metal Alchemist vibes (it is completely its own original story, but it heavily reminded me of it). The story is great, and I really enjoyed the intracacies of the runes and how the Void used them as well. The whole structure and setup of the Void sucked me straight in. I am fully invested in seeing how Raekin's side of the story plays out and where both him and Sybil go from here. It has left me needing to see the unraveling of what we still don't know of Sybil's power.
I will say that my biggest qualm was that she can go immediately to hating Raekin or mistrusting him, but with Killian, I feel she's not as mad as she should be. The comments he made at her ceremony was enough for me to want to see him ripped to pieces, let alone his moves after that. I just hope that it wraps back around so we get to see just how much the Portcullis has done.
I received and advanced reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I will say that my biggest qualm was that she can go immediately to hating Raekin or mistrusting him, but with Killian, I feel she's not as mad as she should be. The comments he made at her ceremony was enough for me to want to see him ripped to pieces, let alone his moves after that. I just hope that it wraps back around so we get to see just how much the Portcullis has done.
I received and advanced reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 13, 2026
The Review
This was a chilling, haunting, and enthralling dark fantasy-horror novel. The world-building is top-notch, instantly making the world feel both magical and gritty. The imagery the author uses in their writing style is horrifyingly good, with the opening chapter setting the bar for blood-curdling horror as the magic found in the world this book inhabits comes at a deadly cost.
The character development and action made this story the instant hit that it is. The book gives just enough detail to bring the mythos of magic to life, and the world itself feels alive and lived in, while also leaving enough mystery that readers want to dive deeper into this world and discover more. The duality of both protagonists’ experiences was fantastic, as the vastly different backgrounds of each character somehow brought them together and helped delve into the shocking realities of this world and the corruption that runs deep through it.
The Verdict
Memorable, haunting, and entertaining, author Corinne Price’s “Wrought in Flesh” is a must-read dark fantasy-horror novel that readers won’t be able to put down. The depth of world-building, the emotional character arcs that give these characters multidimensional stories, and the gritty imagery that makes this feel like a dark Netflix series waiting to be made will keep readers invested until the book’s final chapter.
This was a chilling, haunting, and enthralling dark fantasy-horror novel. The world-building is top-notch, instantly making the world feel both magical and gritty. The imagery the author uses in their writing style is horrifyingly good, with the opening chapter setting the bar for blood-curdling horror as the magic found in the world this book inhabits comes at a deadly cost.
The character development and action made this story the instant hit that it is. The book gives just enough detail to bring the mythos of magic to life, and the world itself feels alive and lived in, while also leaving enough mystery that readers want to dive deeper into this world and discover more. The duality of both protagonists’ experiences was fantastic, as the vastly different backgrounds of each character somehow brought them together and helped delve into the shocking realities of this world and the corruption that runs deep through it.
The Verdict
Memorable, haunting, and entertaining, author Corinne Price’s “Wrought in Flesh” is a must-read dark fantasy-horror novel that readers won’t be able to put down. The depth of world-building, the emotional character arcs that give these characters multidimensional stories, and the gritty imagery that makes this feel like a dark Netflix series waiting to be made will keep readers invested until the book’s final chapter.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The novel focuses on Sybil Wyntres, a Warden to protect the people in the Portcullis. After a traumatizing event altered the course of her life, she promises herself to make her life meaningful from then on. Everything changes when she cross paths with Raekin, an enslaved Etched, and discovers that not everything she knows is real.
While the premise of the story is quite interesting, the worldbuilding was confusing and the character logic was very inconsistent. From my understanding, wardens are basically the police, meant to protect people, and you need magic to become one. However, the main character can’t control her magic at all, so I’m just confused as to why she was allowed to become a warden in the first place. Another thing was that the character relationships felt inconsistent. Supporting characters frequently acted in ways that contradicted their established personalities and their motivations become unclear. This created conflicts that were more forced than earned. Many characters also appeared briefly, served for the plot, then never to be seen again without meaningful resolution. Because of this, many characters lacked depth. After reading the synopsis, I expected a dark fantasy and the reviews also described it as such. What I didn’t expect was a romance novel with fantasy as a backdrop, especially with the cover. It reminded me of the Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang, which is a dark fantasy novel where romance is not central to the plot. The worldbuilding itself was another major issue. The history of magic is not clearly explained like how characters obtain it, why powerful families are powerful, or what they actually do. They’re just there. I also never understood the magic system like what makes certain runes or abilities powerful? What are their consequences? The author does attempt to explain but it still felt unclear. There are many types of magic but their distinctions and rules behind them felt arbitrary.
Overall, while the premise had a lot of potential, it was the inconsistent worldbuilding and underdeveloped characters that made this a frustrating read. However, there are some things I can definitely appreciate. I like how the author was not afraid of including alot of dark elements to the story, I feel like a lot of novels shy away from that. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy a fast-paced, high-stakes romance fantasy with morally gray characters and don’t mind if the magic system takes a backseat.
While the premise of the story is quite interesting, the worldbuilding was confusing and the character logic was very inconsistent. From my understanding, wardens are basically the police, meant to protect people, and you need magic to become one. However, the main character can’t control her magic at all, so I’m just confused as to why she was allowed to become a warden in the first place. Another thing was that the character relationships felt inconsistent. Supporting characters frequently acted in ways that contradicted their established personalities and their motivations become unclear. This created conflicts that were more forced than earned. Many characters also appeared briefly, served for the plot, then never to be seen again without meaningful resolution. Because of this, many characters lacked depth. After reading the synopsis, I expected a dark fantasy and the reviews also described it as such. What I didn’t expect was a romance novel with fantasy as a backdrop, especially with the cover. It reminded me of the Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang, which is a dark fantasy novel where romance is not central to the plot. The worldbuilding itself was another major issue. The history of magic is not clearly explained like how characters obtain it, why powerful families are powerful, or what they actually do. They’re just there. I also never understood the magic system like what makes certain runes or abilities powerful? What are their consequences? The author does attempt to explain but it still felt unclear. There are many types of magic but their distinctions and rules behind them felt arbitrary.
Overall, while the premise had a lot of potential, it was the inconsistent worldbuilding and underdeveloped characters that made this a frustrating read. However, there are some things I can definitely appreciate. I like how the author was not afraid of including alot of dark elements to the story, I feel like a lot of novels shy away from that. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy a fast-paced, high-stakes romance fantasy with morally gray characters and don’t mind if the magic system takes a backseat.
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