The Lies that Summon the Night

by Tessonja Odette

Lies, beauty, and seduction mingle in the first book of an enthralling romantasy series where making art is considered a sin, and the shadows born from it aren't the only danger to the creators—from the bestselling author of Curse of the Wolf King .

From the art of liars, the monsters came…

Ever since art gave life to bloodthirsty shadows, creative works have been forbidden and the talented creators sacrificed to the Sinless—the immortal royals who feast on human blood in return for their protection.

Inana’s secret storytelling nearly got her killed once, and she’ll be damned if she’s ever caught again. With a bounty on her head, she keeps to the city’s dark underbelly where she earns a meager living from thrill-seeking patrons desperate to hear her illicit fiction. Until Dominic, a Shadowbane, catches one of her performances. . .

Dominic is a half-Sinless monster hunter as fearsome as his prey. But to complete his hunt, he needs an artist to summon the shadows . . . he needs Inana. Dominic delivers an ultimatum: serve him or he’ll claim her bounty. When survival is all Inana has left, the choice is clear. At least until she can betray him and leave him for dead.

As their tense alliance leads them into the heart of danger, dark secrets unravel—about each other, their world, and the threats they face. But the greatest risk of all is the desire growing between them. There’s something more sinful than lust at play, and it could bring the world to its knees.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Adult, Vampires, Paranormal

300 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 17, 2026

About the author

Tessonja Odette is a Seattle-based author of fantasy romance, epic romantasy, and fairytale retellings. Her different series range from cozy fae romcoms to dark and twisty fantasy. In her books you’ll find witty banter, sizzling romance, and breathtaking magic. When she isn’t writing, she’s watching anime, squeezing her pets, or dancing to the music only she can hear.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever thought, I want vampires, but not the same boring vampires thats been done before, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis before diving into this book. I’ve loved everything Tessonja Odette has written, so I was confident I’d enjoy this one too and I was NOT disappointed.

Within the first few pages I was hooked, the prose and imagery in the opening scene had me staying up till 2am because I did not want to put this down.

The world is so unique and well developed, there is a lot to it, but it’s presented in bits and pieces so the world building never feels overly heavy. I cannot wait to read more in this world.

This is a series but I will say this book has a very satisfying conclusion and wraps things up nicely!

Whats to love…
- shadow daddy
- vampires like you’ve never seen before
- forbidden romance
- TENSION for DAYS
- the banter is bantering
- mystery, secrets, and lies
- really freaking cool world
- gorgeous prose and imagery
- perfectly placed (& very hot) spice

🌶️ - 3-ish scenes. Wide open door. Ch 25, 31, 36

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Ballantine for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Liana Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️ I’m conflicted with how I really feel about this book. On one hand I really enjoyed certain aspects of it while on the other I found it very dense, very complex, finding myself bored a lot of times. The first 70% felt like nothing major was happening, with the last 30% being jam packed with secrets, revelations and more action. Yet at the same time, I felt that the author tried to “complicate” the twists with so much detail that made me lose some interest along the way. It was a total info-dump in my opinion with half explained rules that do not unfold organically or weave the threads together naturally, making the fantasy more complicated than it should have been.

In the world of The Lies That Summon The Night, darkest sins taste the sweetest. The book explores the idea that art is a sin and making art or creating craft is punishable by death or imprisonment. Inana Westwood is a sinner, a fugitive storyteller in hiding. One night, her storytelling catches the eye of a Shadowbane/hunter, Dominic Graves, who is seeking “Summoners” to help him with his own personal and dangerous mission. He promises her freedom in exchange for her cooperation and protection from Shades, shadow monsters that are manifested out of human sins. Together, along with two other Summoners, they set on a journey that is full of lusty thoughts and steamy looks, an attraction that is dark and dangerous and a twisty ending that ends on a cliffhanger.

I thought the concept was brilliant, anywhere along the likes of True Blood and The Witcher but with a refreshingly original take on vampires, gods and monsters. Odette added a twist to the vampire lore with incorporation of the seven sins: greed, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth, lust and pride. She used parts of these sins and gave them their own personalities, own voices, adding intoxicating allure to the concept of carnal pleasures. The beginning especially read like a very different world—very burlesque, very theatrical. I was a goner for what was yet to come.

Except it never came. I wrestled with the core concept of world building. I had a hard time understanding how everything connected because it wasn’t clear and honestly difficult to comprehend. I also wasn’t a big fan of the romantic dynamics. This is a romantasy that read more like erotica. Not that I am complaining, but it didn’t “fit” in with the Romantasy concept. We had two love interests who sexually riled each other up at any given moment they were left alone. They were sexually frustrated and had a need that wasn’t met in a long time. Their lusty conversations and the amount of F-bombs was at times off putting. It overshadowed the enemies to lovers romance.

Overall I think this is 3.5 but rounding down to 3. Right ideas, not favorite execution.


Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Publisher and the author, Tessonja Odette for an early eARC!

Publication date: February 3, 2026

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously captivating, this enemies-to-lovers dark romance—set in a world where art is considered a sin—is the book of the year! Filled with vampires, rebellious magic, a morally grey monster hunter with sentient shadows, an outlaw fugitive, forbidden romance, forced proximity, found family, and secrets, you will want to sink your teeth into this story! 💜🩸🐺
For fans of The Witcher, Shadow and Bone, and Nevernight.

Whatever truth he’s hiding, it has convinced some of his previous Summoners to turn on him. Am I ready for the truth? Will my opinion of him change once he confesses his secrets?
Who will I see sitting on the other side of these flickering flames?
An ally? My master? A Shadowbane who doesn’t seem as awful as I first thought him to be?
Or an enemy?

[ Contains some spoilers ]

PLOT SUMMARY

To perform art is to lie, to lie is to sin, and to sin is to attract the shadows that haunt the dark.

26-year-old Inana Westwood committed the gravest crime 2 years ago. Now an outlaw on the run, she bides her time at the Wretched Lair, performing under the alias “The Seamstress” while waiting 2 years for safe passage off the continent.

When her performance catches the attention of a Sinless (vampire-like beings), she is intercepted by the half-vampire Shadowbane, Dominic Graves. Not only does he know Inana’s real name, he has a proposition: if she will join his crew as his Summoner to lure the Shades/shadows he hunts, he will help her leave the continent in 6 months. With his shadows Lust, Pride and Sloth the dog ready to find her if she flees, she relents. Accompanying them are: Calvin, Dominic’s companion who provides blood; Harlow, the harlot who draws; and Rykar, the bard with scars and a mysterious past.

Inana can draw Shades to her during the day when she is telling the truth, something unheard of. And the closer Dominic gets to her, the more he begins to feel for the first time in years, something that should be impossible. They are drawn to each other, but know they cannot be anything more than a fleeting fling.

The journey is treacherous, plagued by Shades and rival Shadowbanes. Dominic possesses knowledge that holds the keys to the continent, but Inana holds a secret darker than anything the Shadowbane has ever encountered.

He’s gorgeous the same way a lightning storm is—breathtaking despite its danger. Or maybe because of it.

This is told from the first-person present-tense dual POV of Inana and Dominic.

OVERALL OPINIONS
ㅤ🐺 promising prose 🩸
The moment I read the blurb months ago, I was sold! It has been a long time since I’ve encountered a dark romance that has piqued my interest, something that balances worldbuilding lore with tantalising chemistry and with intriguing characters. This did not disappoint. I was indeed hooked from the first few chapters.

Who doesn’t love a dedication that can resonate with several people, including myself?

For anyone who has ever mended a broken heart and come out stronger for it.

Indeed, the author Tessonja Odette mentions this was an idea she wrote a decade ago to help her process heartbreak. I fully salute her in her endeavours: the results are an excellent read and an inspiration to us all to remain strong in hopeless times!

ㅤ🐺 the outlaw and the shadow daddy 🩸
The chemistry between Inana and Dominic is what you want from an enemies-to-lovers dynamic: a slowburn with plenty of humorous quips and banter between them, with the constant reminder of why they cannot be together. Yet they have a compelling parallel: she’s not felt this way about a man in a while; he’s not felt anything for a while at all.

And wow, the sexual tension was wonderful! While I would have preferred their first moment not to be in a dream, it was unconventional in that way. But the cave scene where he uses his shadows as well was *chef’s kiss*! It was giving 50 shades but shadow edition. I am giggling right now, I will be thinking about that for a looong while.

ㅤ🐺 negatives (mostly forced chemistry and sexual things) 🩸
One drawback for me was how forced certain moments felt, to lay on thick that Inana and Dominic clearly have the hots for each other. For example, Harlow or Calvin is like “have you guys f*cked yet?” and Inana firmly dismisses this and they don’t believe her – there’s even a time where Dominic himself challenges her denial, asking smugly “Sure about that?” and I was like “really? In front of everyone, reallyyy?”. It was just too heavy-handed. And times where Inana contemplates who she would want to have sex with. This really spoilt any natural build-up or moments where Dominic and Inana actually feel like that. It would be better to have more scenes where something happens that Inana thinks about: for example, he could grab her arm and she could think of it under a different context.

Another one that felt a bit out-of-character and baffling is Dominic’s shadows arguing in a dick-measuring contest. Which, since they are extensions of Dominic himself, is very weird. Why not have a different sort of conflict? And then there’s the “call me a good boy” moment which felt very out of place and took me out the story. While rather wholesome in a strange way, it just didn’t feel like the same Dominic. One minute he’s a grump, the next he’s grinning so wide. I felt like some in-between moment(s) where he smiles more often would have made this transition feel more natural.

ㅤ🐺 worldbuilding galore 🩸
Being the first story in the Songs of the Sinless trilogy, Odette has set the scene up nicely and I await in eager anticipation for Books 2 and 3. I do confess, I didn’t realise this when I started, so I expected a little more in terms of action, but it made sense why the story happened the way it did. The pacing got better halfway and onwards when more things were happening.

This book, therefore, is full of information and worldbuilding which was both helpful and a hindrance as I felt it dominated the narrative at times. Conversations more shaped the world than deepened characters, though we do get their backstories. It is, however, understandable considering the complexity of the lore. I was grateful for the Glossary, which is always an excellent reference in any fantasy book.

What I did like about it was its creativity, combining elements with things we know. Some aspects, like the seven deadly sins are just like our world but heavily expanded on (love the Incarnate concept!), and then there’s the monster-hunting swords and vials which is very reminiscent of Witchers. The idea of Inana being able to attract Shades when she isn’t lying was so intriguing and made me keep wanting to turn the page to find out more. And I can never resist a story with dragons in it – especially shadow dragons!

ㅤ🐺 predictability 🩸
A fair chunk of this story was to be expected (save occasional twists), so the main thing for me was how it was played out, which was fine. While I predicted an aspect of the major plot twist at the end, I did not predict ALL of it so I audibly gasped. This was executed flawlessly and adds a fantastic complication to the rest of the trilogy, so I’m very excited to see how it plays out!

ㅤ🐺 to conclude 🩸
This was an informative, atmospheric start to a trilogy I will not soon forget. Despite a few jarring character shifts, the concepts, chemistry and that plot twist of an ending make this an easy 5-star read!

<< Positives >>
🠚 Helpful glossary and maps.
🠚 Nice world-building lore, not confusing.
🠚 Meaningful dedication that resonates with the reader.
🠚 Wonderful slowburn tension and humorous banter.
🠚 Intriguing moments that made me want to read on.
🠚 Various plot twists.
🠚 The spice! Especially the cave scene with the blindfold and the use of his shadows.
🠚 The animals: shadow squirrels, shadow dragons, shadow dogs! Hooked, sold!
🠚 The cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 24.

<< Negatives >>
🠚 Lore dominated the narrative over deeper character growth.
🠚 Predictable plot elements until the final major twist.
🠚 Heavy-handed dialogue about characters wanting each other. Reminded me of high school!
🠚 Forced sexual commentary spoiled some of natural build-up.
🠚 Shadows arguing about sexual things felt very out-of-character and baffling.
🠚 “Good boy” moment felt jarringly out of place.
🠚 Repetition of Dominic’s canines being sharp and how alike his shadows are to him. We get it, please move on!
🠚 No explanation about why Dominic shares the same dream(s) as Inana.
🠚 Nobody really checks in or asks Rykar about that incident with Henderson in the inn.

CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Inana꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I was obsessed the moment she told her story. I love the whole idea of her stitched “beating heart”. I like her conflict of trusting and loving Dominic, understandable considering what happened when she was with Henry. When she said being with his shadows should be strange “and yet…” gurl, I get you!

-ˋˏ ꒰ Dominic꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I really adore his character complexity: he has loads of experience and secrets, a Shadowbane who doesn’t want to cause a scene, or kill unless he must. I like that he uses his shadows to calm Inana. Calling her “love” but ALSO “good girl”? AHHH! He’s giving 50 shades but shadow daddy edition. And then there’s his soft side: putting the blanket over her, taking her on a date, buying her that hair comb because he noticed her looking at it! STOP IT!

-ˋˏ ꒰ Other characters꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ Rykanr’s revenge story is very intriguing, I can’t wait to see how that goes! Sloth is super cute, it’s sweet how he runs around nudging people! Shoutout to the shadow squirrel/dragon too.

FAV QUOTES
• This is what I’ve craved, ever since I told that first tale when I was young. To balance on the knife’s edge between beauty and danger is the best feeling in the world.
• “Try it,” he says, a threat in his tone and a maniacal hunger in his dark eyes. A dare. “Lie to me, sinner. They like the way it tastes.”
• “I may not know your face, but my shadows will know your taste. I will track you down.”
• His attention sears me to the bone, an unspoken reminder that if he couldn’t hunt me down by sight before, he can now.
• “Welcome to my crew, sinners.”
• I wanted to see her hatred all over again, and I wanted to be the cause. Me. Nothing else. Not our situation or preconceived notions or generalized suspicion. Just me. My voice. My words.
• I imagine what it would be like if we weren’t master and crew. If he wasn’t someone I hate. If we weren’t on this rooftop keeping watch for monsters, but just a man and a woman enjoying a late autumn night. If we were just that, I’d find him... tolerable. More than tolerable. Handsome. Desirable, even.
• “Neither of us would like it if I got too hot.” My breath hitches and I get the feeling his words hold double meaning. Not just the warmth of his skin but also the fire that has sparked between us. A dangerous fire. One neither of us should touch.
• He pulls me into his chest, and I press my palm over his pectoral, luxuriating in his warmth, his heartbeat. He kisses the top of my head, and I nestle deeper into him. “Tell me a story, love.” The voice is low, deep, and guttural, thrilling in its sleep-drunk beauty.
• The gods must be punishing me. Inana is the worst person I could be alone with. The worst person to be stuck with. But I can’t regret it now. Even if I could choose again, I’d still jump into the river after her.
• “I told you that the next time you wanted my touch, you were going to beg for it.” He steps closer until he’s just a foot away. He still doesn’t let his eyes move lower down my body. Instead, his dark irises burn into mine as his lips curl into a cruel smile. “So beg, sinner.”
• Still, I say nothing as I let myself melt against him. As I envelop myself in his warmth. Knowing that if I let myself speak, I might accidentally admit that I’m ever so slowly—ever so certainly—falling for a man with a death wish.
• How have I lived six years without feeling this range of emotion? Without the pleasure and pain that pierces my chest? How will I live without it again, after she’s gone, safe across the sea? How can I risk her life for the duration of our agreement? How can I focus on anything *but* her?
• I may be keenly acquainted with the futility of hope, but it’s a powerful drug. Sometimes the only thing that keeps you going.
• “Let’s burn it all down,” I say. “Let’s make them fucking pay. Together.”

══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Tessonja Odette, Zaffre (Bonnier Books UK), and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.

A huge thank you to the Bonnier Hive Influencer program for providing me with a copy.

[Delusional Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

₊˚❀༉‧₊˚ 3.0 stars ‧ ༉‧₊❀₊˚

For anyone who has ever mended a broken heart and come out stronger for it.

₊‧ʚ・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

⚔️𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:⚔️
My feelings regarding this book are wholly neutral, which is why I gave it a 3 star rating. I found myself skimming through the book mainly to make sure I finished it, and although I did read the whole book, it felt more neutral than immersive.

This wasn't a bad read by any means, it just wasn't for me. I feel like most other people would love this book, but the vibes and story just weren't for me!!

₊‧ʚ・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

⚔️𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕-𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘:⚔️
The world-building was my biggest struggle. I had a hard time understanding and connecting to the world, and the concepts didn't fully click with me, making the world itself seem confusing, bland and uninteresting.

₊‧ʚ・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

⚔️𝕡𝕝𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:⚔️
The plot and pacing were engaging, and the book moved at a steady but efficient enough pace. The plot was also interesting, and I became invested in finding out what was going to happen next.

₊‧ʚ・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

⚔️𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖:⚔️
The romance felt like nothing special to me. It developed slowly, but wasn't slowburn. There was barely any good banter or build-up, and I didn't really feel anything regarding their relationship. The romantic stakes felt pretty low to me.

₊‧ʚ・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

⚔️𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:⚔️
Overall, this was an okay read, and I do not regret reading it, but I would not read it again, as it did not have a lasting impact. Because it was an ARC that I left a little late... 😭😭 and I ended up mainly skimming it, I will NOT add it to my 2026 reading challenge!

If you've read this far, TYSMM i love you from the bottom of my heart 💗
xoxo,
dawn 💌


₊‧ʚ・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊


𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅:

HELP ME 😭😭 this was my first ever official Netgalley ARC and I kind of forgot about it... and ITS ALREADY BEEN ARCHIVED AND PUBLISHED NOW 😔😭

what do i dooo?? sooo i will skim it quickly and write a review and hope Netgalley doesn't notice... 🥲🥲 I DO NOT KNOW HOW NETGALLEY WORKS, but it can't be that hard right... 😂🤞🏻

[Books_and_Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was the BEST book!!! This is going to break the world the moment it is released!!!

If you asked me before finishing THE LIES THAT SUMMON THE NIGHT to pick my one singular favorite book out of everything I have read in my whole life I would have said Crescent City HOEAB by Sarah J Maas. Hands down. This might top crescent city for me. I don’t know how Tessonja managed to weave a story of this complexity yet kept it absolutely delicious! Shadow hands are a thing of the past... now we have shadow SINS like Lust and Pride!

In a world where shadows are sentient, hostile beings, the world is kept as brightly lit as possible. It's run by the "Sinless"- humans that have been elevated to nobility, stripped of their sins, who now cast no shadow and crave the blood of others. The church preaches that art, creativity and much more are sins that attract the shades and promote violence. Sinning is expectedly, illegal and our FMC, Inana is one of the biggest sinners of all.

She is a seamstress and a story teller. Whispering her stories to the shades at night when no one can hear her, waiting for her lover to come home. One day everything that can go wrong, does. Our sinner is captured and sold like a criminal prize. From an underground entertainment circle for the rich to indulge in sins, to being bought by a Shadowbane- hunters that work for the church/nobility to take out the most dangerous shades.

The Shadowbane, Dominic, has purchased a crew of sinners (artists) and promised them freedom if they help him as his summoners. Their job? Use their talents. Sin. But this Shadowbane is different. He has shades that are connected to him. Lust, Pride and Sloth. Human sins manifested as his own personal shades. They bicker and banter constantly and Inana can hear them. He frustrates and excites her with his cryptic secrets and hidden agendas. But Inana makes him feel things his half soul shouldn't be able to. As they get closer, they learn that not all is as it seems and the world they knew, may not be so simple after all.

This story was so much more than I could have ever imagined! From manifested sins to delicious spice (shades included *wink*) I am in awe of the author's endless creativity and ability to sink her literary claws in and fully immerse me in a story.

I simply cannot wait to read this again and watch as the world gets to experience Tessonja Odette.

Thank you so much to the author and publisher for sending me an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are very much my own <3

[Mai ༊*·˚]

*starts another ARC past its Feb 3rd release date*


___________

Thank you to Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 3 out of 5]

rating: 2.5★
this hurts me to leave this rating bc I really adored tessonja’s entangled w fae series, but this really gave me generic mid romantasy 😭

the concept is very intriguing, but there are big info dumps and it’s a lot to juggle. plus one of my big pet peeves in fantasy is when an author constantly names nouns starting w the same letter. it makes it harder to keep track of concepts or people when you’re juggling a whole high fantasy world and magic system.

the problem is, this was fairly formulaic in its romance. big masculine scary shadow daddy. red blonde (?) ish fmc who doesn’t have friends. but wait scary guy is actually good. instalust even tho they’re supposed to be *enemies*. it feels like tradpub pushed hard for the cookie cutter romantasy that is selling today which took away all of tessonja’s charm I love in her writing.

i wouldn’t have finished this if I didn’t get an arc. there will be readers who enjoy it, but for me it didn’t deliver. I will look forward to more of tessonja’s fae books.

an honest arc review ♡

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 / 5 Stars
I had a pretty fun time with this. Was I sometimes confused by the magic system? Absolutely. Do I have lingering questions from the end? Yes. Was I still drawn in by the action and kicking my feet from the romance? Yes. And we are going to go with vibes on this one.

You will probably like this book if you like:
❤️ Romantasy with bloodsucking creatures and other monsters
❤️ Magical system where art is forbidden and seen as sin
❤️ ​​Fugitive FMC x Monster Hunter MMC
❤️ Morally gray main characters
❤️ Shadow play
❤️ Hate to allies to lo​​vers
❤️ Only one cave and we have to cuddle for warmth
❤️ “Just one time to get it out of our systems”

The book did start with a pretty extensive glossary which I appreciate but also is somewhat intimidating. For context, I read about 60% romance, 30% romantasy, and 10% everything else so fantasy is something that still feels kind of new to me. I know folks were making some comparisons to The Witcher for this one, but I haven’t seen it or read it, so I felt like I was playing catch up in terms of figuring out how the magic works. It was a really intriguing concept. There is magic and monsters based on the seven deadly sins and art can summon those monsters so it is forbidden. There are bloodsucking creatures who are Sinless (without sin but they do sin a lot so hello hypocrisy) and Shadowbanes who are half Sinless, half human. Inana is a fugitive because she has used her storytelling in a way that was forbidden so she is now working with a Shadowbane to help summon the monsters so that they can be removed from different helpless villages. Very cool concept, sometimes slightly confusing rules. BUT, later in the book, you find out why the rules are so confusing. BUT, the end felt like an info dump and I still have some basic questions that I am not sure will get answered in book 2.

But again, the vibes were still fun. I love a quest which Inana and some fellow fugitives are on with Dominic, the Shadowbane. I loved all the moments of action which I felt like were well written especially for someone (me) who has a hard time picturing things when they read (thanks a lot, mind’s eye).

I like that Inana was constantly questioning institutional powers and questioning what is sin and what isn’t. Why are some folks allowed to sin while others are killed for it? Why would art be a sin if it doesn’t feel wrong?

I really liked the romance. I am a romance sucker and I love when a rough, grumpy man is actually tender and kind hearted inside. And he is especially that way for her. Their idea of just doing it once to get it out of their system is always kind of funny because, surprise, it never works. The shadows added an interesting dynamic. I don’t think I’ve read shadow play like this before which kind of felt like Why Choose in an interesting way.

Either way, confused or not, I was having a good time. And sometimes that is the most important.

Thank you Ballantine | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: February 3, 2026
_____________
Pre-Read Thoughts: The cover on this is stunning and that may be 100% of the reason I requested this book 😂

[meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

happy publish day!!

if you like dark (and i mean check your trigger warnings dark), fantasy, a little spice (the little there was, was indeed GOOOOD) and some suspense/mystery, add this to your tbr for when it comes out and read it. thank me later.

this was amazing. i have never read anything like this before and i loved every second, start to finish. it even had some parts that literally made me laugh out loud.

both main characters are amazing and i have literally no flaws to them because their lives, their tragic lives, how they react/respond.. i just loved it.

i don't even know how to go about explaining this book without just telling someone to pick it up and read it and then text me EVERYTHING. cause it's just that good.

literal goosebumps from the ending (cliffhangers make me SCREAMMM) and from the whole book in general.

can't wait for the next one and can't wait to see what else this author has in store.

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ll be honest—I went into The Lies That Summon the Night excited. The idea of art giving life to monsters sounded eerie and brilliant. But somewhere between the first chapter and the last, I completely lost interest.

The romance? A total miss for me. I didn’t feel an ounce of chemistry between Inana and Dominic. Their connection felt forced, like I was told they were drawn to each other rather than actually seeing it unfold. I wanted to root for them, but there was just…nothing there.

The world itself could’ve been rich and darkly magical, but it never got there. The lore and magic system were confusing from the start—half-explained rules, names tossed around without context, and so many new characters thrown in at once that I couldn’t keep anyone straight. I kept flipping back, trying to piece things together, but the threads never formed a clear picture.

By the end, I was mostly frustrated. The story had all the right ingredients but none of the follow-through. I love fantasy that makes me feel something—mystery, wonder, heartbreak—but this one just left me tired and disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟

Going through a breakup at the moment so I felt this story... HARD! ❤️‍🩹

☝🏼 Initial reaction ☝🏼

My god this was so good! The world building was amazing, the characters where we'll thought out and had great development! This going to be a hit when it releases! I just feel it! If you are looking for a new take on vampirism, you are totally going to love this!

And that plot twist at the ending?! Dammit! I can't wait to read this one again in anticipation for book two! I'm so curious to see where this story is going!

Get that revenge gril! I totally get it 🤣

Thanks you so much Netgalley and Bonnier Book UK publishing for the ARC! This was absolutely amazing!

[Shannon Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Day! 🔥

''I refuse to face death while holding still. I will dance with it like a fucking lady until it strangles the breath from my lungs.''

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️.5

Wow, this was such a refreshing and unique take on vampire lore and sin. The magic system and world was very different from anything I have ever read before. This was my first book by Tessonja, and her writing was beautifully done. You can tell she is a very experienced writer.

The pacing throughout the book was very well done. Her writing flowed effortlessly off the pages and made it super easy to read! We had a good amount of depth and development in the world-building that kept you engaged and locked in from start to finish. A lot of great characters with their own interesting backgrounds and stories. The romance had a love-hate dynamic going on that created great tension and amazing banter! The spice was very yummy. We got about three scenes; it was definitely on the lighter side, but still delivered in the best way! Let's just say our characters still have a lot to explore in book 2.😉

The magic system had to be one of my favorite dynamics in this book! Between the unique vampire lore and the shadow shades💞, I was extremely captivated in learning and seeing where everything was going to go. We also had a lot of twists and turns with the storyline that I did not see coming! That ending.....🤯 I don't even know what to think!

If you are looking for your next Romantasy read but want something unique and eccentric that still gives you all the things you love in a great book, I would definitely give this new series a try! 💖

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC read opportunity!

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Release Day!!

A really interesting premise with great characters and a crazy ending.

This one started out a little slow for me. There was definitely a lot of info dumping, but it wasn't done in such a way where I felt like I was reading a history book. It was just a lot of information and slowed down the progression of the book a bit.

But there was a lot going on and a lot of secrets that were out there that I was just dying to know more about. And a lot of them didn't take the entire book to come out, which certainly helps with the flow and keeping the reader on a forward trajectory. Just giving us more and more crumbs so we keep eating 😄

The MMC was 🤌 though I felt his character was a little inconsistent, but I enjoyed every bit of him. FMC was also pretty good, but I did have issues with her here and there. And her "art" is something that I have trouble with in books. I've come across a couple stories where the FMC's power is storytelling. And that just doesn't pack a punch for me. It gives an opportunity to have some really beautiful prose but that's about it for me. And honestly, it wasn't even used that much anyway so the whole premise of the book didn't really end up being the meat of it.

But jesus that ending! Super emotional, definitely made me tear up a bit. And a twist I didn't fully see coming. The rest of this series is gonna be crazy ❤️‍🔥

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Samantha Gaudious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed!!!! ⭐️

This is SO good!!!
I loved everything about this book 😆
Just when you think shadow daddies are played out, Tessonja brings it in one of the most unique ways with such a captivating world!!

In a world where art is breaking the law, where there’s these evil, scary, you need to stay away from them shades… we follow Inanas journey of heart break and discovery.

The world is perfect!
The romance is CHEFS KISS!
(The tension will drive you insane 😆❤️‍🔥)
Not to mention, an original take on vampires?!!
Truly a perfect balance!

I need more of this NOW! Absolutely a must read 🫶

[Olivia Wildenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to choose one word to describe Odette’s new romantasy, it would be: scintillating. Every element—from the prose to the characters to the romance—glows with life and dazzles with brilliance.

[Sam Sellner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Big thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

This one had me intrigued from the jump, even if I was lowkey confused for a good chunk of it. The magic system is… a lot. Heavy info-dumping upfront, and while the glossary helped, I still felt slightly lost at times. That said, the concept itself is so interesting that I pushed through.

The first half is definitely slow, but once the secrets start spilling at the halfway point, the story finally gets its momentum. The idea of art being forbidden has me obsessed. I also loved watching Inana’s personal growth, especially as she wrestled with her inner conflicts and finally starts seeing the world for what it really is.

While I enjoyed the Dominic, he just didn’t stand out to me. He felt a bit inconsistent, and while the banter was fun, the romance leaned hard into insta-love, which knocked it down a notch for me.

But that ending?? The twists were genuinely jaw-dropping and completely changed the game. There’s so much potential here, and I’m absolutely curious to see where the story goes next.

[The Chapter Chaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come...probably a 3.5⭐️ rounded to 4.

I am speechless, still processing, quick overview:

first 30%: 🙂🙂

from 20 to 70%:😴🥱😴🥱😴🥱😴😴😴😴😴

after 70%: 🥵🫠😍😬🤯🙁🤯🙁😫😭😭😭😢😢😢😭😭🤯🤯🤯...what? Noooooooo way

..........................................................................................

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine|Delacorte Press for the Arc!

It’s my first book by Tessonja Odette, so I’m not yet familiar with her style, but I’m really excited to jump into it. The mix of art, paranormal elements, and romantasy feels like a fresh, intriguing concept.

What I expect from my quick pre-read:
🗡️ Vengeance & Justice — I have the feeling the FMC is going to be unleashed.

👑 Forbidden Alliance — A hunter… and her prey.

🖤 Dark Magic & Curses — Bloodthirsty shadows, monster hunting, paranormal danger.

💔 Trust vs. Betrayal — Using each other without ever fully trusting… right?

🔥 Slow-Burn Tension — Always unavoidable in this kind of story, isn’t it?That's why we like it

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Such a really interesting and well built world. The chemistry 😍 there is enough spice thrown in to satisfy those looking for it without detracting from the plot at all. My only complaint it ends on a cliff hanger and now I must wait for the next book 🫠 Thanks Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this early!

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Extremely engaging fantasy with some spicy romance in the world where art leads to summoning dangerous shades.

"The Lies that Summon the Night" tells a story of a storyteller Inana, which is forced to live in a world where any art is forbidden. It causes dangerous Shades to be summoned and therefore any of such acts are scrupulously removed. When Dominic, a monster hunter appears and takes Inana into his crew she will discover secrets about the world and about herself that she had never dreamt of. Will they be able to take a risk and stand up in the name of their beliefs and the spark that's between them?

"The Lies that Summon the Night" was an amazing and very addictive read. The general idea for a story was very imaginative and the whole plot was very picturesque almost like from a movie. I really enjoyed all the battles with Shadows and the journey that our characters commenced.

The politics and secrets were intricately woven and stitched together. I was extremely curious about how the book will end and I was not dissapointed.

The romance was also to my taste. It wasn't rushed and I could actually feel how their bond is tightening. The spice scene was also very nice, I even blushed! :)))

For sure I will recommend this book to every fantasy reader who'd like to read something refreshing with a bit of romance and very good and mysterious plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Marissa.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A world where art is forbidden, and dark shadows hunt down all those who dare to create..yes, it’s as interesting as it sounds! I could not get enough of Sloth, Lust & Pride, such a unique twist on shadow wielding. That plot twist, round of applause!

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wow what an amazing novel. This is fantasy folks!! I was so enthralled by this novel from the glossary. The world is so intriguing and I haven’t read a magic system quite like this one. The uniqueness of it made the action scenes so cool, and the way normal art was magical in its own way was so so powerful.

Inana is a FANTASTIC main character. I loved her so much. Her humour, love for art, personal conflicts, and guts blend together to make someone so easy to root for. The ending I did see coming for her and I’m so curious as to how we’re moving forward 👀

Dominic I have to say was actually really likeable???! Sometimes I don’t vibe with the main guys in fantasies for the first book or two, but I’m happy he had an established backstory and goal from the beginning. We don’t stay in the dark too long about him which makes his small growth really well written. I found him super funny as well!

The romance was insta lovey but I think the dynamics and chemistry of Dom and inana make up for that haha. I’m so invested!!

The side characters have so much potential and I’m super interested in all of their futures (Harlow especially!).

The plot guys I’m so locked in. The world is rich and corrupt, which makes the story have some interesting themes. I enjoyed the conversations about religion and corruption so much. The beginning seeds of this plot had SO much potential and I’m so excited to see where Tessonja takes us!

The writing is also so so good. Dual POVs that are distinct and the writing is simply just addictive.

I really really enjoyed this one and I’m so so excited for book 2!!

[Karly · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.25/5) ARC review in progress! Overall, had a great time. This has a super unique magic system & a plot twist at the end that had me 🤯

[Rachel Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you very much Bonnier Books UK and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts on this one were a bit mixed from the start. The opening glossary explanation of everything is intense. I struggle with magic systems that require a heavy info-dump upfront, I prefer when it unfolds organically as you go along - but this was perhaps just the formatting of the arc rather than the intended reading order.

I thought the premise itself was solid and the writing is was fine too but (and I feel ancient admitting this) the sheer volume of *f*ck* took me out of the story. I’m absolutely not bothered by swearing in general (literally never even thought about it in a book before), but it gave the dialogue a different edge that didn’t fit the vibe and fantasy setting I was building in my head. Once I noticed it, it became impossible to ignore.

I also wrestled with the core concept, that the Sinless - souls scrubbed clean - are the cruel, violent faction. Their behaviour felt at odds with the premise, and I couldn’t quite reconcile how a human church holds power over immoral beings. The art system tied to the seven sins didn’t quite click for me either.

There are definitely interesting ideas here, certain elements reminded me of The Witcher and Crown of Nyaxia which I really liked. But I struggled to connect with the characters Inara (although I love the name) and Dominic and without that anchor, my engagement slipped and I ultimately wasn’t invested enough to continue the latter half.

[Mandy]

DNF around 25%. I have been STRUGGLING with romantasy lately. I was promised a 6⭐️ read and a unique romantasy. So, I was excited to dive in. But, I don’t think of this is going to work for me.

We also get the mmc’s pov. His first chapter the FMC makes his “dead soul” feel something. I prefer my romance a bit slower than this was giving.

[Ash ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There is no lie greater than fiction,
No sin more beautiful than art.”

Okay listen… this is a hard one for me to review because I have a LOT of thoughts and they’re all fighting each other a little bit. This is going to be a bit chaotic....

I went into this expecting something that felt like Tessonja Odette’s previous books -- and this is absolutely not that. Not in tone, not in structure, not in emotional delivery. And I’m not mad about it… but I am conflicted.

This story opens with forbidden art, shadow theology, and an fmc who turns heartbreak into performance. It never really stops being dark, eerie, and intentionally unsettling from there. The whole book leans much more horror-romantasy than standard romantasy, with identity, sin, shadow, and transformation baked directly into the magic system.

The creepy elements are where this book absolutely shines: the Shades, the wrong-mirror feeling, the soul-merging, the shadow voices, the identity distortion. I love a rich gothic fantasy, so naturally, I ate those parts UP.

The seamstress imagery, stitched hearts, shadow lore, and Incarnate mythology give the story a backbone that feels really distinct. Not only different from typical romantasy, but different from what I've come to expect from Tessonja.

“A patchwork heart may not be what I was born with, nor is it what I wanted …
But a patchwork heart is like any broken thing that’s been mended. Beautiful. Stronger. New.”
This broken / remade / re-stitched motif is one of the most effective through-lines in the entire book. It shows up everywhere - in the magic, the character arc, the identity themes - and it’s handled with a lot of consistency.

Conceptually… this is a strong book.


Tropes & Vibes :
dual pov
forbidden art & storytelling magic
shadow creatures & Incarnates
morally complex leads
identity fracture & transformation
gothic religious worldbuilding
monster-and-maker themes
stitched-heart symbolism
dark, eerie romantasy tone

Inana is actually one of the strongest parts of the book. She is thematically rich, symbolically cohesive, and structurally central in a way that feels intentional and well executed. Despite me feeling emotionally distant at times while reading, Inana is not shallow, passive, or a trope-default. She is more of a craft-based metaphor embodied as a person vs your typical traumatized heroine. Inana is an outlaw, indentured, hunted, coerced, threatened, cornered -- yet she still chooses, resists, bargains, runs, performs, lies, and negotiates. Inana is a grim survivor and a fractured soul, and I love her for that.

Dominic is interesting because he’s not written as a charm-forward, flirty type. He’s restrained, dangerous, morally tense, and functions more as a thematic mirror to Inana than a swoony shadow daddy. If you’re coming in for playful banter and golden-retriever energy, that’s not really his lane -- but for the story being told, his dry, dangerous tension fits extremely well.
Also (!!!) I would be committing a crime if I didn’t mention the spice. It is, in fact, SPICINNNNNN.

One of my fav things about Tessonja is her ability to write tension-forward, high-heat scenes that still feel emotionally and thematically grounded. She absolutely delivered here. The chemistry payoff is intense, shadowy, and very on brand for the darker tone of the story.

Dominic having phantom-touch shadow hands did things to my brain. Apparently, this is a trope that works on me every single time. SHOUT-OUT TO MY MAN, DORIAN PHANTOM HANDS HAVILIARD. IYKYK

Overall, this book wasn’t for me (somehow??). I love a metaphor-rich gothic fantasy, but I connect most when the symbolism is carried through very close emotional pov and relationship dynamics. This book is more theme-forward than relationship-forward in how it delivers its impact. I admired it more than I emotionally melted into it …if that makes sense.

So, this lands at 3 stars. A good, thoughtful, creatively ambitious read. Just a bit outside my emotional sweet spot. I can absolutely see readers who love concept-driven, symbolic, gothic fantasy rating this higher than I did.

Thank you Delacorte Press and Ballantine Books for the gifted galley!

_________________________
pre-read thoughts:

AHHHH!!! I love Tessonja! I am so excited to be holding this arc & can't wait to dive in

[My Dark Romantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Great characters and fantasy elements. But I was confused by the world building.

[millena ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟 i swear i was gonna ignore the insta lust bc i actually thought the magic system had potential so i figured it’d be fine if i didn’t care for the romance as long as i liked everything else. but at some point everything just turned into a big unnecessary mess and it honestly ruined the whole experience for me. i am (unfortunately) curious to see how that ending’s gonna be resolved in the sequel tho

[°❀⋆.monica ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘the lies that summon the night’ was a fresh take on the beloved vampire trope, filled with a suspenseful story and an intriguing plot.

in this world, creating art is considered a sin that attracts the bloodthirsty shadows who wreak havoc on the world. we follow our main character inana, who makes her living telling stories to the elite who wish for a taste of sin. after a run-in with the monster hunter dominic, inana is recruited to help catch these shadows through her art. as they travel the country hunting these bloodthirsty shadows, secrets are unraveled that may destroy the whole political structure of the world and the bond between these two only grows stronger.

I really wanted to like this story more than I did. I thought the beginning was really strong and had me intrigued, especially the whole “art is a sin” plot line. but I had two major issues with this book: the romance and the pacing.

I really struggled with the romance in this one, which is such a shame because it could have been a really fun forbidden love story. beyond the surface level attraction, I couldn’t understand why these characters had such strong feelings toward each other. it just felt like lust was used as a means to convince me that they are in love, but I couldn’t get behind it.

my other issue was with the pacing. the first 15% was really fun and had me curious of where the story was going and the last 20% was crazy with lots of revelations and new plot developments, but the middle dragged. the crew of characters was just meandering around the country, killing monsters and learning about the political tensions currently present. it got old really fast and there are only so many similar fighting scenes I can read before getting bored. by the time we got to the climax of the story, I don’t feel like I fully enjoyed all the crazy twists because I lost a lot of my interest and didn’t really care so much for what was revealed. I think if the middle part of the story moved a bit more quickly, the pacing wouldn’t have suffered as much.

I also was not a fan of the amount of swearing in this book. don’t get me wrong, swears are in my daily vocabulary, but it was excessive in this one. in a single chapter, there was probably 5-10 f-bombs dropped that really just took away any impact this strong language could have had. it made the story feel more juvenile, which again is a shame because it could have been a really good vampire book.

overall, I think this book had the potential to be really great but unfortunately suffered from a weak romance and poor pacing.

thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Delacorte Press, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Faiza · Rating 2 out of 5]

i wanted to love this book!! :(

i really liked odette’s rivalry of hearts series and found her writing and characters incredibly compelling. i was beyond excited to hear she had a romantasy / fantasy romance coming. given the page count, i thought i could devour this book in one sitting. but unfortunately it took me daaaays and i was quite disappointed with it overall.

i thought the world building was very ambitious and unique, but felt like it was explained in the worst way possible. tons of info dumps, characters monologuing for pages, unnatural conversations used for exposition. maybe it was just me, but i found it so difficult to follow. i get there’s a glossary, but that should complement the descriptions in the writing, not serve as the only source of understanding what the heck was happening.

speaking of, i also felt like i didn’t understand what the characters were doing at all. the start felt like a heist almost and i loved how the mmc recruited all the characters together. then i felt like i had no clue what they were doing? sinning lol? idk. i was so confused and still couldn’t tell you what was happening. also, major insta lust vibes.

then there was a huge twist at the end supposedly, but again the impact was minimal because i wasn’t sure what the implications were.

i will say, i enjoyed the characters and relationships. i thought the concept was cool. but unfortunately found the story unnecessarily confusing and not very compelling.

[Joy Metzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my most anticipated 2026 releases and I’m a little underwhelmed? I enjoyed this but I needed more. It was at least 100 pages too short. I want to know about the world and the magic.

So… there are vampires (the sinless), half-vampires (the shadowborne), and humans. Shadowborne warriors fight shades and incarnates who are drawn to art - storytelling, music, drawing, etc. Our FMC, Inana, is called the Seamstress, a storyteller with a tragic past. A shadowborne named Dominic buys out Inana and two other sinners’ contracts and basically uses them as bait so that he can kill shades terrorizing towns.

This is instalove/lust, and the FMC has more chemistry with MMC’s shades than the MMC himself- Dominic’s shades are an extension of him and they are cheeky and horny (my favorite characters of the story).

I really enjoyed the last 25% of this book and will continue with the series in hopes that we get to learn more about this world.