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The Beastbond #1
The Black Hearth
She runs her arena with ruthless ambition, pitting warriors against deadly monsters—until a half-frozen gladiator crawls out of a blizzard and into her control.
Malina Questhen has spent a decade building The Black Hearth from blood and grit. She survives by keeping her distance, staying in command, and never wanting anyone she can’t afford to lose. But her patrons crave more carnage, her fighters are dwindling, and without change she’ll lose her chance to reopen Frosthall—the ancient arena that could secure her future. So when a mysterious gladiator appears in the midst of a blizzard and becomes hers to command, she sees the champion her crowds crave.
If she can nurse him back to health.
Waythorn speaks little, remembers less, and moves with the eerie stillness of someone barely human, yet she feels his unspoken attention lingering on her skin. Soon she will discover his obedience is a facade to disguise the fatal goal that drove him into her arena.
After a disastrous fight night forces Malina into a dangerous, intimate bargain with him, their lives become entangled far beyond the sands. If she can uphold her side of the deal, she could finally have Frosthall and secure the future she’s bled for. But the closer she grows to Waythorn, the harder it becomes to ignore the pull between them.
Falling for a man whose fate is written in blood on sand is the one mistake she can’t afford. Because keeping her promise will mean losing him forever.
The Black Hearth by Eddy Rose is a dark fantasy romance that blends the brutal spectacle of Gladiator with the grimdark mystery of The Witcher—then sets it on fire with a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers arc. If you crave a mature, ruthless heroine, a quiet, haunted gladiator, and a world dripping with blood and ruin, don’t wait—claim The Black Hearth today.
Malina Questhen has spent a decade building The Black Hearth from blood and grit. She survives by keeping her distance, staying in command, and never wanting anyone she can’t afford to lose. But her patrons crave more carnage, her fighters are dwindling, and without change she’ll lose her chance to reopen Frosthall—the ancient arena that could secure her future. So when a mysterious gladiator appears in the midst of a blizzard and becomes hers to command, she sees the champion her crowds crave.
If she can nurse him back to health.
Waythorn speaks little, remembers less, and moves with the eerie stillness of someone barely human, yet she feels his unspoken attention lingering on her skin. Soon she will discover his obedience is a facade to disguise the fatal goal that drove him into her arena.
After a disastrous fight night forces Malina into a dangerous, intimate bargain with him, their lives become entangled far beyond the sands. If she can uphold her side of the deal, she could finally have Frosthall and secure the future she’s bled for. But the closer she grows to Waythorn, the harder it becomes to ignore the pull between them.
Falling for a man whose fate is written in blood on sand is the one mistake she can’t afford. Because keeping her promise will mean losing him forever.
The Black Hearth by Eddy Rose is a dark fantasy romance that blends the brutal spectacle of Gladiator with the grimdark mystery of The Witcher—then sets it on fire with a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers arc. If you crave a mature, ruthless heroine, a quiet, haunted gladiator, and a world dripping with blood and ruin, don’t wait—claim The Black Hearth today.
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About the author
Eddy Rose
6 books62 followersEddy Rose writes grimdark fantasy filled with gladiators, grit, and romance. Her characters are morally grey, complex humans with emotional depth, strong character development, and often a fatal lack of social skills. She enjoys creating worlds full of deadly arenas, questionable social structures, rich lore, unique creatures, and maps she designs herself as a budding cartographer.
Eddy is a psychologist by day, author by night—and you can ask her characters how they feel about being written by a shrink (hint: they're not thrilled). Her readers blame her training for being good at making people cry, and she's probably guilty of that.
When she’s not working, you can (try to) find Eddy somewhere on the Gold Coast, Queensland—but you’ll probably fail, because she’s very good at hiding from people. Unless you’re her husband or son, who are exceptionally talented at tracking her. Jokes aside, she adores her reader community and will spoil you with free short stories and maps if you join her newsletter.
Eddy is a psychologist by day, author by night—and you can ask her characters how they feel about being written by a shrink (hint: they're not thrilled). Her readers blame her training for being good at making people cry, and she's probably guilty of that.
When she’s not working, you can (try to) find Eddy somewhere on the Gold Coast, Queensland—but you’ll probably fail, because she’s very good at hiding from people. Unless you’re her husband or son, who are exceptionally talented at tracking her. Jokes aside, she adores her reader community and will spoil you with free short stories and maps if you join her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
April 22, 2026
4 stars
★★★★☆
A tortured gladiator and the ruthless arena owner who owns him. The fights are gory, romance is forbidden, the themes are dark.
Malina owns a gladiator arena. Her goals are bigger than her funds, and she needs more fighters, more spectacle, more carnage to keep it running. In the middle of a blizzard, Waythorn stumbles into the warmth of the Black Hearth. He is just what she needs to turn the tide of her fortune. They make a dangerous bargain, and fulfilling it will cost her heart.
The story of Malina and Waythorn is about resilience and its cost. The different ways we fight in life and what we might sacrifice for peace. Themes of freedom, choices, identity and consent were powerful and intricately done. An emotionally heavy book that was heartbreaking through out. The tension was high from the start and didn’t let up.
I wish had 200 more pages of their relationship, their backstories, the yearning and the fight for their freedom. Also an epilogue of their happy family that makes me hysterically sob.
This rich, frozen world with an emotional romantic story was captivating and left me wanting more. The power dynamics were complex and I think needed more space to fully develop and feel less controversial. A short, tragic, punchy book that was emotionally charged and thrillingly tense.
Let me be clear, this wasn't my first dark romantsy, and it won't be my last. I have read way darker, and more fucked up books. As a Black person, from two different colonised countries (Kenya and Australia), this was kind of a hard read. Slavery is always a sensitive topic, and for me this book had a a lot of slavery content that made me uncomfortable. I think the power dynamics and the slavery is too complex to resolve within a 286 page book, so I hope whoever picks this up is aware of the dark nature of its content.
Please check the content warnings!! this is a grim-dark romantasy and it has very dark themes!! take care of yourself i beg!!
☞ content warnings: **contains spoilers**
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I also posted my review on my blog ✿ and Instagram ✿
★★★★☆
A tortured gladiator and the ruthless arena owner who owns him. The fights are gory, romance is forbidden, the themes are dark.
Malina owns a gladiator arena. Her goals are bigger than her funds, and she needs more fighters, more spectacle, more carnage to keep it running. In the middle of a blizzard, Waythorn stumbles into the warmth of the Black Hearth. He is just what she needs to turn the tide of her fortune. They make a dangerous bargain, and fulfilling it will cost her heart.
The story of Malina and Waythorn is about resilience and its cost. The different ways we fight in life and what we might sacrifice for peace. Themes of freedom, choices, identity and consent were powerful and intricately done. An emotionally heavy book that was heartbreaking through out. The tension was high from the start and didn’t let up.
I wish had 200 more pages of their relationship, their backstories, the yearning and the fight for their freedom. Also an epilogue of their happy family that makes me hysterically sob.
This rich, frozen world with an emotional romantic story was captivating and left me wanting more. The power dynamics were complex and I think needed more space to fully develop and feel less controversial. A short, tragic, punchy book that was emotionally charged and thrillingly tense.
Let me be clear, this wasn't my first dark romantsy, and it won't be my last. I have read way darker, and more fucked up books. As a Black person, from two different colonised countries (Kenya and Australia), this was kind of a hard read. Slavery is always a sensitive topic, and for me this book had a a lot of slavery content that made me uncomfortable. I think the power dynamics and the slavery is too complex to resolve within a 286 page book, so I hope whoever picks this up is aware of the dark nature of its content.
Please check the content warnings!! this is a grim-dark romantasy and it has very dark themes!! take care of yourself i beg!!
☞ content warnings: **contains spoilers**
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I also posted my review on my blog ✿ and Instagram ✿
Blog ✿ Goodreads ✿ TikTok ✿ Twitter ✿ Instagram ✿ Pinterest ✿ StoryGraph ✿ Discovery ✿
March 19, 2026
I got to read an ARC copy of this and I am overjoyed!
Sooooo....the release of this book prior to the next (and final?) Twilight of Blood book kinda makes sense...especially when you get to the end of this one. This book is in same universe, but very different from the ToB books, and that's ok. I liked that we got to see a small story in a small corner of this world....a small story that drops gems that could blow up this world's...er, world. Yeah, yeah, there was the romance side and all that, which I went into it knowing about, but it was the end that really got me. Yoooooooo. Might we get some "prequel" books in the future? Like, say, the books Dorrala is hunting? Huh? *wiggles eyebrows* Make it so! I want to read about the truths and cover-ups and what happened in "real time". I'm really excited just thinking about it.
So, anyway...this one seems to kinda take place before the ToB books, but read those first. It's best that way.
Commentary:
• *settles in* Ok, Eddy, how much are you going to traumatize us this time? 😉
• "...resembled both a bear and a mountain lion..." I shall call it: Liare! Had to add the e on the end so it was different than "liar" 🤭
• I have a feeling the freeborn is gonna die...
• Me thinks Waythorn's fiend is misbehaving in his mind...
• "That girl really needed to keep her thoughts off her face." Lol yeah, me too
• Ooo road trip!
• "It's just a bird." 🤣
• Ugh, Khorhan's place? Blech
• He didn't finish!!
• Waythorn would probably be great in the WWE with all his theatrics 🤣
• "In a week's time..." 🥺
• Lol that bird still hanging out over there?
• Who's this guy Dorrala is dealing with???? 🤔🤨😠
• Aha! I've got a clear picture of Khorhan in my head: Pilou Asbeak! Still trying to picture Waythorn and Malina. 😒
• Murdered? Or was he Raged and set on them?
• Free him! Will that help him!? Can she do that? I don't remember.
• What are you doing woman? What's your plan here? 🤨
• Aww, poor Goral
• Lol he gonna utilize that bird during the fight?
• Self defense! I claim self defense! That's atrocious!
• "The deliberate scrape of boots on stone snapped the air." Azzie! That you!? 🤗😆
• Wrong one, Bird!! Ugh!
• 🤗
• Dorrala is all of us 🤣🤣
• It's 'Lorelei' not 'Lyralei', gawsh 😒🙄🤭
• "...the most boring thing I've ever held in my hands..." i lost it at her comparison 🤣💀
• "...our beloved King Leonis Zarall..." ok, that partly answers one of the questions I had (maybe?)
• "...what if purebreds haven't always been slaves?" 🤗🤗 this is probably the most interesting part of the book for me 🤷♀️ I'm a nerd.
• Ok, I want to go with Dorrala. I want to know more!
Sooooo....the release of this book prior to the next (and final?) Twilight of Blood book kinda makes sense...especially when you get to the end of this one. This book is in same universe, but very different from the ToB books, and that's ok. I liked that we got to see a small story in a small corner of this world....a small story that drops gems that could blow up this world's...er, world. Yeah, yeah, there was the romance side and all that, which I went into it knowing about, but it was the end that really got me. Yoooooooo. Might we get some "prequel" books in the future? Like, say, the books Dorrala is hunting? Huh? *wiggles eyebrows* Make it so! I want to read about the truths and cover-ups and what happened in "real time". I'm really excited just thinking about it.
So, anyway...this one seems to kinda take place before the ToB books, but read those first. It's best that way.
Commentary:
• *settles in* Ok, Eddy, how much are you going to traumatize us this time? 😉
• "...resembled both a bear and a mountain lion..." I shall call it: Liare! Had to add the e on the end so it was different than "liar" 🤭
• I have a feeling the freeborn is gonna die...
• Me thinks Waythorn's fiend is misbehaving in his mind...
• "That girl really needed to keep her thoughts off her face." Lol yeah, me too
• Ooo road trip!
• "It's just a bird." 🤣
• Ugh, Khorhan's place? Blech
• He didn't finish!!
• Waythorn would probably be great in the WWE with all his theatrics 🤣
• "In a week's time..." 🥺
• Lol that bird still hanging out over there?
• Who's this guy Dorrala is dealing with???? 🤔🤨😠
• Aha! I've got a clear picture of Khorhan in my head: Pilou Asbeak! Still trying to picture Waythorn and Malina. 😒
• Murdered? Or was he Raged and set on them?
• Free him! Will that help him!? Can she do that? I don't remember.
• What are you doing woman? What's your plan here? 🤨
• Aww, poor Goral
• Lol he gonna utilize that bird during the fight?
• Self defense! I claim self defense! That's atrocious!
• "The deliberate scrape of boots on stone snapped the air." Azzie! That you!? 🤗😆
• Wrong one, Bird!! Ugh!
• 🤗
• Dorrala is all of us 🤣🤣
• It's 'Lorelei' not 'Lyralei', gawsh 😒🙄🤭
• "...the most boring thing I've ever held in my hands..." i lost it at her comparison 🤣💀
• "...our beloved King Leonis Zarall..." ok, that partly answers one of the questions I had (maybe?)
• "...what if purebreds haven't always been slaves?" 🤗🤗 this is probably the most interesting part of the book for me 🤷♀️ I'm a nerd.
• Ok, I want to go with Dorrala. I want to know more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2026
ohhh she did it again!
Eddy's writing is absolutely captivating. Her characters are deep and complex, and the story is compelling. I almost gave up on fantasy/romance because so many mainstream works feel shallow and formulaic—but then Eddy delivered this gem.
Black Hearth, though set in the same world as The Twilight of Blood series, is shorter and more romance-focused. Nevertheless, it masterfully encompasses angst, romance and spice, action, and some mystery. It left me eagerly anticipating the next story and the third book in the trilogy (?).
Huge thanks, Eddy, for letting me dive into this ARC—it was incredible!
Eddy's writing is absolutely captivating. Her characters are deep and complex, and the story is compelling. I almost gave up on fantasy/romance because so many mainstream works feel shallow and formulaic—but then Eddy delivered this gem.
Black Hearth, though set in the same world as The Twilight of Blood series, is shorter and more romance-focused. Nevertheless, it masterfully encompasses angst, romance and spice, action, and some mystery. It left me eagerly anticipating the next story and the third book in the trilogy (?).
Huge thanks, Eddy, for letting me dive into this ARC—it was incredible!
March 24, 2026
⚔️ ARC REVIEW ⚔️
🩸 The Black Hearth — Eddy Rose 🩸
From chapter one this book chooses violence. Literally.
Blood. Gore. Brutality. No warm-up. Just straight into the arena like “good luck babe.”
The atmosphere is incredibly dark and heavy — you can feel the pain, exhaustion, and moral greyness of these characters. The descriptions are vivid in a way that makes everything feel grimy, dangerous, and real.
We follow a ruthless, powerful arena owner (female rage lovers rise) and an emotionless gladiator who has been bred for obedience and survival. These “purebred” warriors are stronger, bigger, more beautiful — but stripped of identity and agency. The concept itself is honestly heartbreaking and adds a heavy emotional layer to the story.
The tension??? Already tensioning from the start.
He barely speaks. We live mostly in her POV.
Yet the pull between them is immediate and intense.
Also… she spends a lot of time appreciating his body.
Respectfully — same.
There are moments where his innocence is genuinely endearing but also makes you want to shake him and yell “NOT LITERALLY.” Which makes sense because he’s been trained not to feel or interpret emotional nuance.
The pacing felt really solid throughout and the arena setting keeps the stakes high. I did struggle a bit with some character names, but that’s a personal brain issue, not a book issue.
Tropes & vibes:
⚔️ dark fantasy romance
⚔️ enemies-to-lovers tension
⚔️ powerful morally grey heroine
⚔️ trauma / slavery themes
⚔️ gore & brutal fight scenes
⚔️ one bed energy 👀
⚔️ heavy lust → emotional connection
One thing I would recommend: read the glossary at the start. It says it may contain spoilers, but I actually wish I had read it first because some world details were confusing initially.
Overall I really enjoyed this. The romance develops from intense physical attraction into something deeper, though the emotional growth is more subtle — which makes sense considering the MMC has literally been conditioned not to feel.
This story explores heavy themes around freedom, self-worth, mental health, and what it means to belong when your life has never been your own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would you survive a night in the arena… or would you simply become part of the
🩸 The Black Hearth — Eddy Rose 🩸
From chapter one this book chooses violence. Literally.
Blood. Gore. Brutality. No warm-up. Just straight into the arena like “good luck babe.”
The atmosphere is incredibly dark and heavy — you can feel the pain, exhaustion, and moral greyness of these characters. The descriptions are vivid in a way that makes everything feel grimy, dangerous, and real.
We follow a ruthless, powerful arena owner (female rage lovers rise) and an emotionless gladiator who has been bred for obedience and survival. These “purebred” warriors are stronger, bigger, more beautiful — but stripped of identity and agency. The concept itself is honestly heartbreaking and adds a heavy emotional layer to the story.
The tension??? Already tensioning from the start.
He barely speaks. We live mostly in her POV.
Yet the pull between them is immediate and intense.
Also… she spends a lot of time appreciating his body.
Respectfully — same.
There are moments where his innocence is genuinely endearing but also makes you want to shake him and yell “NOT LITERALLY.” Which makes sense because he’s been trained not to feel or interpret emotional nuance.
The pacing felt really solid throughout and the arena setting keeps the stakes high. I did struggle a bit with some character names, but that’s a personal brain issue, not a book issue.
Tropes & vibes:
⚔️ dark fantasy romance
⚔️ enemies-to-lovers tension
⚔️ powerful morally grey heroine
⚔️ trauma / slavery themes
⚔️ gore & brutal fight scenes
⚔️ one bed energy 👀
⚔️ heavy lust → emotional connection
One thing I would recommend: read the glossary at the start. It says it may contain spoilers, but I actually wish I had read it first because some world details were confusing initially.
Overall I really enjoyed this. The romance develops from intense physical attraction into something deeper, though the emotional growth is more subtle — which makes sense considering the MMC has literally been conditioned not to feel.
This story explores heavy themes around freedom, self-worth, mental health, and what it means to belong when your life has never been your own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would you survive a night in the arena… or would you simply become part of the
April 20, 2026
It’s been a while since a book hit me in the feels like this. I felt like I spent a third of the book either in tears or on the verge of it. This was a 5⭐️ read for me.
I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. I saw arena and gladiators, but it was so so much more than that. The Black Hearth Arena was well described as well as the areas around it. You could almost feel the heat given off by the hearth, as well as the excitement in the arenas. The fighting scenes were also well done.
The characters were so good, and I found myself getting attached to a few of them. The bird towards the end definitely added a little something to the story.
There are two important things I got from this book, as much as we want to protect the one we care about, sometimes you have to give them the opportunity to choose despite how we may feel. Also, words are a very powerful thing, in more ways than one. You’re going to have to read it to find out why!!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I’m not going to lie, it was a fight not to look forward to see what was going to happen. At one point, I didn’t even know if my heart could handle finishing the book 😏, but it was so worth it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ Yes
Releases: April 21, 2026
Recommend to my Book Bestie: Gladiators, yes please!
I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. I saw arena and gladiators, but it was so so much more than that. The Black Hearth Arena was well described as well as the areas around it. You could almost feel the heat given off by the hearth, as well as the excitement in the arenas. The fighting scenes were also well done.
The characters were so good, and I found myself getting attached to a few of them. The bird towards the end definitely added a little something to the story.
There are two important things I got from this book, as much as we want to protect the one we care about, sometimes you have to give them the opportunity to choose despite how we may feel. Also, words are a very powerful thing, in more ways than one. You’re going to have to read it to find out why!!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I’m not going to lie, it was a fight not to look forward to see what was going to happen. At one point, I didn’t even know if my heart could handle finishing the book 😏, but it was so worth it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ Yes
Releases: April 21, 2026
Recommend to my Book Bestie: Gladiators, yes please!
March 23, 2026
*Please note, I was provided with an ARC version of this book by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review*
Heading back to Chinderia but with a whole new cast of characters, reading The Black Hearth is hauntingly familiar if you've read Eddy's previous works whilst being a totally different experience. And if this is your first book by the author? Welcome to the arena: prepare for your emotions to be devastated, your heart to want to pull itself from your chest and for your mind to be blown... and for it all to hurt so good that you'll want to experience it over and over again.
This little corner of the world that Eddy has created comes to life immediately upon starting the book; from the chill of the frozen wastes outside, to the bustling tavern that is The Black Hearth and the heat that rolls off the creature in the pit, the atmosphere quite literally radiates off of the page. And it never. Lets. Up. You're pulled in from page one; the slow build of tension is absolutely delicious, with the end of every single chapter leaving you with more questions and a burning need to just keep reading.
I love that Waythorn is a very different Beast to what we're used to; his introduction immediately raises so many questions, and he remains shrouded in mystery even as you discover more about his motivations. It struck me that we're not seeing the world through his eyes like we do Lion in the author's other work, which means you get to approach him with Malina; first as the sl@v3, born to obey and trained to k!ll, and then very slowly as the person buried beneath the conditioning. And as a result, when the stakes get higher, you feel like your heart is tied to his and his story becomes painful and beautiful in equal measure.
We love an "older" FMC (she's the same age as me and I maintain I AM NOT OLD!) who can stand her ground and own a room full of men, and Malina is an incredible example of this. I love her level headed, business minded objective attitude, taking no sh*t from certain individuals and sparing no quarter when it comes to getting what she wants. But even in the first couple of chapters there are the subtle hints of her subconsious which indicates that she too is not all she appears to be; she can stand without flinching in the face of a roaring beast, and yet her insides twist in the face of a gravely injured Beast. Somehow, the author has managed to balance her personality perfectly; she's not so cold and unfeeling as to be unrelatable, but nor does she melt with ease.
I'm also greatly appreciative of the side eye this book gives to people who think reading smutty books isn't "proper" reading! I'm saying no more so as not to spoil, but the ramifications of that little nugget are potentially HUGE! And as a result I'm desperate to read the next book in the series already, even though I know pen hasn't been put to paper on that yet! I can be patient, I can be patient... I CAN be patient... 😬😬😬
It can be dark, bl00dy and terrifying; it can be funny and faintly ridiculous, or it can be emotionally charged, but no matter what the scene the feel of this whole book is nothing short of cinematic. Every location, fight sequence and dramatic moment being immediately visible in exquisite detail inside my head and I would literally do anything to see this on a big screen. I'm just in awe of how this author can make words of a page spark such strong images, emotions and reactions.
Seriously, this is so worth your time!!!
Heading back to Chinderia but with a whole new cast of characters, reading The Black Hearth is hauntingly familiar if you've read Eddy's previous works whilst being a totally different experience. And if this is your first book by the author? Welcome to the arena: prepare for your emotions to be devastated, your heart to want to pull itself from your chest and for your mind to be blown... and for it all to hurt so good that you'll want to experience it over and over again.
This little corner of the world that Eddy has created comes to life immediately upon starting the book; from the chill of the frozen wastes outside, to the bustling tavern that is The Black Hearth and the heat that rolls off the creature in the pit, the atmosphere quite literally radiates off of the page. And it never. Lets. Up. You're pulled in from page one; the slow build of tension is absolutely delicious, with the end of every single chapter leaving you with more questions and a burning need to just keep reading.
I love that Waythorn is a very different Beast to what we're used to; his introduction immediately raises so many questions, and he remains shrouded in mystery even as you discover more about his motivations. It struck me that we're not seeing the world through his eyes like we do Lion in the author's other work, which means you get to approach him with Malina; first as the sl@v3, born to obey and trained to k!ll, and then very slowly as the person buried beneath the conditioning. And as a result, when the stakes get higher, you feel like your heart is tied to his and his story becomes painful and beautiful in equal measure.
We love an "older" FMC (she's the same age as me and I maintain I AM NOT OLD!) who can stand her ground and own a room full of men, and Malina is an incredible example of this. I love her level headed, business minded objective attitude, taking no sh*t from certain individuals and sparing no quarter when it comes to getting what she wants. But even in the first couple of chapters there are the subtle hints of her subconsious which indicates that she too is not all she appears to be; she can stand without flinching in the face of a roaring beast, and yet her insides twist in the face of a gravely injured Beast. Somehow, the author has managed to balance her personality perfectly; she's not so cold and unfeeling as to be unrelatable, but nor does she melt with ease.
I'm also greatly appreciative of the side eye this book gives to people who think reading smutty books isn't "proper" reading! I'm saying no more so as not to spoil, but the ramifications of that little nugget are potentially HUGE! And as a result I'm desperate to read the next book in the series already, even though I know pen hasn't been put to paper on that yet! I can be patient, I can be patient... I CAN be patient... 😬😬😬
It can be dark, bl00dy and terrifying; it can be funny and faintly ridiculous, or it can be emotionally charged, but no matter what the scene the feel of this whole book is nothing short of cinematic. Every location, fight sequence and dramatic moment being immediately visible in exquisite detail inside my head and I would literally do anything to see this on a big screen. I'm just in awe of how this author can make words of a page spark such strong images, emotions and reactions.
Seriously, this is so worth your time!!!
April 29, 2026
I adore everything Eddy Rose writes and this is no exception. The grimdark world-building is as rich and unrelenting as ever, but what makes this one stand out is how thoughtfully it examines the moral complexity lurking beneath all that darkness.
Malina built her freedom from her family through fighting pits. This story makes her reckon with what that actually means for the people fighting inside them. It doesn't look away from how dark and inhumane that system is, and watching that realization change her is the most compelling thing about the book.
The love story is unexpectedly tender and bittersweet, a genuine moment of light breaking through an otherwise brutal world. And when lines start to blur, Malina feels incredibly guilty since the moment got away from them and makes sure to set boundaries that make sense for two people who can't seem to stay away from one another. The mental health representation felt respectful, and the characters had me completely invested from the start. My heart was in my throat more than once.
If you're a fan of the main series, this is everything you love about Rose's writing with the added pull of a somehow less complex romance. This one somehow feels both inevitable and heartbreaking. And I'm so happy that The answers are just beginning to surface. Highly recommend.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Malina built her freedom from her family through fighting pits. This story makes her reckon with what that actually means for the people fighting inside them. It doesn't look away from how dark and inhumane that system is, and watching that realization change her is the most compelling thing about the book.
The love story is unexpectedly tender and bittersweet, a genuine moment of light breaking through an otherwise brutal world. And when lines start to blur, Malina feels incredibly guilty since the moment got away from them and makes sure to set boundaries that make sense for two people who can't seem to stay away from one another. The mental health representation felt respectful, and the characters had me completely invested from the start. My heart was in my throat more than once.
If you're a fan of the main series, this is everything you love about Rose's writing with the added pull of a somehow less complex romance. This one somehow feels both inevitable and heartbreaking. And I'm so happy that The answers are just beginning to surface. Highly recommend.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
May 11, 2026
3,5 Sterne
Bei diesem Buch hat man das Gefühl, man bekommt einen winzigen Einblick in eine riesige, komplexe Welt und ich wünschte, man hätte davon noch mehr sehen können.
Die Grundidee des Buches war absolut vielversprechend und auch das Ende lässt darauf hoffen, dass die Geschichte und die Welt in Folgebänden weiterentwickelt werden.
Bei diesem Buch hat man das Gefühl, man bekommt einen winzigen Einblick in eine riesige, komplexe Welt und ich wünschte, man hätte davon noch mehr sehen können.
Die Grundidee des Buches war absolut vielversprechend und auch das Ende lässt darauf hoffen, dass die Geschichte und die Welt in Folgebänden weiterentwickelt werden.
March 23, 2026
4.5 but I’m rounding up. I received an ARC of The Black Hearth and loved every minute of reading! I experienced every emotion from disgust to joy. There wasn’t an easily predictable storyline and the world building was easy to follow. When the book was over I was immediately asking for more. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
March 24, 2026
I don't normally like characters right from the beginning but the FMC and MMC were likeable from the start, which is refreshing. It's not a long book so there wasn't a ton of world building or background, but you had enough to really understand the characters. Would definitely recommend!
April 4, 2026
This was incredible.
The Black Hearth completely pulled me in—I loved everything about this story. Malina’s sharp, witty comebacks had me hooked from the start, and the dynamic between her and Waythorn (a purebred beast in every sense) is intense, addictive, and impossible to look away from. Their chemistry? Absolutely electric.
That said, this isn’t a book for everyone—definitely check the trigger warnings beforehand. I’d also strongly recommend reading the Twilight of Blood series first, as it adds so much depth and context that really elevates the experience.
Dorrala drove me a little mad at the beginning with her interference in Waythorn’s life, but by the end? Her theory completely reeled me in, and now I need to know more.
Dark, gripping, and unforgettable—this one lingers long after you finish.
The Black Hearth completely pulled me in—I loved everything about this story. Malina’s sharp, witty comebacks had me hooked from the start, and the dynamic between her and Waythorn (a purebred beast in every sense) is intense, addictive, and impossible to look away from. Their chemistry? Absolutely electric.
That said, this isn’t a book for everyone—definitely check the trigger warnings beforehand. I’d also strongly recommend reading the Twilight of Blood series first, as it adds so much depth and context that really elevates the experience.
Dorrala drove me a little mad at the beginning with her interference in Waythorn’s life, but by the end? Her theory completely reeled me in, and now I need to know more.
Dark, gripping, and unforgettable—this one lingers long after you finish.
April 24, 2026
I love this world. It's set as if it's the Roman times with gladiators, but they are slaves; and men as well as women can own arenas. Malina is one such woman who has built her business literally from the ground up. Suddenly, an unowned Beast (or gladiator) crashes through her front doors. He says he doesn't remember where he came from or where he was going. She doesn't care as long as he can win fights. Although, he is acting strange for a Beast...
I can't wait to read more of Eddy Rose's books as she has others set in this same world. Written as a standalone yet you really want to know what happens with other characters. I really like that it is written all from the FMC's point of view especially as she is deciding what to do about her Beast's anomalies.
I can't wait to read more of Eddy Rose's books as she has others set in this same world. Written as a standalone yet you really want to know what happens with other characters. I really like that it is written all from the FMC's point of view especially as she is deciding what to do about her Beast's anomalies.
March 17, 2026
ARC provided by Author
This was my first encounter with Author Eddy Rose, and it was an absolute delight! I must admit that I haven’t read any gladiator romantasy books before, but I have now! The world-building was incredibly captivating, and the characters were unique and intriguing. I’m already eager to dive into her other books, which are now on my TBR list.
The book presents a fascinating power dynamic, a bookworm sidekick (who I hope gets her own spin-off because I’m curious about her journey), a malevolent bird, and a romance that blossoms out of curiosity. There will be a moment in the book that will make your stomach drop, but I assure you, it’s worth persevering through. The story did have a slow burn, with a few open-door scenes that were spicy and the infamous one-bed trope.
I wish we had more of Malinas’s backstory. There were some hints and clues, and I’m really hoping that this is the first book in a series because I’m now in suspense. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
Spice Level: 🌶️
(For reference, I would consider Kiss of the Basilisk 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Do with that what you will.)
This was my first encounter with Author Eddy Rose, and it was an absolute delight! I must admit that I haven’t read any gladiator romantasy books before, but I have now! The world-building was incredibly captivating, and the characters were unique and intriguing. I’m already eager to dive into her other books, which are now on my TBR list.
The book presents a fascinating power dynamic, a bookworm sidekick (who I hope gets her own spin-off because I’m curious about her journey), a malevolent bird, and a romance that blossoms out of curiosity. There will be a moment in the book that will make your stomach drop, but I assure you, it’s worth persevering through. The story did have a slow burn, with a few open-door scenes that were spicy and the infamous one-bed trope.
I wish we had more of Malinas’s backstory. There were some hints and clues, and I’m really hoping that this is the first book in a series because I’m now in suspense. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
Spice Level: 🌶️
(For reference, I would consider Kiss of the Basilisk 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Do with that what you will.)
March 26, 2026
A strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I devoured this book in two days! An absolute must read!
My first book that included fighters and arenas mixed with tension between the two main characters which was so tangible.
The characters were believable, even the bookish assistant (who I didn't trust, but now do!) all really likeable.
I was totally invested in this book and have so many questions. I want to know about Malina's history - family, love interests and business ideas....
Brilliant. Looking forward to seeing what happens next!
I was given this eARC by the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
#TheBlackHearth #EddyRose
I devoured this book in two days! An absolute must read!
My first book that included fighters and arenas mixed with tension between the two main characters which was so tangible.
The characters were believable, even the bookish assistant (who I didn't trust, but now do!) all really likeable.
I was totally invested in this book and have so many questions. I want to know about Malina's history - family, love interests and business ideas....
Brilliant. Looking forward to seeing what happens next!
I was given this eARC by the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
#TheBlackHearth #EddyRose
April 27, 2026
“𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.”
— 𝕸𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖆.
💚 She’s a gladiator arena owner
💚 He’s a slave raised to be a fighter
💚 Third person single POV
💚 Reverse age gap
💚 What if ... She legally owned him?
💚 Oh no, there are magic words that could hurt and kill him?!
💚 A deadly deal
Some books you find because you look for them. Others come to you like fate.
The Black Hearth came to me after I finished a contender for my best book of the year, The Sleeping Goddesses (I will never shut up about this book!!!) which also had an FMC who owned a gladiator arena. This one just happened to have the same trope, teasing me in a way I couldn’t resist. I mean, if you love a snack, you end up buying it again and again just to satisfy the craving. Like my current obsession with this Indonesian snack, piscok. I’ve been ordering it three times a week.
Ahem.
Back to the topic.
Here, we have Malina, a widowed woman in her late 30s who owns The Black Hearth, a tavern/inn that also functions as a gladiator arena. Usually, it hosts matches between slaves and wild animals. It’s mostly "safe" if you don’t count the occasional situation where the slave gets eaten. Raw. Malina didn’t have a slave, until one night, one literally fell into her hands. Considering how expensive they are, she claimed him immediately and named him Waythorn.
Too bad Waythorn doesn’t remember what happened to his previous owner ... Or so he says.
As the main narrator, I loved Malina. She’s cold, ruthless, and smart. I remember reading the early chapters and thinking, YASSSH I LOVE EVIL WOMEN, especially evil women who are also business minded and aren’t afraid to clap back at their rivals. I wouldn’t say she and her rival had romantic chemistry, but the tension between them? Burning like an overheated microwave.
Waythorn, on the other hand, is ugghhh fine. The absent of his POV makes him feel distant, a problem I’ve encountered in other books too. That said, the writing here isn’t bad at all. In fact, it pulled me out of a slump after DNF a book with flowery language. Eddy Rose style is straightforward and easy to follow, and even at under 300 pages, the story feels complete. But would multiple POVs have improved it? Absolutely. That’s one of the missing pieces for me.
My main issue with The Black Hearth is how Malina changes after she sleeps with Waythorn. She doesn’t become weak or suddenly dick drunk. She’s still capable, sharp, and very much Malina, but there’s a clear shift. Something dimmed. And that's almost worse than a complete character assassination, bcs I can't even point to one big betrayal, just a slow, quiet erosion of everything that made her Malina. The best word I can think of is ... "less". And I hate that. Why can’t we have evil women all the way to the end?
A woman who doesn’t soften just because she falls in love.
A woman who doesn’t throw away everything she’s built for romance.
A woman who remains fully herself, even in love.
Waythorn, as interesting as he is, just isn’t enough for me to believe Malina would abandon her entire life. Girl, you’re the first woman to own an arena, why would you give that up??? Not only does she sell her business, she also loses her friend. For what? A man who was literally her property? I don’t think I can call that a HEA. For Waythorn? Sureeeee, congrats on your freedom. For Malina? Congrats for the dick, I guess? 😐 Nvm, I'm probably just being materialistic. Sigh.
The smut was fine for a short book, but I have to be honest: it was a bit boring. I was let down by the author’s decision to make Waythorn secretly a sex god. Waythorn was a fighter whom Malina and everyone else believed had no thoughts, opinions, or emotions. He's NOT a pleasure slave. He had every reason to be awkward, uncertain, bad at sex. Where did he even learn? His previous owner was male and there was no mentioned about gay. I'm sorry, but the math isn't mathing??? There was so much potential to explore a dynamic between an experienced woman and an inexperienced man. It didn’t have to be full on femdom, just a touch of role reversal would’ve made it more interesting. It felt like the author played it safe and made him dominant because it’s the more common route :((
The pacing is also weird. The beginning moves at a moderate pace, with the MCs taking time to get to know each other, which I enjoyed. But then the forced proximity kicks in, they’re suddenly sharing a room, one bed, and just like that, they sleep together. Twice. Then there’s a time skip to two months later, and they’re already extremely comfortable with each other I??? Dont??? Understand??? Like I said, the shift in Malina before and after Waythorn doesn’t make sense to me, to the point where I found myself hesitating to finish the last few chapters. Maybe I could forgive Malina if she was a lesbian. Women giving up everything for men is exhausting.
On top of that, I was deeply disappointed that the final fight happens only halfway through. Again, having Waythorn’s POV would’ve helped A LOT. I understand it was probably intentional to make room for the plot twist, but skipping over it felt like someone snatching dessert out of my hand before I could finish it. Rude.
While the concept is interesting, the supernatural elements feel underdeveloped. I thought the Beasts would be some kind of superhuman beings, but they seem ordinary??? Idk. So how do the magic words work on them? Who chooses them? What qualifies someone to be purebred? How does the whole system even function?
We never really find out.
Maybe the next book about Malina’s chaotic, bookish bestie will expand on this. But in this one, there are too many gaps that feels like giant holes, and it left me feeling unsatisfied.
I imagine that if books could talk, this one would say: 𝙞𝙛 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧.
I'm so sad.
Thank you so much to Eddy Rose for the free copy, and I apologize for the late review. Life happened ... Aka a reading slump. A very real slump.
— 𝕸𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖆.
💚 She’s a gladiator arena owner
💚 He’s a slave raised to be a fighter
💚 Third person single POV
💚 Reverse age gap
💚 What if ... She legally owned him?
💚 Oh no, there are magic words that could hurt and kill him?!
💚 A deadly deal
Some books you find because you look for them. Others come to you like fate.
The Black Hearth came to me after I finished a contender for my best book of the year, The Sleeping Goddesses (I will never shut up about this book!!!) which also had an FMC who owned a gladiator arena. This one just happened to have the same trope, teasing me in a way I couldn’t resist. I mean, if you love a snack, you end up buying it again and again just to satisfy the craving. Like my current obsession with this Indonesian snack, piscok. I’ve been ordering it three times a week.
Ahem.
Back to the topic.
Here, we have Malina, a widowed woman in her late 30s who owns The Black Hearth, a tavern/inn that also functions as a gladiator arena. Usually, it hosts matches between slaves and wild animals. It’s mostly "safe" if you don’t count the occasional situation where the slave gets eaten. Raw. Malina didn’t have a slave, until one night, one literally fell into her hands. Considering how expensive they are, she claimed him immediately and named him Waythorn.
Too bad Waythorn doesn’t remember what happened to his previous owner ... Or so he says.
As the main narrator, I loved Malina. She’s cold, ruthless, and smart. I remember reading the early chapters and thinking, YASSSH I LOVE EVIL WOMEN, especially evil women who are also business minded and aren’t afraid to clap back at their rivals. I wouldn’t say she and her rival had romantic chemistry, but the tension between them? Burning like an overheated microwave.
Waythorn, on the other hand, is ugghhh fine. The absent of his POV makes him feel distant, a problem I’ve encountered in other books too. That said, the writing here isn’t bad at all. In fact, it pulled me out of a slump after DNF a book with flowery language. Eddy Rose style is straightforward and easy to follow, and even at under 300 pages, the story feels complete. But would multiple POVs have improved it? Absolutely. That’s one of the missing pieces for me.
My main issue with The Black Hearth is how Malina changes after she sleeps with Waythorn. She doesn’t become weak or suddenly dick drunk. She’s still capable, sharp, and very much Malina, but there’s a clear shift. Something dimmed. And that's almost worse than a complete character assassination, bcs I can't even point to one big betrayal, just a slow, quiet erosion of everything that made her Malina. The best word I can think of is ... "less". And I hate that. Why can’t we have evil women all the way to the end?
A woman who doesn’t soften just because she falls in love.
A woman who doesn’t throw away everything she’s built for romance.
A woman who remains fully herself, even in love.
Waythorn, as interesting as he is, just isn’t enough for me to believe Malina would abandon her entire life. Girl, you’re the first woman to own an arena, why would you give that up??? Not only does she sell her business, she also loses her friend. For what? A man who was literally her property? I don’t think I can call that a HEA. For Waythorn? Sureeeee, congrats on your freedom. For Malina? Congrats for the dick, I guess? 😐 Nvm, I'm probably just being materialistic. Sigh.
The smut was fine for a short book, but I have to be honest: it was a bit boring. I was let down by the author’s decision to make Waythorn secretly a sex god. Waythorn was a fighter whom Malina and everyone else believed had no thoughts, opinions, or emotions. He's NOT a pleasure slave. He had every reason to be awkward, uncertain, bad at sex. Where did he even learn? His previous owner was male and there was no mentioned about gay. I'm sorry, but the math isn't mathing??? There was so much potential to explore a dynamic between an experienced woman and an inexperienced man. It didn’t have to be full on femdom, just a touch of role reversal would’ve made it more interesting. It felt like the author played it safe and made him dominant because it’s the more common route :((
The pacing is also weird. The beginning moves at a moderate pace, with the MCs taking time to get to know each other, which I enjoyed. But then the forced proximity kicks in, they’re suddenly sharing a room, one bed, and just like that, they sleep together. Twice. Then there’s a time skip to two months later, and they’re already extremely comfortable with each other I??? Dont??? Understand??? Like I said, the shift in Malina before and after Waythorn doesn’t make sense to me, to the point where I found myself hesitating to finish the last few chapters. Maybe I could forgive Malina if she was a lesbian. Women giving up everything for men is exhausting.
On top of that, I was deeply disappointed that the final fight happens only halfway through. Again, having Waythorn’s POV would’ve helped A LOT. I understand it was probably intentional to make room for the plot twist, but skipping over it felt like someone snatching dessert out of my hand before I could finish it. Rude.
While the concept is interesting, the supernatural elements feel underdeveloped. I thought the Beasts would be some kind of superhuman beings, but they seem ordinary??? Idk. So how do the magic words work on them? Who chooses them? What qualifies someone to be purebred? How does the whole system even function?
We never really find out.
Maybe the next book about Malina’s chaotic, bookish bestie will expand on this. But in this one, there are too many gaps that feels like giant holes, and it left me feeling unsatisfied.
I imagine that if books could talk, this one would say: 𝙞𝙛 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧.
I'm so sad.
Thank you so much to Eddy Rose for the free copy, and I apologize for the late review. Life happened ... Aka a reading slump. A very real slump.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2026
I'm already a huge Eddy fan having devoured both Lion and Beast of Zarall, and The Black Hearth is set in the same bloody and violent world but follows two new characters, Malina, an older female arena owner and Waythorn a damaged purebred that literally falls into her establishment.
This book had every single thing a darker fantasy romance should have, it has the blood and gore, the mystery surrounding the characters, the slow tumbling of emotional walls and a forbiddenness that readers gag for.
I adore the stylized fighting scenes, against man or Beast there is so much heart and feeling poured into each scene it's something special. It is gruesome but compelling and honestly - once I started, I read this in three sittings - it is phenomenal, easy to read and my heart was pounding from the moment the first twist hits to the last one.
Malina is just trying to make money in her run-down establishment, pulling in just enough to make ends meet using other owners fighters. When a disorientated and un-owned purebred falls through her doors in an unconscious heap - she claims him as her property and that is the catalyst for a fundamental shift in both of their lives, because Waythorn is not the obedient pureblood he should be and Malina has her own dark secrets. But the spark between them is undeniable.
Malina is my kind of character, an older FMC who knows her mind, who has suffered in life and gives absolutely zero F's . Waythorn is the perfect amount of tourtured and mysterious and together, they burn off the page.
If you love:
- forbidden romance
- slow burn
- one bed, one bath
- gladiator fighting
- blood and gore
- so much tension...
- ancient arenas
Then pick it up immediately - this book is perfect for any fantasy romance readers who like a bit of gore, pain and emotional damage with their MC’s. I read this prior to the official release day.
This book had every single thing a darker fantasy romance should have, it has the blood and gore, the mystery surrounding the characters, the slow tumbling of emotional walls and a forbiddenness that readers gag for.
I adore the stylized fighting scenes, against man or Beast there is so much heart and feeling poured into each scene it's something special. It is gruesome but compelling and honestly - once I started, I read this in three sittings - it is phenomenal, easy to read and my heart was pounding from the moment the first twist hits to the last one.
Malina is just trying to make money in her run-down establishment, pulling in just enough to make ends meet using other owners fighters. When a disorientated and un-owned purebred falls through her doors in an unconscious heap - she claims him as her property and that is the catalyst for a fundamental shift in both of their lives, because Waythorn is not the obedient pureblood he should be and Malina has her own dark secrets. But the spark between them is undeniable.
Malina is my kind of character, an older FMC who knows her mind, who has suffered in life and gives absolutely zero F's . Waythorn is the perfect amount of tourtured and mysterious and together, they burn off the page.
If you love:
- forbidden romance
- slow burn
- one bed, one bath
- gladiator fighting
- blood and gore
- so much tension...
- ancient arenas
Then pick it up immediately - this book is perfect for any fantasy romance readers who like a bit of gore, pain and emotional damage with their MC’s. I read this prior to the official release day.
April 24, 2026
3.75 stars ✨
I love stepping into new genres, and this was my first gladiator fantasy. And definitely an immersive way to start a new series. It took me a bit to get into it, but I’m so glad I kept going.
This darker fantasy tells the story of a world where people are only valued for their ability to survive in a brutal “kill or be killed” system, all for the profit of others. The world-building stood out along with the description of the setting in the arena’s. It also reinforced the emotional stakes so well. In a setting built on exploitation and constant danger, the relationships, especially between the FMC and MMC felt even more intense and meaningful.
When it’s a gladiator based novel, there is expected violence, but It wasn’t just about violence; there was a strong strategy, resilience, and the psychological toll of living in such a harsh system. I especially loved the central character bond, which gave me something to root for amid all the chaos.
It’s also a shorter fantasy, so the pacing is quick and events move fast, which felt refreshing compared to longer, slower-burn epics. I look forward to more in the Beastbond Series.
Thank you to the author for opportunity to read this ARC and provide my review.
I love stepping into new genres, and this was my first gladiator fantasy. And definitely an immersive way to start a new series. It took me a bit to get into it, but I’m so glad I kept going.
This darker fantasy tells the story of a world where people are only valued for their ability to survive in a brutal “kill or be killed” system, all for the profit of others. The world-building stood out along with the description of the setting in the arena’s. It also reinforced the emotional stakes so well. In a setting built on exploitation and constant danger, the relationships, especially between the FMC and MMC felt even more intense and meaningful.
When it’s a gladiator based novel, there is expected violence, but It wasn’t just about violence; there was a strong strategy, resilience, and the psychological toll of living in such a harsh system. I especially loved the central character bond, which gave me something to root for amid all the chaos.
It’s also a shorter fantasy, so the pacing is quick and events move fast, which felt refreshing compared to longer, slower-burn epics. I look forward to more in the Beastbond Series.
Thank you to the author for opportunity to read this ARC and provide my review.
April 14, 2026
This is my first Eddy Rose book...but it sure won't be my last! Wow!
This was so refreshingly different from other "gladiator" type fantasy books that I've read. Eddy has a way of painting such a vivid atmosphere for this book in every single page. Right down to I could "feel" the heat radiating off the Black Hearth and put myself clearly in Malina's place gripping the railing in anticipation as she surveying her arena from the podium.
I loved how strong Malina was, carrying this "I fought to be here and I'm not going anywhere" attitude. Her icy exterior with her warm fuzzy, caring heart was a perfect way to make her feel fearsome but relatable still. And Waythorn, well he is simply the most interesting MMC I've read yet! Strong, handsome, ruthless but carries guarded deep emotions (rightfully so) that make him a perfect mirror to Melina.
This book was filled with brutal high stakes action, and a storyline that held me captive with its intense scenes, funny quips, snide remarks, and that dash of spice to kick things up a notch.
I'm looking forward to exploring more books by this author and appreciate the ARC opportunity received.
This was so refreshingly different from other "gladiator" type fantasy books that I've read. Eddy has a way of painting such a vivid atmosphere for this book in every single page. Right down to I could "feel" the heat radiating off the Black Hearth and put myself clearly in Malina's place gripping the railing in anticipation as she surveying her arena from the podium.
I loved how strong Malina was, carrying this "I fought to be here and I'm not going anywhere" attitude. Her icy exterior with her warm fuzzy, caring heart was a perfect way to make her feel fearsome but relatable still. And Waythorn, well he is simply the most interesting MMC I've read yet! Strong, handsome, ruthless but carries guarded deep emotions (rightfully so) that make him a perfect mirror to Melina.
This book was filled with brutal high stakes action, and a storyline that held me captive with its intense scenes, funny quips, snide remarks, and that dash of spice to kick things up a notch.
I'm looking forward to exploring more books by this author and appreciate the ARC opportunity received.
April 2, 2026
I was a little nervous, because this type of story isn’t something I usually read. I really wanted to expand my horizons with this one, and I was pleasantly surprised!
At first I was afraid it was going to be too heavy and focus a little too much on physical details. As a reader with aphantsia, I rely more on emotions and actions than descriptions. I can’t imagine anything. 😂
But once things started happening, they didn’t stop!
I loved all the characters in this story. They were all so perfectly flawed and human. The inability to communicate, between the owner and slave, was handled so well. It made complete sense. And the buildup to the romantic aspect of their relationship was so smooth!
The emotions were so beautifully portrayed that I choked up at a couple different areas! And when a book can do that to me, it makes me so happy.
I hope the teasing at the end means Dorrala will get a book. I’d eat that up in a heartbeat!
At first I was afraid it was going to be too heavy and focus a little too much on physical details. As a reader with aphantsia, I rely more on emotions and actions than descriptions. I can’t imagine anything. 😂
But once things started happening, they didn’t stop!
I loved all the characters in this story. They were all so perfectly flawed and human. The inability to communicate, between the owner and slave, was handled so well. It made complete sense. And the buildup to the romantic aspect of their relationship was so smooth!
The emotions were so beautifully portrayed that I choked up at a couple different areas! And when a book can do that to me, it makes me so happy.
I hope the teasing at the end means Dorrala will get a book. I’d eat that up in a heartbeat!
March 27, 2026
The Black Hearth beautiful written. Grabs your attention and doesn’t let up. It is a grim-dark fantasy with added smut. Think of the movie the gladiators the arena they fight till one is only standing and add words to turn a person on and off. Like saying a certain word or words to get them to do what you want. But in this case Waythorn has 3 words that only his owner knows. There is a standing question of what happened before this barely alive man walks into a hostel/arena/bar type place “what happened” before he showed up. What were the marks torn Into his skin? Where did he come from? How was he still alive? Malina had nothing before she bought the black hearth and now she has everything besides answers? Will Waythorn give her those answers or will it be left to the imagination? If you love a good quick fantasy read this would be it!
Only 227 pages including the pronunciation page
Kicking your feet level 3/5
Gruesome level 4/5
Only 227 pages including the pronunciation page
Kicking your feet level 3/5
Gruesome level 4/5
March 20, 2026
Thank you to Eddy Rose for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Black Hearth absolutely wrecked me. This was one of the most emotionally devastating reads I have had all year, and I was still crying the next day while writing this. The story follows Malina, owner of a gladiator arena, and Waythorn, the gladiator she comes to own, striking a life for death bargain. The world building is incredibly well done, woven seamlessly with action and dialogue so it never feels heavy, and the added art and maps made the experience even more immersive. I could not put this book down. I laughed, I cried for chapters, and the chaotic bird side character energy was perfection.
My only small wish would have been a bit more of Malina’s background, but overall everything from pacing to characters to dialogue was fantastic. I loved this book and cannot wait to read more from Eddy Rose. Highly recommend for readers who love slow burn romance, gladiator and Roman settings, and stories that will emotionally ruin you.
The Black Hearth absolutely wrecked me. This was one of the most emotionally devastating reads I have had all year, and I was still crying the next day while writing this. The story follows Malina, owner of a gladiator arena, and Waythorn, the gladiator she comes to own, striking a life for death bargain. The world building is incredibly well done, woven seamlessly with action and dialogue so it never feels heavy, and the added art and maps made the experience even more immersive. I could not put this book down. I laughed, I cried for chapters, and the chaotic bird side character energy was perfection.
My only small wish would have been a bit more of Malina’s background, but overall everything from pacing to characters to dialogue was fantastic. I loved this book and cannot wait to read more from Eddy Rose. Highly recommend for readers who love slow burn romance, gladiator and Roman settings, and stories that will emotionally ruin you.
April 20, 2026
This one is dark, gritty, and unapologetically brutal. It was packed with bloody battles that pull you straight into its fantasy world from the very first page. Beneath all the chaos there’s a slow-burning tension that builds until it finally erupts into a romance that’s impossible to ignore. I was completely hooked and had a hard time putting it down.
March 19, 2026
3.5⭐️ – The Black Hearth by Eddy Rose
The Black Hearth is a vivid and gripping read. Eddy Rose’s writing made the arenas feel alive and the characters’ emotions hit hard. I loved the intricate politics, the pure-breds’ command words, and the tension woven throughout the gladiator world.
That said, the romance didn’t quite land for me. The connection between the leads felt abrupt—Waythorne goes from being a gladiator slave to the object of steamy, intimate encounters almost overnight. I wanted more buildup, more yearning, and more context to make the romance feel as layered as the story itself.
Overall, the plot is compelling and immersive, but the romantic thread could have used more emotional pacing. Still, if you love dark, political, and intense fantasy worlds, this is worth a read.
The Black Hearth is a vivid and gripping read. Eddy Rose’s writing made the arenas feel alive and the characters’ emotions hit hard. I loved the intricate politics, the pure-breds’ command words, and the tension woven throughout the gladiator world.
That said, the romance didn’t quite land for me. The connection between the leads felt abrupt—Waythorne goes from being a gladiator slave to the object of steamy, intimate encounters almost overnight. I wanted more buildup, more yearning, and more context to make the romance feel as layered as the story itself.
Overall, the plot is compelling and immersive, but the romantic thread could have used more emotional pacing. Still, if you love dark, political, and intense fantasy worlds, this is worth a read.
April 19, 2026
✨Black Hearth✨
What a fun gladiator dark fantasy read this was! BH appears to take place within the same world where male slaves are bred for arenas as Eddy’s Lion of Zarall series, but stands on its own and looks like we will get more books within this series!
We follow a singular POV in BH as we venture through the eyes of Arena owner, Malina. It is her dream to own an even bigger arena, but making ends meet lately has been tumultuous. When a mysterious purebred slave stumbles into her pit, Malina finds herself with a promising option. She quickly claims this man as her own and nurses him to health so that he may be the warrior who helps her achieve all her dreams.
However, this slave, Waythorn, is not what she expected and her feelings have become unpredictable as compassion and empathy war with her business mindset. It is through this tenuous agreement that Malina realizes that perhaps there’s more to the slaves than mindless beasts, while Waythorn must decide if his ability for choice is a freedom all on its own or if his worth is still only in his death.
This book is short and sweet yet FULL. Eddy gives us a full bodied tale and I felt engaged and intrigued the entire time. I loved how Waythorn spoke little yet gave us so much within his quietness. I also enjoyed the growth and leap of faith Malina gave us in the end. This story has no cliffhanger but leaves the narrative open for more lore, secrets, and relationships to be unraveled.
Tropes you may find in BH are forced proximity, slave x owner, gladiator and arena setting, enhanced fighters, medium spice, yearning, one bed, medium stakes, wound tending, 30+ y/o FMC, and no cliffy.
Thank you, Eddy, for this gifted arc!
What a fun gladiator dark fantasy read this was! BH appears to take place within the same world where male slaves are bred for arenas as Eddy’s Lion of Zarall series, but stands on its own and looks like we will get more books within this series!
We follow a singular POV in BH as we venture through the eyes of Arena owner, Malina. It is her dream to own an even bigger arena, but making ends meet lately has been tumultuous. When a mysterious purebred slave stumbles into her pit, Malina finds herself with a promising option. She quickly claims this man as her own and nurses him to health so that he may be the warrior who helps her achieve all her dreams.
However, this slave, Waythorn, is not what she expected and her feelings have become unpredictable as compassion and empathy war with her business mindset. It is through this tenuous agreement that Malina realizes that perhaps there’s more to the slaves than mindless beasts, while Waythorn must decide if his ability for choice is a freedom all on its own or if his worth is still only in his death.
This book is short and sweet yet FULL. Eddy gives us a full bodied tale and I felt engaged and intrigued the entire time. I loved how Waythorn spoke little yet gave us so much within his quietness. I also enjoyed the growth and leap of faith Malina gave us in the end. This story has no cliffhanger but leaves the narrative open for more lore, secrets, and relationships to be unraveled.
Tropes you may find in BH are forced proximity, slave x owner, gladiator and arena setting, enhanced fighters, medium spice, yearning, one bed, medium stakes, wound tending, 30+ y/o FMC, and no cliffy.
Thank you, Eddy, for this gifted arc!
April 25, 2026
A honest review after receiving an ARC!!This book was incredible!!! It was passionate, mysterious, and original. Waythorn, is a different breed of man/beast..I was couldn't wait to discover his big secret 😳!!! Malina is a woman that has to harden her heart i order to be successful in a man's world. Outsiders continue to test them at every turn.
March 1, 2026
This story has it all: intrigue, tension, yearning, spice, and gladiator style fights.
I love the way Rose develops her characters and reels us in until we just can't get enough (or is that just me?). The banter is exquisite, the relationships brilliant, the murderous bird hilarious, and the breadcrumbs are worth their weight in gold.
I can't wait to read about [redacted] setting off with [redacted] to investigate [redacted]!
5* highly recommend
I love the way Rose develops her characters and reels us in until we just can't get enough (or is that just me?). The banter is exquisite, the relationships brilliant, the murderous bird hilarious, and the breadcrumbs are worth their weight in gold.
I can't wait to read about [redacted] setting off with [redacted] to investigate [redacted]!
5* highly recommend
April 28, 2026
This was such a fun read! Eddy takes you through SO MANY emotions, and the world building? Spot on! It wasn't drawn out, just nice 'n' easy to follow and picture. This is a new author for me, and I'm HOOKED! I Want more from this author AND a second book for this one... need to know what happens next!
March 28, 2026
I devoured this!!
As per usual, Eddy’s book was action packed, devastating (she made me cry, what’s new?!), tender and real. Add in the perfect spicy scenes and this was EASILY another 5 star read
As per usual, Eddy’s book was action packed, devastating (she made me cry, what’s new?!), tender and real. Add in the perfect spicy scenes and this was EASILY another 5 star read
April 3, 2026
CONTENT WARNINGS; Please Check Your Triggers.
Thank you to the author Eddie Rose for an advanced copy of this book. I'm leaving a voluntary review.
Tropes;
᯽🗡️𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
᯽🖤𝑶𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒙 𝑺𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒆
᯽🗡️𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑨𝒈𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒑
᯽🖤30+ 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒚 𝑭𝑴𝑪
᯽🗡️𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝑴𝑪
᯽🖤𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑻𝒐 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔
᯽🗡️𝑨 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒅
᯽🖤𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
᯽🗡️𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒅
᯽🖤𝑨 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒆
᯽🗡️𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒔
᯽🖤𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒐 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔
᯽🗡️𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔
᯽🖤𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆-𝒌𝒊𝒄𝒌
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔/𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔
᯽🖤𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 & 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆
᯽🗡️𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 & 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈
᯽🖤𝑳𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒐 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
᯽🗡️𝑨𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒂
᯽🖤𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒎𝒂/𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
᯽🗡️𝑵𝒐 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇-𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓
᯽🖤𝑯𝑭𝑵
Once again, Eddy Rose has blown me away with her writing! The storyline is well thought out and riveting, action-packed, and doesn't drag at all. The Black Hearth is a short story embroiled in violence and romance, arenas and battles, angst and spice, blood and gore! It's brilliantly written - a page turner. The atmosphere is incredibly dark, grim, and heavy with emotional tension.
Our FMC, Malina, is a businesswoman and owns her own arena. She's also a fierce and strong character who doesn't let any man intimidate her and is confident in her capabilities. On the other hand, she is very good at concealing her vulnerabilities, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't have a heart and, over time, opens up her heart to the MMC.
Next, our MMC Waythorn is a purebred Beast slave, mysterious, a man of short words who crashes into the FMC's world, bloodied and crazed and confused: in need of help. All he's ever known is to follow orders, obey, and kill. But buried beneath all the brainwashing, the conditioning, questions begin arising, and he cracks appear. His story is heartbreaking: you can feel the angst and pain.
Their chemistry begins passionately and intensely as strong physical attraction, which then transforms into something more meaningful, emotional, and substantial. The romance growth isn't forced and feels believable, especially considering how the MMC navigates his feelings. He's literally trained and conditioned into not numbing his feelings. But the way they both overcome the obstacles together is done so well!
There's so much tension and danger that you can almost feel everything as if you're there. Also, the story deals with sensitive subjects like mental health, belonging, and freedom. There are also yearning, light-hearted and dramatic moments, rollercoaster of emotions, and locations that feel movielike. And the descriptions are beautiful and vivid - immersive! The rest of the characters bring their own vibes, too. They each have their own imperfections and strengths. (I wonder if Dorrala will be getting her own book?) Anyways, the ending is perfect. UGH! Brilliant.
Overall, I loved it. ﾒ૦ﾒ૦💋
Out of Fives;
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓:✨✨✨✨✨
᯽🖤𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆:🔥🔥
᯽🗡️𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔:🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
᯽🖤𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆:🥀🥀🥀🥀
᯽🗡️𝑨𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:💥💥💥💥
᯽🖤𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒏:❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔:🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
᯽🖤𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔:💧💧💧💧💧
᯽🗡️𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏:🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
᯽🖤𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏:💋💋💋💋
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅/𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒆:🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
᯽🖤𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕:❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚:⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
᯽🖤𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆:🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️
᯽🗡️𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂 𝑭𝑴𝑪:❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
᯽🖤𝑾𝒂𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝑴𝑴𝑪:💛💛💛💛💛
᯽🗡️𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆:🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶
᯽🖤𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈:⏳⌛⏳⌛
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕:🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
᯽🖤𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈:🌏🌎🌍🌏🌎
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪/𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆.
᯽🖤𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅 - 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑶𝒏𝒆).
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓: 21 (𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆).
᯽🖤𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 287.
᯽🗡️𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑨𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕, 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.
᯽🖤𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 21𝒔𝒕 𝑨𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒍 2026.
᯽🗡️𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: 𝒀𝒆𝒔.
᯽🖤𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to the author Eddie Rose for an advanced copy of this book. I'm leaving a voluntary review.
Tropes;
᯽🗡️𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
᯽🖤𝑶𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒙 𝑺𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒆
᯽🗡️𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑨𝒈𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒑
᯽🖤30+ 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒚 𝑭𝑴𝑪
᯽🗡️𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝑴𝑪
᯽🖤𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑻𝒐 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔
᯽🗡️𝑨 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒅
᯽🖤𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
᯽🗡️𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒅
᯽🖤𝑨 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒆
᯽🗡️𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒔
᯽🖤𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒐 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔
᯽🗡️𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔
᯽🖤𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆-𝒌𝒊𝒄𝒌
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔/𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔
᯽🖤𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 & 𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆
᯽🗡️𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 & 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈
᯽🖤𝑳𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒐 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
᯽🗡️𝑨𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒂
᯽🖤𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒎𝒂/𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
᯽🗡️𝑵𝒐 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇-𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓
᯽🖤𝑯𝑭𝑵
Once again, Eddy Rose has blown me away with her writing! The storyline is well thought out and riveting, action-packed, and doesn't drag at all. The Black Hearth is a short story embroiled in violence and romance, arenas and battles, angst and spice, blood and gore! It's brilliantly written - a page turner. The atmosphere is incredibly dark, grim, and heavy with emotional tension.
Our FMC, Malina, is a businesswoman and owns her own arena. She's also a fierce and strong character who doesn't let any man intimidate her and is confident in her capabilities. On the other hand, she is very good at concealing her vulnerabilities, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't have a heart and, over time, opens up her heart to the MMC.
Next, our MMC Waythorn is a purebred Beast slave, mysterious, a man of short words who crashes into the FMC's world, bloodied and crazed and confused: in need of help. All he's ever known is to follow orders, obey, and kill. But buried beneath all the brainwashing, the conditioning, questions begin arising, and he cracks appear. His story is heartbreaking: you can feel the angst and pain.
Their chemistry begins passionately and intensely as strong physical attraction, which then transforms into something more meaningful, emotional, and substantial. The romance growth isn't forced and feels believable, especially considering how the MMC navigates his feelings. He's literally trained and conditioned into not numbing his feelings. But the way they both overcome the obstacles together is done so well!
There's so much tension and danger that you can almost feel everything as if you're there. Also, the story deals with sensitive subjects like mental health, belonging, and freedom. There are also yearning, light-hearted and dramatic moments, rollercoaster of emotions, and locations that feel movielike. And the descriptions are beautiful and vivid - immersive! The rest of the characters bring their own vibes, too. They each have their own imperfections and strengths. (I wonder if Dorrala will be getting her own book?) Anyways, the ending is perfect. UGH! Brilliant.
Overall, I loved it. ﾒ૦ﾒ૦💋
Out of Fives;
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓:✨✨✨✨✨
᯽🖤𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆:🔥🔥
᯽🗡️𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔:🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
᯽🖤𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆:🥀🥀🥀🥀
᯽🗡️𝑨𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:💥💥💥💥
᯽🖤𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒏:❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔:🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
᯽🖤𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔:💧💧💧💧💧
᯽🗡️𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏:🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
᯽🖤𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏:💋💋💋💋
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅/𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒆:🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
᯽🖤𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕:❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚:⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
᯽🖤𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆:🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️
᯽🗡️𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂 𝑭𝑴𝑪:❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
᯽🖤𝑾𝒂𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝑴𝑴𝑪:💛💛💛💛💛
᯽🗡️𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆:🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶
᯽🖤𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈:⏳⌛⏳⌛
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕:🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
᯽🖤𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈:🌏🌎🌍🌏🌎
᯽🗡️𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪/𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆.
᯽🖤𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅 - 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑶𝒏𝒆).
᯽🗡️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓: 21 (𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆).
᯽🖤𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 287.
᯽🗡️𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑨𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕, 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.
᯽🖤𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 21𝒔𝒕 𝑨𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒍 2026.
᯽🗡️𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: 𝒀𝒆𝒔.
᯽🖤𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 9, 2026
The Black Hearth was my first book by Eddie Rose, so I went into this completely new to her world—and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
I’ve never read a gladiator romantasy before, so I am pretty new to the concept. The premise itself feels incredibly unique and refreshing compared to anything I’ve read so far. A powerful, ruthless businesswoman running a brutal arena, and the gladiator slave she owns as the male lead? Instantly intriguing.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Malina. She is such a strong, complex, morally grey character, and I really appreciated how well she was developed. Her pragmatism, intelligence, and business mindset made her stand out in a genre that often leans toward more emotionally driven heroines. She feels sharp, controlled, and deeply shaped by the world she inhabits.
Speaking of the world—the worldbuilding was absolutely fascinating. In under 300 pages, Eddie Rose manages to create an atmosphere that is both dark and heavy. You can almost feel the exhaustion, pain, and moral weight pressing down on the characters. Her descriptions are vivid and immersive, making the setting feel gritty, dangerous, and intensely real.
The story also delves into powerful and thought-provoking themes, including freedom, self-worth, mental health, and the search for a sense of belonging when your life has never truly been your own. These elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative, shaping the characters’ choices and struggles, and adding a profound emotional weight that makes the story feel both intense and deeply human.
I also really enjoyed the romance. The chemistry between Malina and Waythorn is subtle but compelling, fitting perfectly with the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
That said, there were a couple of aspects that didn’t fully work for me. Around the halfway point, there is a noticeable time skip that skips over a period of important character and relationship development. I would have loved to see more of those moments on page, as they could have added greater emotional depth to the story.
Additionally, the story is told entirely from Malina’s perspective. While this allows her character to be fully developed and richly detailed, it can make Waythorn feel somewhat distant and mysterious. I’m hoping future books will explore his point of view more, as it would offer deeper insight into his inner world and complexity.
Rating: 4.2/5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was the kind of story that kept me turning pages, constantly curious about what would happen next. Dark, immersive, and emotionally layered, The Black Hearth is a strong start, and I’m definitely interested in continuing the series.
I’d like to sincerely thank Eddie Rose for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Black Hearth!
I’ve never read a gladiator romantasy before, so I am pretty new to the concept. The premise itself feels incredibly unique and refreshing compared to anything I’ve read so far. A powerful, ruthless businesswoman running a brutal arena, and the gladiator slave she owns as the male lead? Instantly intriguing.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Malina. She is such a strong, complex, morally grey character, and I really appreciated how well she was developed. Her pragmatism, intelligence, and business mindset made her stand out in a genre that often leans toward more emotionally driven heroines. She feels sharp, controlled, and deeply shaped by the world she inhabits.
Speaking of the world—the worldbuilding was absolutely fascinating. In under 300 pages, Eddie Rose manages to create an atmosphere that is both dark and heavy. You can almost feel the exhaustion, pain, and moral weight pressing down on the characters. Her descriptions are vivid and immersive, making the setting feel gritty, dangerous, and intensely real.
The story also delves into powerful and thought-provoking themes, including freedom, self-worth, mental health, and the search for a sense of belonging when your life has never truly been your own. These elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative, shaping the characters’ choices and struggles, and adding a profound emotional weight that makes the story feel both intense and deeply human.
I also really enjoyed the romance. The chemistry between Malina and Waythorn is subtle but compelling, fitting perfectly with the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
That said, there were a couple of aspects that didn’t fully work for me. Around the halfway point, there is a noticeable time skip that skips over a period of important character and relationship development. I would have loved to see more of those moments on page, as they could have added greater emotional depth to the story.
Additionally, the story is told entirely from Malina’s perspective. While this allows her character to be fully developed and richly detailed, it can make Waythorn feel somewhat distant and mysterious. I’m hoping future books will explore his point of view more, as it would offer deeper insight into his inner world and complexity.
Rating: 4.2/5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was the kind of story that kept me turning pages, constantly curious about what would happen next. Dark, immersive, and emotionally layered, The Black Hearth is a strong start, and I’m definitely interested in continuing the series.
I’d like to sincerely thank Eddie Rose for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Black Hearth!
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