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A Gloom in the Bones
Clara is trapped in a nightmare, and stranded in a stranger world she thirsts for revenge.
The night her boyfriend told her they were coming to get him, she had no idea what he was running from. In tears he said the plea that still burdens her. Would you die for me, Lar?
Then he pushed her in a hole to a parallel dimension filled with tricksters and monsters.
In Mar-dröm nothing is as it seems. Everything is built on magic and violence, and the creatures are treacherous. With false kindness and fake gifts they get your trust, only to stab you in the back and steal all you have left. And then there are the Artists, immortals who sold their soul to the God Without Eyes and enforce his divine order with threats and death.
Clara survives in hiding, while her anger grows day after day, until one night she witnesses a murder. The killer starts to haunt her, forcing her to do the only thing she promised not to do: devote her soul and become an Artist herself.
Thus a world of power, secrets and madness opens for her, asking her to pledge a choice — to stay at her new family’s side and learn to live again or to escape Mar-dröm and leave only ashes and ruin in her wake.
Between enigmas and betrayals a hidden villain waits for her.
Chaos binds her to a monster.
And her Shadows do not forget.
The night her boyfriend told her they were coming to get him, she had no idea what he was running from. In tears he said the plea that still burdens her. Would you die for me, Lar?
Then he pushed her in a hole to a parallel dimension filled with tricksters and monsters.
In Mar-dröm nothing is as it seems. Everything is built on magic and violence, and the creatures are treacherous. With false kindness and fake gifts they get your trust, only to stab you in the back and steal all you have left. And then there are the Artists, immortals who sold their soul to the God Without Eyes and enforce his divine order with threats and death.
Clara survives in hiding, while her anger grows day after day, until one night she witnesses a murder. The killer starts to haunt her, forcing her to do the only thing she promised not to do: devote her soul and become an Artist herself.
Thus a world of power, secrets and madness opens for her, asking her to pledge a choice — to stay at her new family’s side and learn to live again or to escape Mar-dröm and leave only ashes and ruin in her wake.
Between enigmas and betrayals a hidden villain waits for her.
Chaos binds her to a monster.
And her Shadows do not forget.
- GenresFantasy
496 pages, ebook
Published March 25, 2026
9 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Robin A. Costantin
1 book4 followersBorn near Venice in 1997, Robin is an Italian indie author who publishes both in her first language and English.
She now lives in Piedmont, in a little city near the mountains, with her partner, their cats and a dog named Tortellino.
She loves all things gothic and started writing at the age of thirteen on fanfic websites. A Gloom in the Bones is her first book.
She now lives in Piedmont, in a little city near the mountains, with her partner, their cats and a dog named Tortellino.
She loves all things gothic and started writing at the age of thirteen on fanfic websites. A Gloom in the Bones is her first book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 17, 2026
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Ho ricevuto questo libro come ARC dall’autrice e l’ho trovato una lettura interessante. È un dark fantasy con un mondo magico originale, diverso da altri che ho letto.
Mi sono piaciute le prove per scoprire le affinità con i poteri dei sette. Essendo il primo libro della serie, pone buone basi per la storia.
Spero che nei prossimi volumi i personaggi secondari vengano approfonditi di più. Nel complesso mi è piaciuto e mi ha lasciato curiosa di continuare la serie.
I received this book as an ARC from the author and found it an interesting read. It’s a dark fantasy with a unique magical world, different from others I’ve read.
I enjoyed the trials to discover the affinities with the powers of the seven. As the first book in a series, it sets a solid foundation.
I hope the secondary characters will be developed more in the next books. Overall, I liked it and I’m curious to continue the series.
Ho ricevuto questo libro come ARC dall’autrice e l’ho trovato una lettura interessante. È un dark fantasy con un mondo magico originale, diverso da altri che ho letto.
Mi sono piaciute le prove per scoprire le affinità con i poteri dei sette. Essendo il primo libro della serie, pone buone basi per la storia.
Spero che nei prossimi volumi i personaggi secondari vengano approfonditi di più. Nel complesso mi è piaciuto e mi ha lasciato curiosa di continuare la serie.
I received this book as an ARC from the author and found it an interesting read. It’s a dark fantasy with a unique magical world, different from others I’ve read.
I enjoyed the trials to discover the affinities with the powers of the seven. As the first book in a series, it sets a solid foundation.
I hope the secondary characters will be developed more in the next books. Overall, I liked it and I’m curious to continue the series.
March 14, 2026
ARC Review✨
5 ⭐️
Thankful to have received this ARC! This story completely captivated me. The world-building was immersive, the characters were well-developed, and the plot kept me hooked from beginning to end. I found myself fully invested in both the story and the characters, which made the entire reading experience incredibly engaging. I’m already counting down the days until I can get my hands on the second book!
5 ⭐️
Thankful to have received this ARC! This story completely captivated me. The world-building was immersive, the characters were well-developed, and the plot kept me hooked from beginning to end. I found myself fully invested in both the story and the characters, which made the entire reading experience incredibly engaging. I’m already counting down the days until I can get my hands on the second book!
March 26, 2026
I’m actually so excited to talk about this one because it hit so many check marks in a story/book that I love.This story follows Clara who gets thrown literally into a nightmare world after her boyfriend betrays her in the most brutal way. What starts as confusion and heartbreak turns into something way darker when she ends up in this parallel dimension, Mar-dröm, where nothing is safe, nothing is honest, and everything runs on magic, violence, and manipulation. The creatures there are not just monsters they’re deceptive will literally earn your trust just to destroy you And then you’ve got the “Artists,” these terrifying immortals who gave up their souls to this eerie God Without Eyes and enforce his will like it’s law.Clara spends so much of the story just trying to survive, hiding, watching, learning but her anger is always there building. And when she witnesses a murder and gets tangled up with the killer, everything shifts. She’s forced into becoming the very thing she swore she wouldn’t: an Artist. From there it just spirals into this intense mix of power, madness, secrets, and this constant question of who she’s becoming. Does she stay, adapt, and belong in this broken world or burn it all down and escape? Loved this book I’ll say it a million times. Dark fantasy, a little chaotic, morally gray everything, and that slow descent into power.Also something really special about this reading experience for me: I got to check off a literal bucket list item. I read this in another language. I would go back and forth between the English and Italian versions, comparing passages, catching little nuances, and It made the whole experience feel even richer. Like I was stepping deeper into the story in a different way. That alone made this such a memorable read.And I love supporting indie authors but especially this one being an Italian indie author it just feels so important to uplift voices outside the mainstream publishing world. You can feel the passion and originality in the writing. It’s not cookie cutter fantasy. It’s bold, a little weird (in the best way), and completely its own thing.Happy release day to this book it literally just came out the other day and I’m so so excited I get to share it with you guys. If you love dark fantasy, twisted worlds, and characters you need this on your TBR.I’m not even kidding when I say this book was everything. I’m obsessed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
~I received an ARC of Gloom in the Bones from the Author, this is my honest review~
“You have no idea,” he murmured, “how easy it would be for me to corrupt you, to make you mine. And you can’t even begin to imagine how much I’d enjoy doing so.”
I would give this 4 and half stars if I could!
This is Robins debut novel for the Mar-Dröm trilogy. Her first language is Italian and she translated the book to English herself so a few areas do read a smidge awkwardly but I believe that is due to translation and do not fault her for it at all.
Through the eyes of the FMC Clara were made to feel as if in constant suspense, wary of every whisper and feeling the urge to look over our shoulders as we learn how she came to be stuck in a dangerous and murderous pocket world. Filled with fae and monsters.
I love the way she describes the various creatures and characters, I love her world building, and her characters. The tension and build up she creates between Clara and her pursuer is so SO JUICY that you literally can’t help but crave a descriptive steamy clash between them. However the focus is the emotional pull between them and it changes them and it feels like a warm hug directly on the heart.
My only notes are 1. I DO wish the trials/lessons Clara goes through were a bit more in depth. I felt like they could’ve been longer. 2. BECAUSE the tension and build up was so juicy, the lack of detail when they do finally come together was almost underwhelming -HOWEVER, I’m aware I’m used to “smuttier” books and again Robins focus is the EMOTIONAL impact they have on each other. Which is something I personally haven’t seen happen a lot in recent books, so I absolutely respect it. I bring this point up because I want other readers to understand how important the emotional impact is to Robin and her story.
That being said, I cannot WAIT to read the next book in the series. I need to know where Clara and her family of found villains ends up.
“You have no idea,” he murmured, “how easy it would be for me to corrupt you, to make you mine. And you can’t even begin to imagine how much I’d enjoy doing so.”
I would give this 4 and half stars if I could!
This is Robins debut novel for the Mar-Dröm trilogy. Her first language is Italian and she translated the book to English herself so a few areas do read a smidge awkwardly but I believe that is due to translation and do not fault her for it at all.
Through the eyes of the FMC Clara were made to feel as if in constant suspense, wary of every whisper and feeling the urge to look over our shoulders as we learn how she came to be stuck in a dangerous and murderous pocket world. Filled with fae and monsters.
I love the way she describes the various creatures and characters, I love her world building, and her characters. The tension and build up she creates between Clara and her pursuer is so SO JUICY that you literally can’t help but crave a descriptive steamy clash between them. However the focus is the emotional pull between them and it changes them and it feels like a warm hug directly on the heart.
My only notes are 1. I DO wish the trials/lessons Clara goes through were a bit more in depth. I felt like they could’ve been longer. 2. BECAUSE the tension and build up was so juicy, the lack of detail when they do finally come together was almost underwhelming -HOWEVER, I’m aware I’m used to “smuttier” books and again Robins focus is the EMOTIONAL impact they have on each other. Which is something I personally haven’t seen happen a lot in recent books, so I absolutely respect it. I bring this point up because I want other readers to understand how important the emotional impact is to Robin and her story.
That being said, I cannot WAIT to read the next book in the series. I need to know where Clara and her family of found villains ends up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you loved The Folk of the Air series for its magical world filled with ruthless fae and the struggle of a human trying to survive within it, you’ll absolutely enjoy this. It feels like a Holly Black x Tim Burton lovechild in the best way. Let me explain:
This is a debut, and it’s an incredibly impressive one. The story is beautiful in a way that feels both haunting and dreamlike. The trilogy is titled Mar-dröm (“nightmare” in Swedish), and the world truly feels like one. But at the same time, it’s surreal and magical. The author paints such vivid imagery that I felt completely drawn in, like I was right there beside the FMC.
One thing I thoroughly enjoyed was the magic system. It felt genuinely unique. Magic is something each character has to test and discover for themselves, and once chosen, it’s for life. It added a distinct and personal dimension to the worldbuilding that made it feel fresh and exciting.
And one of the things I appreciated most is that this isn’t a typical “morally grey” FMC from the start. As the author has said, this is a true corruption arc, and you really feel that. We follow Clara as she slowly changes, step by step, and I found myself going along with her completely. I was rooting for her the entire time, even when I probably shouldn’t have been.
Also, I’m obsessssed. Completely consumed by the atmosphere and the way this story made me feel. The tension, the dream interactions, the dynamic between Clara and the villain… I was on the edge of my seat, giggling, kicking my feet.
And yes! “Villain gets the girl”? I will always show up for that.
Give me book two immediately. And I’ll absolutely be keeping an eye on this author.
This is a debut, and it’s an incredibly impressive one. The story is beautiful in a way that feels both haunting and dreamlike. The trilogy is titled Mar-dröm (“nightmare” in Swedish), and the world truly feels like one. But at the same time, it’s surreal and magical. The author paints such vivid imagery that I felt completely drawn in, like I was right there beside the FMC.
One thing I thoroughly enjoyed was the magic system. It felt genuinely unique. Magic is something each character has to test and discover for themselves, and once chosen, it’s for life. It added a distinct and personal dimension to the worldbuilding that made it feel fresh and exciting.
And one of the things I appreciated most is that this isn’t a typical “morally grey” FMC from the start. As the author has said, this is a true corruption arc, and you really feel that. We follow Clara as she slowly changes, step by step, and I found myself going along with her completely. I was rooting for her the entire time, even when I probably shouldn’t have been.
Also, I’m obsessssed. Completely consumed by the atmosphere and the way this story made me feel. The tension, the dream interactions, the dynamic between Clara and the villain… I was on the edge of my seat, giggling, kicking my feet.
And yes! “Villain gets the girl”? I will always show up for that.
Give me book two immediately. And I’ll absolutely be keeping an eye on this author.
March 28, 2026
3.7 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤
THIS WAS DARK, WEIRD AN A FUN READ!!!
A Gloom In The Bones felt like polluted fairytale. Filled with morally grey characters and an unsettling atmosphere that never really lets up.
I really liked Clara as an FMC, she was not only strong but her anxiety and determination to survive was very realistic considering the kind of world she was living in which… was quite brutal as a human in a world full of night creatures motivated by their own rules.
From the moment Clara is thrown into the twisted world of Mar-dröm, the story sucks you in. The world-building is easily one of my favourite parts of the book and it’s incredibly immersive and manages to pull you into a dark, gloomy place right alongside her.
This book was translated from Italian, so there are a few mistakes and quite a few repetitive scenes/descriptions at certain parts of the book although doesn’t completely take you out of the world itself. That being said I’ll be waiting on book 2 🫶🏼✨
QUOTES 🦴
“Where my lover was elegant and composed, my ally was intoxicating and wild. He had the face of an angel, the voice of a nightingale, and his eyes reflected every one of my darkest desires.”
“Would you cry a little? Just for me? Your tears are like poetry. Beautiful symphonies of pain.”
“You just have to say you want it. That you want me. And I’ll be your personal bouquet of poisons.”
“I was gasping, unable to speak. Would it really be so terrible, I wondered. Would it be so bad to lose myself with him in this beautiful delirium?” 🦋
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤
THIS WAS DARK, WEIRD AN A FUN READ!!!
A Gloom In The Bones felt like polluted fairytale. Filled with morally grey characters and an unsettling atmosphere that never really lets up.
I really liked Clara as an FMC, she was not only strong but her anxiety and determination to survive was very realistic considering the kind of world she was living in which… was quite brutal as a human in a world full of night creatures motivated by their own rules.
From the moment Clara is thrown into the twisted world of Mar-dröm, the story sucks you in. The world-building is easily one of my favourite parts of the book and it’s incredibly immersive and manages to pull you into a dark, gloomy place right alongside her.
This book was translated from Italian, so there are a few mistakes and quite a few repetitive scenes/descriptions at certain parts of the book although doesn’t completely take you out of the world itself. That being said I’ll be waiting on book 2 🫶🏼✨
QUOTES 🦴
“Where my lover was elegant and composed, my ally was intoxicating and wild. He had the face of an angel, the voice of a nightingale, and his eyes reflected every one of my darkest desires.”
“Would you cry a little? Just for me? Your tears are like poetry. Beautiful symphonies of pain.”
“You just have to say you want it. That you want me. And I’ll be your personal bouquet of poisons.”
“I was gasping, unable to speak. Would it really be so terrible, I wondered. Would it be so bad to lose myself with him in this beautiful delirium?” 🦋
March 22, 2026
We meet Clara, a human who’s ended up trapped in a faerie world all due to her ex boyfriend and the sacrifice of “promises” he made.
Within this new world / dimension Clara comes face to face with various creatures, from fae to faun and some darker magic and monsters. I loved the world building and the characters felt well developed and described.
In Mar-dröm nothing is ever truly as it seems, Clara witnesses a murder and in turn, the killer starts to haunt her, leading her to do what she thought she’d never do - devote her soul to the God Without Eyes and become an “Artist”, becoming an immortal being and opening up a world of magic and “matter.”
Learning to live in the world of the God Without Eyes and The Seven - Clara learns what this world is truly like and what people are capable of, from the matter she chooses to wield and the powers that choose her, to the relationships built and the betrayals waiting to happen. Her shadows aren’t the only things lurking in the darkness and the chaos that has been following her from the beginning. Meeting Vicrous, Rage, Vultura, Mazee and Feras along the way.
I was super excited to receive this arc and it did not disappoint! I have a love for all things fantasy and this dark world was right up my alley. (AND props to Robin for translating it to English for us to enjoy!👏) she’s also added in some illustrations throughout which I really enjoyed and thought was really cute and helpful to help visualise things.
Thank you so much to Robin for this ARC!!! 🫶🏻
Within this new world / dimension Clara comes face to face with various creatures, from fae to faun and some darker magic and monsters. I loved the world building and the characters felt well developed and described.
In Mar-dröm nothing is ever truly as it seems, Clara witnesses a murder and in turn, the killer starts to haunt her, leading her to do what she thought she’d never do - devote her soul to the God Without Eyes and become an “Artist”, becoming an immortal being and opening up a world of magic and “matter.”
Learning to live in the world of the God Without Eyes and The Seven - Clara learns what this world is truly like and what people are capable of, from the matter she chooses to wield and the powers that choose her, to the relationships built and the betrayals waiting to happen. Her shadows aren’t the only things lurking in the darkness and the chaos that has been following her from the beginning. Meeting Vicrous, Rage, Vultura, Mazee and Feras along the way.
I was super excited to receive this arc and it did not disappoint! I have a love for all things fantasy and this dark world was right up my alley. (AND props to Robin for translating it to English for us to enjoy!👏) she’s also added in some illustrations throughout which I really enjoyed and thought was really cute and helpful to help visualise things.
Thank you so much to Robin for this ARC!!! 🫶🏻
April 2, 2026
I have so many thoughts on this book that at the end of the review, I would probably be unsatisfied with what I wrote, thinking I could have added more.
It's a dense book if we talk about Clara's journey, but it's also short because I would have liked to read more. Does it make sense? 😂 It's one of those books that you can't put down, and when you finally did, you're like, "wtf there's no way I read this much?". But it's actually like that. The characters are captivating, and reading every turning point makes me want to read even more.
Even the world building is interesting: we're in Mar-dröm, a world with its own rule and its own different inhabitants. We follow everything from Clara's perception so we can see how difficult and different Mar-dröm is from Earth. We can see how cruel and deceitful those inhabitants can be, in particular with people who don't know how their world work, like Clara in the beginning.
In my opinion, one of the most interesting points in the book is when Clara starts her corruption arc. With every turning page, we can read Clara's brain work on every piece of information she has and deduct the one that she doesn't have. This process continues until she understands that she has to be the one that saves herself because even the people who tell her they love her are part of the betrayal.
So yeah, she's a human in a cruel, fae world inspired by Alice in Wonderland, moved by what she thought was going to be her found family until everything goes to hell, and she had to start again with companions that she wouldn't have thought she could trust.
It's a dense book if we talk about Clara's journey, but it's also short because I would have liked to read more. Does it make sense? 😂 It's one of those books that you can't put down, and when you finally did, you're like, "wtf there's no way I read this much?". But it's actually like that. The characters are captivating, and reading every turning point makes me want to read even more.
Even the world building is interesting: we're in Mar-dröm, a world with its own rule and its own different inhabitants. We follow everything from Clara's perception so we can see how difficult and different Mar-dröm is from Earth. We can see how cruel and deceitful those inhabitants can be, in particular with people who don't know how their world work, like Clara in the beginning.
In my opinion, one of the most interesting points in the book is when Clara starts her corruption arc. With every turning page, we can read Clara's brain work on every piece of information she has and deduct the one that she doesn't have. This process continues until she understands that she has to be the one that saves herself because even the people who tell her they love her are part of the betrayal.
So yeah, she's a human in a cruel, fae world inspired by Alice in Wonderland, moved by what she thought was going to be her found family until everything goes to hell, and she had to start again with companions that she wouldn't have thought she could trust.
March 28, 2026
Absolutely loved this book. There's so many amazing characters. I loved the little bits of Italian in it and read it with an Italian accent too, cause if you tell me there's an accent then that's how I'm going to read it. It also has a perfect ending but also has me wanting the next book asap!
This book kinda has me speechless so I thought I'd share some of my favourite parts to convince you why you should read this book
Something that made me laugh:
"HUNGRUHUNGRYHUNGRYHUNGRY..... NOW IT HAS A HOME
IN MY BELLY"
Something wholesome:
"Clara?" He whispered.
"Yes?"
"Tell me again that I matter"
"You matter to me, Vi.
Some of my favourite Feras moments:
"Yes that's exactly what I like." He leaned forward. "Would you cry a little? Just for me? Your tears are like poetry. Beautiful symphonies of pain."
"Are you really trying to kill me, darling?" He murmured. "Oh that's hot."
Something empowering:
"It might sadden you to know that a human will be the one to kill you. But trust me, I'll savor the sound of your bones breaking one by one."
A little bit of Mazee:
"You offended the butterflies. The voice is offended too. It's too late---they're with the wolf now."
Some self realisation:
'Mar-dröm was a slow-acting but deadly poison.
And I would be its antidote.'
This book kinda has me speechless so I thought I'd share some of my favourite parts to convince you why you should read this book
Something that made me laugh:
"HUNGRUHUNGRYHUNGRYHUNGRY..... NOW IT HAS A HOME
IN MY BELLY"
Something wholesome:
"Clara?" He whispered.
"Yes?"
"Tell me again that I matter"
"You matter to me, Vi.
Some of my favourite Feras moments:
"Yes that's exactly what I like." He leaned forward. "Would you cry a little? Just for me? Your tears are like poetry. Beautiful symphonies of pain."
"Are you really trying to kill me, darling?" He murmured. "Oh that's hot."
Something empowering:
"It might sadden you to know that a human will be the one to kill you. But trust me, I'll savor the sound of your bones breaking one by one."
A little bit of Mazee:
"You offended the butterflies. The voice is offended too. It's too late---they're with the wolf now."
Some self realisation:
'Mar-dröm was a slow-acting but deadly poison.
And I would be its antidote.'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review 4.5/5⭐️s
Oooh this book was so much fun~
I’m a big sucker for chaos and pandemonium❤️
I also love betrayal
And oh boy, there’s a lot of that in these pages.
And lots of choking. That’s always a big plus.
The take on magic fun. It was said that anyone could access magic in the world, even humans who stumbled in, they just had to learn how. Or you could sell your soul for a potential fast-track! Who needs the pesky thing anyways?
I will say, there were two female characters at the beginning who originally felt like they would play a bigger role later the story, and I wonder if they’ll come back in another book. They seemed very interesting, and I’d like to see a little more of them.
On a separate note, I absolutely adored all the attention to detail put into this book. The art throughout was very nice!
Unfortunately, it dint quite translate to the kindle well, but whenever it popped up, I would go to the pdf to find the page! It was very nice, especially in the age where details like these are overlooked.
I’m looking forward to the next one!!
Oooh this book was so much fun~
I’m a big sucker for chaos and pandemonium❤️
I also love betrayal
And oh boy, there’s a lot of that in these pages.
And lots of choking. That’s always a big plus.
The take on magic fun. It was said that anyone could access magic in the world, even humans who stumbled in, they just had to learn how. Or you could sell your soul for a potential fast-track! Who needs the pesky thing anyways?
I will say, there were two female characters at the beginning who originally felt like they would play a bigger role later the story, and I wonder if they’ll come back in another book. They seemed very interesting, and I’d like to see a little more of them.
On a separate note, I absolutely adored all the attention to detail put into this book. The art throughout was very nice!
Unfortunately, it dint quite translate to the kindle well, but whenever it popped up, I would go to the pdf to find the page! It was very nice, especially in the age where details like these are overlooked.
I’m looking forward to the next one!!
March 25, 2026
Clara's nightmare begins when her boyfriend shoves her into a hole to Mar-dröm—a treacherous parallel dimension of tricksters, monsters, and soul-selling Artists enforcing the God Without Eyes' brutal order. Thirsting for revenge, she hides until a killer's murder forces her hand: pledge her soul as an Artist or perish. Amid power, secrets, and madness, chaos binds her to a monster, shadows haunt her choices—loyalty to her new "family" or burn it all down?
Elara's sharp resilience grips as she navigates betrayals, enigmas, and that villain-falls-first tension exploding into dark, explicit spice. The gothic world of false gifts, violence, and hidden villains immerses with moody dread.
Pacing drags mid-book via repetitive survival rituals; twists (boyfriend's secrets, Artist betrayals) skew predictable. Side creatures blur as plot devices, and the revenge arc simmers without full emotional ruin.
Bingeable chaos for indie dark fantasy fans craving revenge, monsters, and antihero bonds—strong vibes, shakier execution.
Elara's sharp resilience grips as she navigates betrayals, enigmas, and that villain-falls-first tension exploding into dark, explicit spice. The gothic world of false gifts, violence, and hidden villains immerses with moody dread.
Pacing drags mid-book via repetitive survival rituals; twists (boyfriend's secrets, Artist betrayals) skew predictable. Side creatures blur as plot devices, and the revenge arc simmers without full emotional ruin.
Bingeable chaos for indie dark fantasy fans craving revenge, monsters, and antihero bonds—strong vibes, shakier execution.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review 🖤
5/5 ⭐️
I can’t believe what I just read! This story kept me wanting more. To keep reading way late at night to see what happens next.
I feel so bad for Clara. Having to going through so much betrayal especially from people you trusted and cared for.
Her motivation to see her family again made me shed some tears. I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost my family the way she did and never know if you could see them again.
I was freaked out with Feras at first. How the nightmares were with him in it. (Started to wonder if I’d get them too). But then I started to not see red flags 🚩 I can fix him right?
Vi.. you had my heart in the beginning but now I’m doubting. I did enjoy how sweet he was with Clara. And felt for him when he opened up his feelings to Clara.
Overall, this story captivated me. Had so much emotion, thriller, magic and a sprinkling of spice. I loved it. I am looking forward to what happens next in the second book!
5/5 ⭐️
I can’t believe what I just read! This story kept me wanting more. To keep reading way late at night to see what happens next.
I feel so bad for Clara. Having to going through so much betrayal especially from people you trusted and cared for.
Her motivation to see her family again made me shed some tears. I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost my family the way she did and never know if you could see them again.
I was freaked out with Feras at first. How the nightmares were with him in it. (Started to wonder if I’d get them too). But then I started to not see red flags 🚩 I can fix him right?
Vi.. you had my heart in the beginning but now I’m doubting. I did enjoy how sweet he was with Clara. And felt for him when he opened up his feelings to Clara.
Overall, this story captivated me. Had so much emotion, thriller, magic and a sprinkling of spice. I loved it. I am looking forward to what happens next in the second book!
March 12, 2026
Un dark fantasy con i fiocchi!
Mi ha coinvolta fin dai primi capitoli, Clara mi è entrata subito nel cuore e la scrittura non ha nulla da invidiare a molti libri pubblicati, anzi.
Il worldbuilding è inquietante, macabro e disturbante in senso positivo, con scene davvero intense.
Ho adorato anche la parte dell’accademia degli artisti, che spezza un po’ la cupezza di Mar-Dröm e mostra Clara mentre scopre le proprie potenzialità.
Il suo percorso di crescita è super interessante: per sopravvivere deve mettere in discussione la morale umana e le sue scelte ti fanno chiedere continuamente chi sia davvero il “buono” della storia.
Enemies to lovers + slowburn fatti benissimo e sì, ho sbloccato un nuovo book boyfriend decisamente anticonvenzionale.
Le sue battute macabre e poetiche mi facevano venire le farfalle nello stomaco. (beata Clara!)
Il finale chiude bene il primo volume ma lascia tantissima curiosità per il seguito!
Mi ha coinvolta fin dai primi capitoli, Clara mi è entrata subito nel cuore e la scrittura non ha nulla da invidiare a molti libri pubblicati, anzi.
Il worldbuilding è inquietante, macabro e disturbante in senso positivo, con scene davvero intense.
Ho adorato anche la parte dell’accademia degli artisti, che spezza un po’ la cupezza di Mar-Dröm e mostra Clara mentre scopre le proprie potenzialità.
Il suo percorso di crescita è super interessante: per sopravvivere deve mettere in discussione la morale umana e le sue scelte ti fanno chiedere continuamente chi sia davvero il “buono” della storia.
Enemies to lovers + slowburn fatti benissimo e sì, ho sbloccato un nuovo book boyfriend decisamente anticonvenzionale.
Le sue battute macabre e poetiche mi facevano venire le farfalle nello stomaco. (beata Clara!)
Il finale chiude bene il primo volume ma lascia tantissima curiosità per il seguito!
Review of advance copy
I am so grateful to have received this book as an ARC! A Gloom in the Bones follows Clara our FMC, who is a human who was cast into Mar-drom when she was betrayed by her ex. This book follows her as she tries to survive this unknown and dangerous world. As she navigates this world, she makes sacrifices to survive, but along the way, she finds someone with whom she has become drawn, despite her intentions. I really enjoyed this book, and diving into the world of Mar-drom, and I really enjoyed the romantic tension between our FMC and MMC. I ate it up! Especially with a slightly one sided love triangle. This book was giving once upon a broken heart vibes and I loved it! I thought it was well written and entertaining, the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because theere is so much more I want to know and explore about the world. I can't wait to dive into the rest of this trilogy!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Explicit. This has some really good parts, but I found that it dragged a bit. I really liked Clara's corruption arc, and her descent into betrayal and the moral query she gets into over the course of the book. And I like her personal growth a lot too. Some of the side characters were really compelling! I wish we had seen more of Vicrous and Rage, and seen their parts in imprisoning Feras a little more - but I'm guessing there'll be more history in the next book! The magic system is very interesting and so is the concept of the world itself, and how it relates to Earth. Clara's journey with depression and coming to terms with betrayal featured as well, and if you struggle with your mental health please take care as you're reading the book. If you enjoy a dark descent, and don't mind your main character morally flexible, this is the read for you.
I received a review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review - thank you to Robin for an advanced copy of A Gloom In The Bones!
A dark fantasy where we follow Clara’s journey for survival, self discovery and revenge after being pushed into a dark realm of monsters. She finds herself hunted by the unhinged second son of Mar-dröm’s God, and surrenders her soul to the God Without Eyes in order to save herself. By devoting herself and becoming an Artist to one of the seven, she finds not only her strength, but also her vengeance. If you love a true enemies to lovers story with chaos, corruption, and when the villain gets the girl, you’ll devour this story.
The unique magic system and world building, side character relationships, and Clara’s corruption arc, are some of my favourite elements to this dark fantasy romance. I’m really looking forward to book two, when we hopefully get to experience Clara coming into her power further, her revenge against her ex-boyfriend, and how her relationship with Feras develops.
A dark fantasy where we follow Clara’s journey for survival, self discovery and revenge after being pushed into a dark realm of monsters. She finds herself hunted by the unhinged second son of Mar-dröm’s God, and surrenders her soul to the God Without Eyes in order to save herself. By devoting herself and becoming an Artist to one of the seven, she finds not only her strength, but also her vengeance. If you love a true enemies to lovers story with chaos, corruption, and when the villain gets the girl, you’ll devour this story.
The unique magic system and world building, side character relationships, and Clara’s corruption arc, are some of my favourite elements to this dark fantasy romance. I’m really looking forward to book two, when we hopefully get to experience Clara coming into her power further, her revenge against her ex-boyfriend, and how her relationship with Feras develops.
March 28, 2026
I thought I’d never say this, but romantasy just got a breath of fresh air with this book.
A Gloom in the Bones by Robin A. Costantin was such an exciting read. It has everything you could want in a dark fantasy romance: strong world-building, a great playlist, and amazing illustrations that make the reading experience even more immersive. And of course, the chemistry between the main characters. I could talk about those two for so long because I really loved how their relationship developed.
Robin A. Costantin wrote everything so beautifully. Every emotion and every scene felt vivid, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the story more and more with each page. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next books in this trilogy, as well as anything else the author writes, because this was a very strong debut.
So if you’re looking for truly dark romantasy, definitely give this book a try. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
A Gloom in the Bones by Robin A. Costantin was such an exciting read. It has everything you could want in a dark fantasy romance: strong world-building, a great playlist, and amazing illustrations that make the reading experience even more immersive. And of course, the chemistry between the main characters. I could talk about those two for so long because I really loved how their relationship developed.
Robin A. Costantin wrote everything so beautifully. Every emotion and every scene felt vivid, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the story more and more with each page. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next books in this trilogy, as well as anything else the author writes, because this was a very strong debut.
So if you’re looking for truly dark romantasy, definitely give this book a try. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
April 1, 2026
A Gloom in the Bones pulls you into a world that feels dangerous from page one—like you know something bad is coming, but you lean in anyway. The atmosphere is heavy and haunting, with this constant undercurrent of tension that never really lets up.
The main character is thrown into a brutal, unfamiliar world where survival isn’t guaranteed, and watching her navigate it—making hard choices, sacrifices, and mistakes—felt raw and real.
What really got me though? The vibe. It’s layered with grief, rage, and that slow-burning sense of unraveling. The characters aren’t perfect (thank god), they’re messy and stubborn and driven, which makes everything hit harder.
Overall, this is one of those reads that lingers. Moody, twisty, and emotionally sharp—it’s giving dark fantasy with teeth.
Would absolutely recommend if you like your stories a little brutal, a little haunting, and impossible to put down.
The main character is thrown into a brutal, unfamiliar world where survival isn’t guaranteed, and watching her navigate it—making hard choices, sacrifices, and mistakes—felt raw and real.
What really got me though? The vibe. It’s layered with grief, rage, and that slow-burning sense of unraveling. The characters aren’t perfect (thank god), they’re messy and stubborn and driven, which makes everything hit harder.
Overall, this is one of those reads that lingers. Moody, twisty, and emotionally sharp—it’s giving dark fantasy with teeth.
Would absolutely recommend if you like your stories a little brutal, a little haunting, and impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Summary:
The main character Clara is banished into Mar-dröm, a dark world, which feels like a mixture of ‚Alice in Wonderland’ and ‚The Folk of the Air’. Wicked trades are everpresent, and survival is uncertain.
My opinion:
From the very beginning, I cared about Clara and her wish to return home. The atmosphere and worldbuilding were very immersive, and the small illustrations made the characters and nightmarish creatures of Mar-dröm easy to imagine.
The romantic arc was very unique, and if you are looking for something new in that regard, this book has it for you!
Pacing:
At times during the middle part, the story felt slow-paced. But toward the end I noticed, that this allowed the development of the main character to really shine and have a deeper impact.
A big thanks to the author for an ARC-copy of the book!
The main character Clara is banished into Mar-dröm, a dark world, which feels like a mixture of ‚Alice in Wonderland’ and ‚The Folk of the Air’. Wicked trades are everpresent, and survival is uncertain.
My opinion:
From the very beginning, I cared about Clara and her wish to return home. The atmosphere and worldbuilding were very immersive, and the small illustrations made the characters and nightmarish creatures of Mar-dröm easy to imagine.
The romantic arc was very unique, and if you are looking for something new in that regard, this book has it for you!
Pacing:
At times during the middle part, the story felt slow-paced. But toward the end I noticed, that this allowed the development of the main character to really shine and have a deeper impact.
A big thanks to the author for an ARC-copy of the book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Gloom in the Bones was such a strong read especially for a debut.
From the first few chapters, the atmosphere really stood out. It’s dark, heavy, and a little haunting, and that mood just carries all the way through. The world feels dangerous and unpredictable, and I liked that it doesn’t spell everything out for you. You’re figuring things out alongside the main character, which made it feel more immersive.
I also loved that it leans more into the darker fantasy side with hints of romance woven in. The characters feel driven by their own motives, which made everything feel more real and grounded.
For a first novel, this is seriously impressive. The writing, the tone, the overall feel of the story, it all comes together so well, and I’m really excited to see what the author does next.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
From the first few chapters, the atmosphere really stood out. It’s dark, heavy, and a little haunting, and that mood just carries all the way through. The world feels dangerous and unpredictable, and I liked that it doesn’t spell everything out for you. You’re figuring things out alongside the main character, which made it feel more immersive.
I also loved that it leans more into the darker fantasy side with hints of romance woven in. The characters feel driven by their own motives, which made everything feel more real and grounded.
For a first novel, this is seriously impressive. The writing, the tone, the overall feel of the story, it all comes together so well, and I’m really excited to see what the author does next.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2026
It was an absolute pleasure to read this book in advance. I was absolutely blown away by the story and the characters.
Spoiler warning!
We all love a Shadow Daddv MMC but have vou considered, a Shadow Mommy MMC instead? When tell you, I got the ICK from the shadow wielding male in this, you would probably think I was sick. l'm a sucker for the shadow wielding types and Vic just couldn't match...but do you know who did? The unlikely, UNHINGED VILL AIN?!?!?
HELLO? Psychotic redhead going on murder sprees? Hellbent on killing our FMC? FALLING for our FMC? Corrupting her... Count me in. If it's unhinged, I'm down.
I had so much fun reading this and absolutely did not expect the ending.
So excited to see what happens next! Robin, thank vou for sending this and I cannot wait to see whats next
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2026
Wow! Wow! Wow! This book was amazinggggggg!!!! Such a unique story. I’ve never read anything like this before and I cannot describe how much I enjoyed it. The world, the magic, the creatures, everything is so beautifully written and crafted. I seriously did not want this book to end. I remember reading this book every night and just not wanting to put my kindle down because I needed to know what was going to happen. And don’t get me started on the slow burn and the yearning. Ugghhhhh! Too good! I could not stop kicking my feet and smiling every time Clara and Feras were together. The chemistry and the yearning between the two was incredible. Overall, I am so grateful that I got to read this book. Go pick this book up. It won’t disappoint!!
March 27, 2026
For me this was a 5 star read…
I got to read this as an ARC and I am truly in love with this. It is an incredibly good book, the story is incredible with so much happening but not in an overwhelming way. The character growth is so good and the shadow mummy I am here for it! The twists and turns keep you engaged and wanting more. I truly loved this book and I am going to buy the physical copy to keep as the art work is amazing! Honestly this book is a must read! There is a hint of spice but nothing too detailed and I actually really enjoyed that, I cannot wait to see what else Robin writes because you best believe I WILL be reading it! Thank you Robin for allowing me to read this book it will stick with me for a long time.
I got to read this as an ARC and I am truly in love with this. It is an incredibly good book, the story is incredible with so much happening but not in an overwhelming way. The character growth is so good and the shadow mummy I am here for it! The twists and turns keep you engaged and wanting more. I truly loved this book and I am going to buy the physical copy to keep as the art work is amazing! Honestly this book is a must read! There is a hint of spice but nothing too detailed and I actually really enjoyed that, I cannot wait to see what else Robin writes because you best believe I WILL be reading it! Thank you Robin for allowing me to read this book it will stick with me for a long time.
March 28, 2026
Would I read again?: Absolutely!
My thoughts: I was absolutely devoured by this book. When I thought I could guess the next part of the plot, I was dead wrong. It’s unique and intense in ways I wasn’t expecting for a debut book. Robin takes parts of Alice in wonderland to help highlight parts of her own story. The FMC Clara is the female rage we need more off. Her revenge is what I’m waiting for! I went into this book expecting for Vi to be the one she continues with at the end. This book was full of surprises and I couldn’t keep my jaw from dropping towards the end. Everything flows smoothly towards the twist at the end that I’m sure no one was expecting!
Favorite character: The shadows 🤭 But honestly it was Clara throughout!
My thoughts: I was absolutely devoured by this book. When I thought I could guess the next part of the plot, I was dead wrong. It’s unique and intense in ways I wasn’t expecting for a debut book. Robin takes parts of Alice in wonderland to help highlight parts of her own story. The FMC Clara is the female rage we need more off. Her revenge is what I’m waiting for! I went into this book expecting for Vi to be the one she continues with at the end. This book was full of surprises and I couldn’t keep my jaw from dropping towards the end. Everything flows smoothly towards the twist at the end that I’m sure no one was expecting!
Favorite character: The shadows 🤭 But honestly it was Clara throughout!
March 26, 2026
I was excited to receive and read this ARC, and it lived up to my expectation. Even though it felt like a slow start for me, it had an immersive world building and a storyline that's captivating with a little chaos.
The characters were interesting and various creatures were descriptive and intriguing, the tension build up (in all forms!) and incredible plot kept on entertaining me. The magic system was also uniquely interesting and freshly exciting. I also adored all the added illustrations throughout.
It was a privilege to have experienced this amazing debut and I loved and enjoyed every bit of it! Recommended! ✨️
The characters were interesting and various creatures were descriptive and intriguing, the tension build up (in all forms!) and incredible plot kept on entertaining me. The magic system was also uniquely interesting and freshly exciting. I also adored all the added illustrations throughout.
It was a privilege to have experienced this amazing debut and I loved and enjoyed every bit of it! Recommended! ✨️
March 26, 2026
"It's a true work of art how you can seem like such a kind and lovable person and yet be completely f**ked up in that pretty little head of yours"
This. Book. It will now live rent free in my mind. The characters, the world building, the magic, I loved every aspect. Our female main character has shadow powers, we have enemies to lovers, we have BANTER. Ohmygosh the BANTER had me kicking my feet!
"Are you really trying to kill me, darling? Oh, that's hot"
Like, come on. Enemies to lovers, a corruption arc, he falls first. It checked so many boxes for me! I can't wait to re-visit this world in the future!
This. Book. It will now live rent free in my mind. The characters, the world building, the magic, I loved every aspect. Our female main character has shadow powers, we have enemies to lovers, we have BANTER. Ohmygosh the BANTER had me kicking my feet!
"Are you really trying to kill me, darling? Oh, that's hot"
Like, come on. Enemies to lovers, a corruption arc, he falls first. It checked so many boxes for me! I can't wait to re-visit this world in the future!
March 27, 2026
ARC REVIEW
What a fascinating story.
Clara is a badass. I love watching her grow as a character in this book starting from the scared little girl to what she becomes (trying to avoid spoilers here).
This story is original and unlike other dark fantasy I’ve read before. It was refreshing and it kept me on my toe. I tend to be a slow reader and being able to read this 500 pages novel in less than two weeks is a great accomplishment for me. But it shows how much I enjoyed this story.
I felt joy, anger, excitement, sadness. It really was a rollercoaster.
I can’t wait to see what will happen in the sequel.
“In this story, was I the hero or the vilain?”
What a fascinating story.
Clara is a badass. I love watching her grow as a character in this book starting from the scared little girl to what she becomes (trying to avoid spoilers here).
This story is original and unlike other dark fantasy I’ve read before. It was refreshing and it kept me on my toe. I tend to be a slow reader and being able to read this 500 pages novel in less than two weeks is a great accomplishment for me. But it shows how much I enjoyed this story.
I felt joy, anger, excitement, sadness. It really was a rollercoaster.
I can’t wait to see what will happen in the sequel.
“In this story, was I the hero or the vilain?”
April 12, 2026
Okay sooo I’d call this a dark fantasy romance…and it’s definitely darker than what I usually go for 👀 but I was into it!!
The world building was really good, detailed but not overwhelming or confusing 🙌 The middle dragged just a tiny bit for me, but honestly I think it’s because I was impatient and just wanted more of our feral MMC… I was OBSESSED 🫠🔥
Also loved the magic system ✨️ You actually have to train for your magic in this world you’re not just born with it, which made it feel way more interesting.
Tropes:
🖤 Dark romantasy
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
😈 Villain gets the girl
🌎 Faerie world
✨ False gods
The world building was really good, detailed but not overwhelming or confusing 🙌 The middle dragged just a tiny bit for me, but honestly I think it’s because I was impatient and just wanted more of our feral MMC… I was OBSESSED 🫠🔥
Also loved the magic system ✨️ You actually have to train for your magic in this world you’re not just born with it, which made it feel way more interesting.
Tropes:
🖤 Dark romantasy
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
😈 Villain gets the girl
🌎 Faerie world
✨ False gods
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC:
"I wasn’t just Clara anymore.
I was the reckoning.
And I would come for each and every one of them. From the first to the last."
This book was absolutely amazing. The author poured her heart and soul into this one. The writing was amazing as well as the storyline. A true enemies to lovers. This romantasy will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Be prepared for some major world building in part 1. It took me a while to understand everything but by part 2, it will all make sense. If you loved ACOTAR and Fourth Wing, this should definitely be your next read.
"I wasn’t just Clara anymore.
I was the reckoning.
And I would come for each and every one of them. From the first to the last."
This book was absolutely amazing. The author poured her heart and soul into this one. The writing was amazing as well as the storyline. A true enemies to lovers. This romantasy will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Be prepared for some major world building in part 1. It took me a while to understand everything but by part 2, it will all make sense. If you loved ACOTAR and Fourth Wing, this should definitely be your next read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Gloom In The Bones is such a great read.
In this story we follow Clara as she tries to cope with betrayal, trauma, and the utter chaos that her life has became while she tries to adapt and survive her new reality. I really loved that the fae in this book lean more into the traditional fae folklore.
This book is low spice, not closed door but also not graphic.
There is a fair bit of setting up in this book and I'm very excited about where it's going next!
I was lucky enough to receive an Arc copy of A Gloom In The Bones From the lovely author Robin.
In this story we follow Clara as she tries to cope with betrayal, trauma, and the utter chaos that her life has became while she tries to adapt and survive her new reality. I really loved that the fae in this book lean more into the traditional fae folklore.
This book is low spice, not closed door but also not graphic.
There is a fair bit of setting up in this book and I'm very excited about where it's going next!
I was lucky enough to receive an Arc copy of A Gloom In The Bones From the lovely author Robin.
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