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Silent Portraits: An Extreme Horror x Dark Romance
Torture, Spice and everything nice...
There's beauty in death...
It is a longing that has its roots deep within me, but he was the one who silenced the afterlife for me and made life sing.
It was he who beckoned me to keep my eyes open.
In return, I accepted the beast he carries within. Yet, it seems my yearning for death is never far astray, as his beast awakened mine. A beast that craves a death that is not my own...
Oh, sweet death. The serenity it brings.
This is a Dark Romance meets Extreme Horror. TW apply. 18+
There's beauty in death...
It is a longing that has its roots deep within me, but he was the one who silenced the afterlife for me and made life sing.
It was he who beckoned me to keep my eyes open.
In return, I accepted the beast he carries within. Yet, it seems my yearning for death is never far astray, as his beast awakened mine. A beast that craves a death that is not my own...
Oh, sweet death. The serenity it brings.
This is a Dark Romance meets Extreme Horror. TW apply. 18+
- GenresDark Romance
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2026
13 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Lesley A. Camphouse
26 books338 followersLesley lives secluded in the Netherlands with her husband and five cats. She enjoys writing Extreme Horror, Splatterpunk, and Dark Romantasy.
Besides writing, she likes to read, and those exact categories are the ones she devours.
She's also a hoarder of trinkets and cool things and collects a lot of stuff, from oddities and curiosities to manga, comics, and figurines.
Besides writing, she likes to read, and those exact categories are the ones she devours.
She's also a hoarder of trinkets and cool things and collects a lot of stuff, from oddities and curiosities to manga, comics, and figurines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Again, Lesley just out here writing banger after banger. An erotic Horror with a HEA? yes please 🙏
May 2, 2026
5/5 🍒
This book is dark, gothic, romantic, gory, sad and sick. It’s everything you want in a book. Especially a dark horrormance. This book is not a plain dark romance. It’s horror mixed right in with it. I ate it up.
Clara is a loner who is obsessed with death. She is on the verge of leaving this world to see what lies beyond the realm of reality. That is until she meets Jasper.
Jasper pulls her back into the land of the living. They are both obsessed with death and find that they feel each other is their soulmate. As things progress he invites her to live with him and she does so without a blink of an eye.
When she arrives at his house she realizes he is well off and maybe a little more dangerous than she expected. As their whirlwind romance heats up she sees a side of Jasper that scares and excites her. But will she accept him for who he is or fall prey to something much more dangerous?
Once again Lesley hits and knocks it out of the park. She is an auto read for me.
This book is dark, gothic, romantic, gory, sad and sick. It’s everything you want in a book. Especially a dark horrormance. This book is not a plain dark romance. It’s horror mixed right in with it. I ate it up.
Clara is a loner who is obsessed with death. She is on the verge of leaving this world to see what lies beyond the realm of reality. That is until she meets Jasper.
Jasper pulls her back into the land of the living. They are both obsessed with death and find that they feel each other is their soulmate. As things progress he invites her to live with him and she does so without a blink of an eye.
When she arrives at his house she realizes he is well off and maybe a little more dangerous than she expected. As their whirlwind romance heats up she sees a side of Jasper that scares and excites her. But will she accept him for who he is or fall prey to something much more dangerous?
Once again Lesley hits and knocks it out of the park. She is an auto read for me.
April 3, 2026
Where do I start I’ve read a few erotic horrors in my time but the way silent portraits had me on my toes from beginning to end and the relationship between the fmc and mmc was beautifully insane reading about the bond between getting stronger though out was another level oh my what a beautiful ending
April 3, 2026
“Both of us wanted a love that would consume us. A love so strong that only being melted together, to find a home in each other’s tangled rib cages, would suffice.”
Absolutely OBSESSED with this one! It’s everything I wanted Butcher & Blackbird to be; a couple who are viscerally obsessed with each other and enable the other’s darkest desires. It’s dark, morally grey, and because it’s written by Lesley, you already know it’s gory af.
Absolutely OBSESSED with this one! It’s everything I wanted Butcher & Blackbird to be; a couple who are viscerally obsessed with each other and enable the other’s darkest desires. It’s dark, morally grey, and because it’s written by Lesley, you already know it’s gory af.
March 26, 2026
Butcher and Blackbird except much much darker and spicier!! I only deducted a star because I would’ve love more back story, but otherwise the boom was good.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nothing keeps a couple together more than shared prey.
Warning: This book is DARK. Check the triggers if need be!
I loved every minute of Silent Portraits.
It is beautifully written. I would get lost in the description only to realize that something gory was being described so elegantly. True artistry.
I loved the Victorian Death Photography aspect of this horror erotica novella. I thought it was really unique.
If you like horror erotica with dark romance vibes, intense devotion, obsession, touch her & ☠️, pitch black MMC & FMC, and spicy moments - check this out!!
This was my first Camphouse book but it won’t be my last!
Warning: This book is DARK. Check the triggers if need be!
I loved every minute of Silent Portraits.
It is beautifully written. I would get lost in the description only to realize that something gory was being described so elegantly. True artistry.
I loved the Victorian Death Photography aspect of this horror erotica novella. I thought it was really unique.
If you like horror erotica with dark romance vibes, intense devotion, obsession, touch her & ☠️, pitch black MMC & FMC, and spicy moments - check this out!!
This was my first Camphouse book but it won’t be my last!
April 3, 2026
ARC Review:
This is my first book by Lesley Camphouse, and quite frankly I cannot wait to read more. This book was so gorgeously written. I was reading some of the darker scenes and losing myself in them with how beautifully the author described them. You can see the time and care that went into making each scene what it was.
And then there were the characters. The way the author built each character, especially Clara, was just beautiful. I really appreciated, as I always do, that her insecurities didn’t just magically vanish. Instead, even as she grew as a character, they popped up from time to time, making her seem that much more real. With Jasper I appreciated how he isn’t somehow a redeemable character. He just is who and what he is and Clara either has to accept that or not. I’m a sucker for an HEA where a true villain gets the girl.
This book is dark so if you need to, definitely read the trigger warnings, but I cannot recommend this book enough to my fellow extreme horror and dark romance fans out there.
This is my first book by Lesley Camphouse, and quite frankly I cannot wait to read more. This book was so gorgeously written. I was reading some of the darker scenes and losing myself in them with how beautifully the author described them. You can see the time and care that went into making each scene what it was.
And then there were the characters. The way the author built each character, especially Clara, was just beautiful. I really appreciated, as I always do, that her insecurities didn’t just magically vanish. Instead, even as she grew as a character, they popped up from time to time, making her seem that much more real. With Jasper I appreciated how he isn’t somehow a redeemable character. He just is who and what he is and Clara either has to accept that or not. I’m a sucker for an HEA where a true villain gets the girl.
This book is dark so if you need to, definitely read the trigger warnings, but I cannot recommend this book enough to my fellow extreme horror and dark romance fans out there.
April 21, 2026
I loved this novella from Camphouse. It is easily one of my favourites of her work. The relationship between Clara and Jasper was totally captivating and enticing. I loved the body horror and the spice. The pacing is totally on point. The way darkness is depicted through the art of taxidermy kept me reading. The world building was dark, mysterious and totally enthralling! An excellent read!
April 16, 2026
Another great read by Lesley! I've read a few of her books and loved every single one. If you haven't read anything she's written yet, run, don't walk!
April 14, 2026
This is my third book by her and she does not disappoint! And I did receive this as an ARC.
“All my breaths are yours” 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Dark Romance and Erotic horror wrapped up into one here, yes please !
Okay but Clara (FMC), I would so visit the church made of bones with you. I really just want to hug the FMC throughout this. The way it started off was “soft” and I’m just ready for when the intensity hits and boy was I not disappointed. Jasper (MMC) is unhinged and I’m here for it. They both found their purpose with each other and wanted to live even though they’re both obsessed with death. I loved how reverently the spoke to each other too.
They definitely match each others energy and Jasper helps Clara flourish. There were times where even I was slightly covering my eyes (especially with the flies and maggots). Camphouse writes so descriptively, you can really picture what’s happening. I’m definitely keeping the author in my list of favorites. This book is brutal so please check your triggers but I highly recommend giving this book a read if you love pitch black 🖤
“All my breaths are yours” 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Dark Romance and Erotic horror wrapped up into one here, yes please !
Okay but Clara (FMC), I would so visit the church made of bones with you. I really just want to hug the FMC throughout this. The way it started off was “soft” and I’m just ready for when the intensity hits and boy was I not disappointed. Jasper (MMC) is unhinged and I’m here for it. They both found their purpose with each other and wanted to live even though they’re both obsessed with death. I loved how reverently the spoke to each other too.
They definitely match each others energy and Jasper helps Clara flourish. There were times where even I was slightly covering my eyes (especially with the flies and maggots). Camphouse writes so descriptively, you can really picture what’s happening. I’m definitely keeping the author in my list of favorites. This book is brutal so please check your triggers but I highly recommend giving this book a read if you love pitch black 🖤
April 22, 2026
talk about matching each others freak …
Read
April 3, 2026Silent portraits by Lesley Camphouse
So, this lovely little book is a marriage between dark romance and Extreme Horror. And it is f*cking beautiful.
This story follows our FMC as she struggles with the darkness inside. Our MMC shines a light through her darkness and they begin a macabre relationship when she moves in with him in the middle of nowhere.
But, is he really Prince Charming? I guess you'll just have to see~.
This book is filled with twisted love, dark themes, gore, and splashes of spice. It's the perfect mix and I can't recommend it enough!
I think I truly have to give this 10/10 stars,which I almost never do. Lesley,this is PERFECT.
This is out April 3rd. 💖
So, this lovely little book is a marriage between dark romance and Extreme Horror. And it is f*cking beautiful.
This story follows our FMC as she struggles with the darkness inside. Our MMC shines a light through her darkness and they begin a macabre relationship when she moves in with him in the middle of nowhere.
But, is he really Prince Charming? I guess you'll just have to see~.
This book is filled with twisted love, dark themes, gore, and splashes of spice. It's the perfect mix and I can't recommend it enough!
I think I truly have to give this 10/10 stars,which I almost never do. Lesley,this is PERFECT.
This is out April 3rd. 💖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2026
Silent Portraits 🥀
Is there anything Lesley can’t do? The fact that she’s doing Extreme horror crossed with Dark Romance & doing it to these unreal standards shows how multi talented she really is! I devoured this & left not a single crumb!! 😮💨🫶🏻
“I am unable to love someone on mere surface level, Clara. I have this feral need to possess, to consume a human being”
Clara is lonely, she doesn’t fit in with this modern world, she feels like a burden to everyone & anyone. The only thing that’s good for her is death. She’s decided it’s time to end her miserable existence
Then one message changes everything….Jasper, her saviour, he said he loves her! He wants her to move in with him, to escape this life & be shown what real love is. She has nothing to lose, she’s all in
But Jasper has his own cloak of darkness, he has needs & wants. It’s up to Clara to accept him wholly, for every thing he is & everything he does. She says she’s ready to jump but does Jasper know how far she’s willing to go for love?
Time does tell….obsession is everything 😮💨
F Me sideways 😳😮💨👏🏼 Lesley you actually killed this!! The total love and obsession from Clara & Jasper spilled out of those pages. Ugh I’m so sad I’ve finished! I need more 😭
I was locked in, it was the perfect amount of extreme for me. Coming from reading mainly extreme horror & splatterpunk to deep diving into erotic horror & dark romance this was just perfection.
Honestly i absolutely loved it & would consider it one of my top DR reads this year!! Releasing 3rd April, Makesure to get those pre-orders in you do not want to miss this!! It’s defo one I will be purchasing at the indie con 🫶🏻🤎
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Is there anything Lesley can’t do? The fact that she’s doing Extreme horror crossed with Dark Romance & doing it to these unreal standards shows how multi talented she really is! I devoured this & left not a single crumb!! 😮💨🫶🏻
“I am unable to love someone on mere surface level, Clara. I have this feral need to possess, to consume a human being”
Clara is lonely, she doesn’t fit in with this modern world, she feels like a burden to everyone & anyone. The only thing that’s good for her is death. She’s decided it’s time to end her miserable existence
Then one message changes everything….Jasper, her saviour, he said he loves her! He wants her to move in with him, to escape this life & be shown what real love is. She has nothing to lose, she’s all in
But Jasper has his own cloak of darkness, he has needs & wants. It’s up to Clara to accept him wholly, for every thing he is & everything he does. She says she’s ready to jump but does Jasper know how far she’s willing to go for love?
Time does tell….obsession is everything 😮💨
F Me sideways 😳😮💨👏🏼 Lesley you actually killed this!! The total love and obsession from Clara & Jasper spilled out of those pages. Ugh I’m so sad I’ve finished! I need more 😭
I was locked in, it was the perfect amount of extreme for me. Coming from reading mainly extreme horror & splatterpunk to deep diving into erotic horror & dark romance this was just perfection.
Honestly i absolutely loved it & would consider it one of my top DR reads this year!! Releasing 3rd April, Makesure to get those pre-orders in you do not want to miss this!! It’s defo one I will be purchasing at the indie con 🫶🏻🤎
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 9, 2026
4.5 rounded down
Clara is one depressed woman. No one seems to care about her and her problems and she has stopped trying to express herself to anyone. She eventually decides she wants to end her life until a stranger on the internet shows interest her: Jasper. He completely changes her outlook on life and her future. She is finally feeling emotions like happiness and excitement. But Jasper has a dark side. A monstrous side. A side that Clara is ready to absorb and explore.
Dark romance. Erotica. Extreme horror/splatterpunk. Plenty of smutty scenes to keep the juices flowing.
Clara is kinda reintroduced to the idea of death. Instead of it calling to her to end her life (like she thought it was), it calls to her in a different way. She’s never felt more alive being around death. She’s definitely sick and twisted and she just so happened to find an even more sick and twisted individual.
Jasper completely owns Clara from day one. He is a possessive man who devours her in every sense. Mind, body and soul. And she is 100% giving in and AOK with it.
It’s very lovey dovey “kiss her and die” “you’re mine” type of deal with some corny lines at times. Definitely plenty of possessive love exchanged. Dark romance isn’t really my thing, HOWEVER, I can enjoy it from time to time…especially if you’re going to mix it with extremely disturbing bloody death and murder 😈
The complete remoteness and beauty in which they live is something I would love. A mansion in the forest with land? YES PLEASE!
I think the Jasper and Clara combo is great and there is plenty of murder and vile behavior to keep many of us more than content. I’m sure the more dark romance readers will absolutely DEVOUR and OBSESS over this book so please read! Another hit from Lesley! Definitely recommend!
Clara is one depressed woman. No one seems to care about her and her problems and she has stopped trying to express herself to anyone. She eventually decides she wants to end her life until a stranger on the internet shows interest her: Jasper. He completely changes her outlook on life and her future. She is finally feeling emotions like happiness and excitement. But Jasper has a dark side. A monstrous side. A side that Clara is ready to absorb and explore.
Dark romance. Erotica. Extreme horror/splatterpunk. Plenty of smutty scenes to keep the juices flowing.
Clara is kinda reintroduced to the idea of death. Instead of it calling to her to end her life (like she thought it was), it calls to her in a different way. She’s never felt more alive being around death. She’s definitely sick and twisted and she just so happened to find an even more sick and twisted individual.
Jasper completely owns Clara from day one. He is a possessive man who devours her in every sense. Mind, body and soul. And she is 100% giving in and AOK with it.
It’s very lovey dovey “kiss her and die” “you’re mine” type of deal with some corny lines at times. Definitely plenty of possessive love exchanged. Dark romance isn’t really my thing, HOWEVER, I can enjoy it from time to time…especially if you’re going to mix it with extremely disturbing bloody death and murder 😈
The complete remoteness and beauty in which they live is something I would love. A mansion in the forest with land? YES PLEASE!
I think the Jasper and Clara combo is great and there is plenty of murder and vile behavior to keep many of us more than content. I’m sure the more dark romance readers will absolutely DEVOUR and OBSESS over this book so please read! Another hit from Lesley! Definitely recommend!
April 12, 2026
This novella is my favourite of Lesley's so far! A gothic erotic horror with a twisted love story. So DELECTABLE!
Clara meets Jasper during a time when she saw no point in living and Jasper meets Clara when he was lonely. The instant attraction and obsession for one another, I could feel it. It was immersive.
Clara discovers quickly there is more to Jasper than she was told. This sparks something dark within her and it brings them closer together. Their mutual love with death and turning it into foul play.
Never have I hated but liked an MFC and MMC at the same time. Not only did I want their love for each other to grow but I wanted them to fail or get caught in their sick games.
I couldn't believe what I was reading! It was fascinating, the detail within the story, It was like stepping into a horror film set in a old Victorian style estate. I enjoyed it!
Clara meets Jasper during a time when she saw no point in living and Jasper meets Clara when he was lonely. The instant attraction and obsession for one another, I could feel it. It was immersive.
Clara discovers quickly there is more to Jasper than she was told. This sparks something dark within her and it brings them closer together. Their mutual love with death and turning it into foul play.
Never have I hated but liked an MFC and MMC at the same time. Not only did I want their love for each other to grow but I wanted them to fail or get caught in their sick games.
I couldn't believe what I was reading! It was fascinating, the detail within the story, It was like stepping into a horror film set in a old Victorian style estate. I enjoyed it!
April 21, 2026
The combination of extreme horror and dark romance is so exquisite! Camphouse managed to make me want to explore more kinky shit I read about (thanks, Les), feel romance in the carnal devotion, and love in these imperfect characters. It's a morally fucked book book. And I loved every second of it.
This book truly shows a glimpse into who Camphouse is, as it includes so many of her passions (for legal reasons, that excludes the murder part), and it feels like a deepdive into her soul.
This book truly shows a glimpse into who Camphouse is, as it includes so many of her passions (for legal reasons, that excludes the murder part), and it feels like a deepdive into her soul.
May 7, 2026
I've loved everything I've read by this author, except this.
I'm disappointed.
I found it cringe, it's like it was written by Shakespeare's emo teenage cousin.
Sorry but, this wasn't for me.
I'm disappointed.
I found it cringe, it's like it was written by Shakespeare's emo teenage cousin.
Sorry but, this wasn't for me.
April 1, 2026
ARC Review
I ended up really liking this book. It gave me all the splatter punk that I love from horror novels, with dark gothic vibes and romance. Jasper and Clara are truly two of a kind. I have never seen a golden retriever serial killer boyfriend before, and honestly, it was a whole vibe. Loved that there was no “third act breakup.” And the length of the novella was perfect. Jumped straight to the point without being unnecessarily long and drawn out. But low key with everything they were doing, that house and the land around it probably STINKS so bad! It’s like I could smell the bad decisions from the pages. 🤣 well- written and highly entertaining.
I ended up really liking this book. It gave me all the splatter punk that I love from horror novels, with dark gothic vibes and romance. Jasper and Clara are truly two of a kind. I have never seen a golden retriever serial killer boyfriend before, and honestly, it was a whole vibe. Loved that there was no “third act breakup.” And the length of the novella was perfect. Jumped straight to the point without being unnecessarily long and drawn out. But low key with everything they were doing, that house and the land around it probably STINKS so bad! It’s like I could smell the bad decisions from the pages. 🤣 well- written and highly entertaining.
April 24, 2026
Dark, disturbing, and completely unhinged—in the best way.
This is not your typical dark romance. It leans hard into obsession, violence, and that eerie, almost poetic fixation on death that makes you a little uncomfortable… but also unable to look away. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, especially in the way it romanticizes something so brutal.
The dynamic? Toxic. Twisted. Exactly what it promises. If you’re here for a redeemable hero—wrong book. This is for readers who like their love stories feral, obsessive, and just a little bit monstrous.
It’s intense, graphic, and absolutely not for the faint of heart—but if you’re into extreme horror blended with dark romance, this one delivers ten fold.
As always, another fantastic read by Lesley Camphouse! ❤️
This is not your typical dark romance. It leans hard into obsession, violence, and that eerie, almost poetic fixation on death that makes you a little uncomfortable… but also unable to look away. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, especially in the way it romanticizes something so brutal.
The dynamic? Toxic. Twisted. Exactly what it promises. If you’re here for a redeemable hero—wrong book. This is for readers who like their love stories feral, obsessive, and just a little bit monstrous.
It’s intense, graphic, and absolutely not for the faint of heart—but if you’re into extreme horror blended with dark romance, this one delivers ten fold.
As always, another fantastic read by Lesley Camphouse! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Silent Portraits by Lesley Camphouse is a dark, twisted romance that isn’t afraid to lean into the shadows 🖤 Clare is obsessed with death photography and standing on the edge of giving up when she is saved by Jasper, a man who is every bit as dangerous as he is devoted. What begins as two broken people colliding turns into a bond forged through shared darkness, creating a relationship that is unsettling, intense, and strangely beautiful.
This book has a little bit of everything I love: a fiercely strong FMC, a devoted (and terrifying) MMC, plenty of violence, and just the right amount of spice 🔥 It’s brutal, emotional, and addictive all at once!
This book has a little bit of everything I love: a fiercely strong FMC, a devoted (and terrifying) MMC, plenty of violence, and just the right amount of spice 🔥 It’s brutal, emotional, and addictive all at once!
March 13, 2026
Who doesn’t want a dark romance/pitch black/horror erotica rolled into one book ;)
I love how this book has aspects of both dark romance and pitch black/horror erotica . I love a pitch black/horror erotica and I’m also a fan of dark romance, when I seen Lesley promoting this book I was instantly very intrigued. Right now let’s talk about the book without giving anything a way.
At first reading the first chapter I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but once the story starts to roll and come alive it’s all sparks from there for me.
Firstly I want to mention how the FMC and MMC are both pitch black/morally grey I LOVED this!
There is a spice in the book but it doesn’t overpower the storyline.
The gore hit the spot for me.
If you’re just into dark romance this book isn’t going to be for you. With the horror/gore elements being heavy!
I really enjoyed reading this and I want to thank Lesley for trusting me with her work.
I look forward to future books🖤
I love how this book has aspects of both dark romance and pitch black/horror erotica . I love a pitch black/horror erotica and I’m also a fan of dark romance, when I seen Lesley promoting this book I was instantly very intrigued. Right now let’s talk about the book without giving anything a way.
At first reading the first chapter I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but once the story starts to roll and come alive it’s all sparks from there for me.
Firstly I want to mention how the FMC and MMC are both pitch black/morally grey I LOVED this!
There is a spice in the book but it doesn’t overpower the storyline.
The gore hit the spot for me.
If you’re just into dark romance this book isn’t going to be for you. With the horror/gore elements being heavy!
I really enjoyed reading this and I want to thank Lesley for trusting me with her work.
I look forward to future books🖤
April 10, 2026
'With sickening interest, I watch as Jasper begins to tie Patrick down, stretching his arms and legs until he’s spread-eagled, across the cold metal. I can’t wait until he’s dead and I can try my first time photographing a deceased human being.'
So, I often encounter the experience when reading Lesley's work of feeling like 'Holy shit, I wish I'd written this!"
Silent Portraits is absolutely no exception. Exploring the intimate dance between death, extreme violence, and sensuality, Silent Portraits is a masterfully rendered piece of writing, a gripping, intoxicating dark romance come splatterpunk classic. Our tale follows Clara, a melancholic and misery-stricken young woman who, through a sheer stroke of luck, manages to meet Jasper online - a wickedly devilish and aristocratic black sheep with a penchant for pain. The two partners in darkness begin life together in Jasper's remote and isolated Gothic estate, deep inside a great forest. However, it is only in such surroundings that Jasper's true desperation for infliction and unification becomes startlingly clear. Devoted and rabidly possessed by one another's existence, a devastatingly powerful romance blooms between Clara and Jasper; a powerful force brought about by their shared fascination with death, the human condition, and an insatiable need to experience the suffering of others. Silent Portraits does not hold back (as do very few of Lesley's books), plunging the reader into scenes of extreme torture along with a good share of erotically-charged entanglements, a concoction that is as heady as it is thrilling. There's a unique beauty in the writing of Silent Portraits, displaying Lesley's skillful knack for poetry, as well as an almost obsessive attention to detail, reaped from true-life experiences, and a fascination with the art of death.
I can't recommend this book enough, and it may very well be my new favourite in the Camphouse collection, as well as my top read for 2026, so far. I'm trying not to glaze SP too hard, but I'm honestly struggling to resist! It's well bloody deserved. An easy 5 stars.
So, I often encounter the experience when reading Lesley's work of feeling like 'Holy shit, I wish I'd written this!"
Silent Portraits is absolutely no exception. Exploring the intimate dance between death, extreme violence, and sensuality, Silent Portraits is a masterfully rendered piece of writing, a gripping, intoxicating dark romance come splatterpunk classic. Our tale follows Clara, a melancholic and misery-stricken young woman who, through a sheer stroke of luck, manages to meet Jasper online - a wickedly devilish and aristocratic black sheep with a penchant for pain. The two partners in darkness begin life together in Jasper's remote and isolated Gothic estate, deep inside a great forest. However, it is only in such surroundings that Jasper's true desperation for infliction and unification becomes startlingly clear. Devoted and rabidly possessed by one another's existence, a devastatingly powerful romance blooms between Clara and Jasper; a powerful force brought about by their shared fascination with death, the human condition, and an insatiable need to experience the suffering of others. Silent Portraits does not hold back (as do very few of Lesley's books), plunging the reader into scenes of extreme torture along with a good share of erotically-charged entanglements, a concoction that is as heady as it is thrilling. There's a unique beauty in the writing of Silent Portraits, displaying Lesley's skillful knack for poetry, as well as an almost obsessive attention to detail, reaped from true-life experiences, and a fascination with the art of death.
I can't recommend this book enough, and it may very well be my new favourite in the Camphouse collection, as well as my top read for 2026, so far. I'm trying not to glaze SP too hard, but I'm honestly struggling to resist! It's well bloody deserved. An easy 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The only violence you’ll ever experience from me is my devotion
I’m going to build an altar for this woman in the middle of my house, I swear to god. 😭
Silent Portraits gives us the story of Clara and Jasper. Clara is a girl who is lonely despite having people around her; nobody can truly understand what she craves until she meets Jasper online. They’re constantly chatting, and he deeply sees her; he welcomes her and accepts her completely.
I need to be fully honest; a long time ago, I lost my faith in dark romance books. At some point, every book felt the same (for me; if you enjoy DR, go for it), and I was craving something different within the genre. Now I have what I was needing. This one is not just dark romance; it combines extreme horror, because let’s face it, if Lesley writes it, the book will have extreme elements, and we love her exactly because of it.
This bad boy will capture you from the very first chapter, and you won’t be able to put it down until the end. The writing is captivating, the pace is the kind that will keep you hooked, building tension and putting you in the position of wanting to know more, to need more. To put it bluntly, we are Clara, and the book is Jasper, simple as that, and you will agree with me when you read it.
I won’t write more than this because I need to avoid spoilers, but trust me when I say I could talk about this book for hours, write an essay with its own PowerPoint presentation.
If you want devotion, obsession, and a pitch-black book boyfriend, this is the right book for you.
Trust me, I know.
I’m going to build an altar for this woman in the middle of my house, I swear to god. 😭
Silent Portraits gives us the story of Clara and Jasper. Clara is a girl who is lonely despite having people around her; nobody can truly understand what she craves until she meets Jasper online. They’re constantly chatting, and he deeply sees her; he welcomes her and accepts her completely.
I need to be fully honest; a long time ago, I lost my faith in dark romance books. At some point, every book felt the same (for me; if you enjoy DR, go for it), and I was craving something different within the genre. Now I have what I was needing. This one is not just dark romance; it combines extreme horror, because let’s face it, if Lesley writes it, the book will have extreme elements, and we love her exactly because of it.
This bad boy will capture you from the very first chapter, and you won’t be able to put it down until the end. The writing is captivating, the pace is the kind that will keep you hooked, building tension and putting you in the position of wanting to know more, to need more. To put it bluntly, we are Clara, and the book is Jasper, simple as that, and you will agree with me when you read it.
I won’t write more than this because I need to avoid spoilers, but trust me when I say I could talk about this book for hours, write an essay with its own PowerPoint presentation.
If you want devotion, obsession, and a pitch-black book boyfriend, this is the right book for you.
Trust me, I know.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark Romance blended with extreme Horror? Yes please!
In this story we follow Clara, a young woman who is fascinated by the beauty in death, she craves it even. She can’t think of anything more romantic than being immortalised, forever beautiful like the people in the Victorian death photos that she collects.
Clara is lonley, never quite fitting in or being understood by her friends or family and She's at the point of no longer wanting to be here.
That’s when she meets Jasper online, he gets her and shares her interests in the macarbre. So when he asks her to move into his secluded property with him She Jumps at the chance.
Jasper warns Clara that he is dangerous and when
She discovers his secrets this only awakens a side of her that no one but Jasper would understand.
All this time the only thing they were missing was each other.
Yes Lesley! I'm not a big DR reader but Swirl a bit of extreme horror in there and it was an instant yes from me.
This was full of the things that are suppose to be relationship red flags, obsession, violence, need instead of want, pain possessiveness. NGL, morally grey characters have always been my thing, always rooting for the bad guys, they are just misunderstood right?
I love the way Lesley Is able to write the urgency
if obsession, the need. This isn’t a story about trying to bring the best out in each other, it's about accepting every last part no matter how depraved it is.
This was Taboo, gory, spicy and will have you questioning your morality, what more could you want?
Silent Portraits will be released on 3rd April, weather DR is your thing or EH.
You aren't going to want to miss this one
In this story we follow Clara, a young woman who is fascinated by the beauty in death, she craves it even. She can’t think of anything more romantic than being immortalised, forever beautiful like the people in the Victorian death photos that she collects.
Clara is lonley, never quite fitting in or being understood by her friends or family and She's at the point of no longer wanting to be here.
That’s when she meets Jasper online, he gets her and shares her interests in the macarbre. So when he asks her to move into his secluded property with him She Jumps at the chance.
Jasper warns Clara that he is dangerous and when
She discovers his secrets this only awakens a side of her that no one but Jasper would understand.
All this time the only thing they were missing was each other.
Yes Lesley! I'm not a big DR reader but Swirl a bit of extreme horror in there and it was an instant yes from me.
This was full of the things that are suppose to be relationship red flags, obsession, violence, need instead of want, pain possessiveness. NGL, morally grey characters have always been my thing, always rooting for the bad guys, they are just misunderstood right?
I love the way Lesley Is able to write the urgency
if obsession, the need. This isn’t a story about trying to bring the best out in each other, it's about accepting every last part no matter how depraved it is.
This was Taboo, gory, spicy and will have you questioning your morality, what more could you want?
Silent Portraits will be released on 3rd April, weather DR is your thing or EH.
You aren't going to want to miss this one
Review of advance copy received from Author
《4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5⭐️》
Clara has always lived on the outside looking in. Unseen by her family, misunderstood by her friends, and quietly unraveling beneath the weight of it all. Each day feels heavier than the last, her thoughts drifting toward escape, toward silence. Then she meets Jasper. What begins as a chance connection in an online chat room quickly becomes something all consuming. Jasper isn't just different, he understands her. He sees the parts of Clara she's always kept hidden. And instead of running away, he draws closer. With him she feels alive in a way she never has before. But connection can be dangerous in the wrong hands. As their bond deepens so does the darkness between them. What once felt like comfort begins to twist into obsession, awakening desires Clara can no longer ignore. The line between love and destruction blurs, pulling her into a world where craving, violence, and devotion collide.
Just.. wow! This book is a twisted piece of extreme horror and dark romance. Clara and Jasper are terrifying together, magnetic and utterly unhinged. The tension is relentless, the gore is vivid, and the horror is unflinching. Every chapter ratchets up a notch while pulling you deeper into their dangerously obsessive connection. The romance is dark, steamy, and unapologetic, and definitely not for the faint of heart! There's no villain redemption arc here, just raw obsession, intense desire, and a love that consumes. If you crave your villains bleak, your romance sinister, and your horror extreme, this is a book for you!
Thank you so much Lesley for another amazing read! So happy to be a part of your team!!
Clara has always lived on the outside looking in. Unseen by her family, misunderstood by her friends, and quietly unraveling beneath the weight of it all. Each day feels heavier than the last, her thoughts drifting toward escape, toward silence. Then she meets Jasper. What begins as a chance connection in an online chat room quickly becomes something all consuming. Jasper isn't just different, he understands her. He sees the parts of Clara she's always kept hidden. And instead of running away, he draws closer. With him she feels alive in a way she never has before. But connection can be dangerous in the wrong hands. As their bond deepens so does the darkness between them. What once felt like comfort begins to twist into obsession, awakening desires Clara can no longer ignore. The line between love and destruction blurs, pulling her into a world where craving, violence, and devotion collide.
Just.. wow! This book is a twisted piece of extreme horror and dark romance. Clara and Jasper are terrifying together, magnetic and utterly unhinged. The tension is relentless, the gore is vivid, and the horror is unflinching. Every chapter ratchets up a notch while pulling you deeper into their dangerously obsessive connection. The romance is dark, steamy, and unapologetic, and definitely not for the faint of heart! There's no villain redemption arc here, just raw obsession, intense desire, and a love that consumes. If you crave your villains bleak, your romance sinister, and your horror extreme, this is a book for you!
Thank you so much Lesley for another amazing read! So happy to be a part of your team!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"It is your name that is carved into the cathedral of my ribs"
This book had me yet again, FERAL for a fictional man, Jasper I am on my knees!!
Silent Portraits follows Clara and Jasper, two lost, troubled and tormented souls who find each other and embark on their own deeply dark and twisted love story.
Lesley A. Camphouse is such a wonderfully unique author. She has this incredible way of turning the most brutal and macabre moments into beautiful, poetic scenes. It is so easy to fall in love with Camphouse's characters regardless of how cruel and horrific their actions are. She really knows how to show the beauty within the darkness.
From the very beginning, Lesley pulls you into this world she has created and continues to leave readers on the edge of their seats right the way through. It's beautiful, dark, yet insanely wholesome. I am absolutely obsessed with her twisted and horrifically dark mind, she never seizes to amaze me with the twists and turns we encounter. Silent Portraits was fast paced and shocking, you cannot put it down!
As with all of Lesley A. Camphouses books, please check trigger warnings! If you can get past them, I promise you won't regret it. For all my extreme horror & dark romance girlies, get onto this book now! Lesley know's exactly what we want! And *questionably* what we want from a man, a very morally grey man..
Thank you so much to Lesley A. Camphouse for an arc of Silent Portraits. All opinions are mine and have been left voluntarily!
This book had me yet again, FERAL for a fictional man, Jasper I am on my knees!!
Silent Portraits follows Clara and Jasper, two lost, troubled and tormented souls who find each other and embark on their own deeply dark and twisted love story.
Lesley A. Camphouse is such a wonderfully unique author. She has this incredible way of turning the most brutal and macabre moments into beautiful, poetic scenes. It is so easy to fall in love with Camphouse's characters regardless of how cruel and horrific their actions are. She really knows how to show the beauty within the darkness.
From the very beginning, Lesley pulls you into this world she has created and continues to leave readers on the edge of their seats right the way through. It's beautiful, dark, yet insanely wholesome. I am absolutely obsessed with her twisted and horrifically dark mind, she never seizes to amaze me with the twists and turns we encounter. Silent Portraits was fast paced and shocking, you cannot put it down!
As with all of Lesley A. Camphouses books, please check trigger warnings! If you can get past them, I promise you won't regret it. For all my extreme horror & dark romance girlies, get onto this book now! Lesley know's exactly what we want! And *questionably* what we want from a man, a very morally grey man..
Thank you so much to Lesley A. Camphouse for an arc of Silent Portraits. All opinions are mine and have been left voluntarily!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤📚 Silent Portraits
Thank you Lesley for smashing extreme horror and dark romance together and then setting it on fire. Because YES! 🔥
Silent Portraits doesn’t simply blur the line between love and death… it erases it completely and paints the aftermath in blood and obsession.
From the very first page, it sank its claws into me. It is absolutely feral in the best way. The way these words danced across the page had me devouring every sentence like I was starving for it. Every line felt deliberate, haunting, and intimate — like reading someone’s darkest confession whispered directly into your ear.
There is something hypnotic about the way Camphouse writes longing. Not just romantic longing… but that deep, unsettling pull toward the quiet of death. The kind that lingers under the skin and refuses to let go. And when that yearning collides with the beast inside him?
Chaos. Beautiful, seductive chaos.
I loved how the story explores the idea that sometimes love doesn’t tame the monster — sometimes it awakens another one. And when those beasts finally recognize each other? Oh… it’s deliciously dark.
This book is drenched in obsession, pain, desire, and the eerie serenity that comes from standing too close to the edge.
Lesley is a true artist.
Silent Portraits needs to be on your radar.
Just know this going in: This book isn’t here to comfort you. It’s here to consume you.
And honestly? I loved every twisted second of it.
Thank you for this ARC!
Thank you Lesley for smashing extreme horror and dark romance together and then setting it on fire. Because YES! 🔥
Silent Portraits doesn’t simply blur the line between love and death… it erases it completely and paints the aftermath in blood and obsession.
From the very first page, it sank its claws into me. It is absolutely feral in the best way. The way these words danced across the page had me devouring every sentence like I was starving for it. Every line felt deliberate, haunting, and intimate — like reading someone’s darkest confession whispered directly into your ear.
There is something hypnotic about the way Camphouse writes longing. Not just romantic longing… but that deep, unsettling pull toward the quiet of death. The kind that lingers under the skin and refuses to let go. And when that yearning collides with the beast inside him?
Chaos. Beautiful, seductive chaos.
I loved how the story explores the idea that sometimes love doesn’t tame the monster — sometimes it awakens another one. And when those beasts finally recognize each other? Oh… it’s deliciously dark.
This book is drenched in obsession, pain, desire, and the eerie serenity that comes from standing too close to the edge.
Lesley is a true artist.
Silent Portraits needs to be on your radar.
Just know this going in: This book isn’t here to comfort you. It’s here to consume you.
And honestly? I loved every twisted second of it.
Thank you for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Silent Portraits, written by Lesley A. Camphouse, is a tortured romance with extreme horror elements. I love a dark romance with gory aspects. Lesley has created something deeply dark and beautiful.
The book focuses on two main characters - Clarimonde and Jasper. Clarimonde is an isolated soul grappling with severe depression and intrusive thoughts. She is a mere afterthought among her friends and a burden to her family. She is hyper-fixated on death, particularly through the lens of Victorian post-mortem photography. Her only true friend is Jasper (Casparus), whom she met online.
Jasper is not merely some lover; he is a mirror for Clarimonde’s darkness buried deep within. Having full trust that she will not judge him, he reveals the monster within, a need for possession and extreme violence. Instead of running away from Jasper, she is drawn in, no longer feeling isolated. Together, they bond through hunting and ritual preservation.
I love how both of them find validation within each other’s arms. Their intimacy exists not only in lust and sex but also in bloodshed. I am completely obsessed with Clarimonde’s desire to recreate Victorian death photos and Jasper’s desire to make her heart happy. A dark happily ever after.
Thanks to Lesley A. Camphouse for gifting me an eARC of Silent Portraits. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The book focuses on two main characters - Clarimonde and Jasper. Clarimonde is an isolated soul grappling with severe depression and intrusive thoughts. She is a mere afterthought among her friends and a burden to her family. She is hyper-fixated on death, particularly through the lens of Victorian post-mortem photography. Her only true friend is Jasper (Casparus), whom she met online.
Jasper is not merely some lover; he is a mirror for Clarimonde’s darkness buried deep within. Having full trust that she will not judge him, he reveals the monster within, a need for possession and extreme violence. Instead of running away from Jasper, she is drawn in, no longer feeling isolated. Together, they bond through hunting and ritual preservation.
I love how both of them find validation within each other’s arms. Their intimacy exists not only in lust and sex but also in bloodshed. I am completely obsessed with Clarimonde’s desire to recreate Victorian death photos and Jasper’s desire to make her heart happy. A dark happily ever after.
Thanks to Lesley A. Camphouse for gifting me an eARC of Silent Portraits. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞”
𝓦𝓸𝔀, 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓼!
This book revolves around a woman named Clara, who has always felt like the odd one out—not just in her friend group, but even within her own family. She’s often treated like an outsider, and each day feels like a struggle, leaving her wishing for an escape from her pain. But everything changes when she meets Jasper in an online chat room. Their conversations spark a new sense of hope in her, and she discovers a kindred spirit who shares her darker inclinations. Clara is eager to see just how deep their connection can go.
This dark horror romance is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a thrilling read. The steamy scenes? Absolutely sizzling and might as well be illegal! I’m a huge fan of the horror elements in this book; it’s a fantastic mix. I love a good gory tale, and this one definitely delivers. Just be sure to check for any triggers before diving in. Honestly, I don’t think Lesley is capable of writing a bad book. Each one she puts out just keeps getting better! If you haven’t picked up any of her works yet, you really should!
Thank you Lesley, for the opportunity to allow me to read your ARC all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
𝓦𝓸𝔀, 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓼!
This book revolves around a woman named Clara, who has always felt like the odd one out—not just in her friend group, but even within her own family. She’s often treated like an outsider, and each day feels like a struggle, leaving her wishing for an escape from her pain. But everything changes when she meets Jasper in an online chat room. Their conversations spark a new sense of hope in her, and she discovers a kindred spirit who shares her darker inclinations. Clara is eager to see just how deep their connection can go.
This dark horror romance is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a thrilling read. The steamy scenes? Absolutely sizzling and might as well be illegal! I’m a huge fan of the horror elements in this book; it’s a fantastic mix. I love a good gory tale, and this one definitely delivers. Just be sure to check for any triggers before diving in. Honestly, I don’t think Lesley is capable of writing a bad book. Each one she puts out just keeps getting better! If you haven’t picked up any of her works yet, you really should!
Thank you Lesley, for the opportunity to allow me to read your ARC all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
”Torture, spice and everything nice…“
Clara is lonely. She feels like an outcast, the black sheep of the family. She has shallow friendships, but never a best friend. Clara does not want to exist anymore.
Jasper changes everything for Clara. He feels safe. These two belong together. She moves in with him and makes his house their home. They live in seclusion, eight hours away from Clara’s family, surrounded by wilderness. Jasper hunts for food on their property, he provides for them. He tells her that he’s dangerous. He doesn’t know yet that the love of his life–is just as dangerous.
This is the best book I’ve read this year. The mood, and the vibes this book give, are special. If you love Dark Romance, you need to read this. But understand something first: this is a Lesley Camphouse book, so you will be tested. Emotionally, morally, and little bit psychologically. And you will enjoy it moren than you should.
It’s fast-paced, addictive, and impossible to put down. I can’t do this book justice in a short review, so I’ll say this: if you’re going to trust me one time–make it this time.
Pre-order now, Silent Portraits drops April 3.
Check your triggers for this one. Your mental health is important.
-Vibeke 🖤
Thank you, Lesley, for trusting me with this book. It was an absolute pleasure to beta read for you 🖤
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