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Dark Forces #2
Apuñálame por la espalda
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26*The limited deluxe edition comes with designed edges*
From USA Today bestselling author KM Moronova comes the explosive second installment in her Dark Forces world―an intense and seductive dark romance that cuts deeper than ever.
Broken. Lost. Unforgiven.
One month after surviving the Under Trials, Emery Maves finds herself in a world she doesn't recognize―with a man whose cold eyes are haunted by secrets she can't remember. Stripped of her memories, Emery is tormented by dreams of danger, death, and deceit. The only constant is the lure of the experimental drug that shatters her mind but leaves her almost invincible―and the dangerous pull of the man called Mori.
Cameron Mortem is fighting a battle he thought he'd already lost. He knows letting Emery in could destroy them both, but her amnesia is a curse neither of them can outrun. Forced together on a high-stakes level black mission that goes disastrously wrong, they find themselves thrust deeply into the underworld of the black market with an unexpected foe.
But as old scars are torn open and hidden plots unravel, Emery discovers she's more tangled in this world than she ever imagined. And Cameron will have to face the one person he fears most: himself.
Loyalties will be tested. Secrets will be weaponized. Their bond―once forged in blood―may be the only thing that can save them. If they don't lose themselves first.
From USA Today bestselling author KM Moronova comes the explosive second installment in her Dark Forces world―an intense and seductive dark romance that cuts deeper than ever.
Broken. Lost. Unforgiven.
One month after surviving the Under Trials, Emery Maves finds herself in a world she doesn't recognize―with a man whose cold eyes are haunted by secrets she can't remember. Stripped of her memories, Emery is tormented by dreams of danger, death, and deceit. The only constant is the lure of the experimental drug that shatters her mind but leaves her almost invincible―and the dangerous pull of the man called Mori.
Cameron Mortem is fighting a battle he thought he'd already lost. He knows letting Emery in could destroy them both, but her amnesia is a curse neither of them can outrun. Forced together on a high-stakes level black mission that goes disastrously wrong, they find themselves thrust deeply into the underworld of the black market with an unexpected foe.
But as old scars are torn open and hidden plots unravel, Emery discovers she's more tangled in this world than she ever imagined. And Cameron will have to face the one person he fears most: himself.
Loyalties will be tested. Secrets will be weaponized. Their bond―once forged in blood―may be the only thing that can save them. If they don't lose themselves first.
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2025
2561 people are currently reading
18303 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Moronova
17 books8,711 followersNew York Times, USA Today, and #1 International bestselling author K. M. Moronova has enjoyed telling dreary stories as far as she can remember. She adores reading and writing dark-themed, romantic books with plot twists and emotional turns. Often, she is found drying flowers in her study or drinking tea while relaxing in her garden. She loves spending time with her partner, exploring the forest, and envisioning more devastating stories to tell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,840 reviews
January 18, 2026
UGHHHHH I LOVEDDD THISS
![Profile Image for Saranya [hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1777133106i%2F187457635._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 30, 2026
3.25 stars!
TW: physical violence, explicit gore, death, trauma, PTSD, murder, mentally unwell characters, self-harm, heavy substance abuse, forced substance abuse, abuse of corpses.
CW: 18+, amnesia
While this book was significantly more engaging than the first book, a few inconsistencies kept me from giving it a higher rating. Additionally, the first 100 pages felt quite sluggish, making for a slow start that hindered the overall momentum of the story.
The amnesia plot line was fine, but when she remembered everything, it felt a little too abstract. It didn't feel like a natural progression of the story, which made the payoff feel a bit flat. I found the mechanics or better you can say- the worldbuilding of the death pills and injections incredibly muddled and underdeveloped. The story frequently referenced them without ever explaining their source or how different doses functioned.
The level of gore was genuinely excessive here. Even as someone well-versed in graphic content, I found certain scenes over the top and had to look away from the page at times. That said, the narrative itself was so addictive that I couldn't stop reading; it was an incredibly engaging experience overall.
The absolute highlight of this story was the bond between Cameron and Emery. Their chemistry truly carried the story out. Cameron’s inner monologues were well written. I absolutely loved his selfless devotion as he consistently prioritized Emery over himself. They felt like genuine soulmates. While the ending was satisfying, it felt a bit hypothetical and I’m honestly left feeling a bit anxious about their lifeline.
The side characters- Damian, Kayden and Gage were just as compelling as the protagonists and really enriched the story. Wraith’s total character shift was also a highlight. That 180 degree turn kept me on my toes and was one of the more surprising developments in the book.
Hey God,can you please give me someone like Cameron in my life? I need someone like Cameron who would always be behind my back😩😩
buddy read with my loveliest, yuviii
Note: This reader does not support the author.
TW: physical violence, explicit gore, death, trauma, PTSD, murder, mentally unwell characters, self-harm, heavy substance abuse, forced substance abuse, abuse of corpses.
CW: 18+, amnesia
While this book was significantly more engaging than the first book, a few inconsistencies kept me from giving it a higher rating. Additionally, the first 100 pages felt quite sluggish, making for a slow start that hindered the overall momentum of the story.
The amnesia plot line was fine, but when she remembered everything, it felt a little too abstract. It didn't feel like a natural progression of the story, which made the payoff feel a bit flat. I found the mechanics or better you can say- the worldbuilding of the death pills and injections incredibly muddled and underdeveloped. The story frequently referenced them without ever explaining their source or how different doses functioned.
The level of gore was genuinely excessive here. Even as someone well-versed in graphic content, I found certain scenes over the top and had to look away from the page at times. That said, the narrative itself was so addictive that I couldn't stop reading; it was an incredibly engaging experience overall.
The absolute highlight of this story was the bond between Cameron and Emery. Their chemistry truly carried the story out. Cameron’s inner monologues were well written. I absolutely loved his selfless devotion as he consistently prioritized Emery over himself. They felt like genuine soulmates. While the ending was satisfying, it felt a bit hypothetical and I’m honestly left feeling a bit anxious about their lifeline.
The side characters- Damian, Kayden and Gage were just as compelling as the protagonists and really enriched the story. Wraith’s total character shift was also a highlight. That 180 degree turn kept me on my toes and was one of the more surprising developments in the book.
Hey God,
buddy read with my loveliest, yuviii
Note: This reader does not support the author.
December 15, 2025
NOT nearly as good as book one (not that it was a riveting piece of fiction lol) BUT i’ll probably read moronova’s other books for shits & giggles
——
love that this was just published and i didn’t have to wait to borrow the audio from the library hooray
——
love that this was just published and i didn’t have to wait to borrow the audio from the library hooray
March 27, 2026
-----‐----------------
⭐ 5 STARS — I’M STILL RECOVERING ⭐
“My Knife, Your Back” had me feral. I’m talking pacing-the-room, clutching-my-chest, whispering “no no no” like a Victorian widow. From page one, K.M. Moronova grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and honestly? I’m not even mad because every twist paid off like a jackpot. The tension, the angst, the emotional carnage — I devoured it like it was my last meal.
When Emery finally regained her memories, I swear I felt my soul reattach to my body. Watching Cameron carry that mountain of guilt was painful, like I could feel the weight of it pressing on my own chest. And don’t even get me started on Emery’s parents. Her dad? That man had me seeing red. Her mom? Equally rage‑inducing. Some people should simply not be allowed near children, let alone raise them. The moment her father got unalived? I won’t lie — I cheered. Loudly.
And then there’s the death‑drug scene. Oh. My. God. Emery spiraling, Cameron holding her, whispering “you’re okay, Emery, I love you, please come back to me” — I was screaming the roof off my house. It was agonizing and romantic in that messy, devastating way that only Moronova seems to master. Cameron being emotionally open, unfiltered, and absolutely devoted? Chef’s kiss. A man who communicates? Revolutionary.
But the part that truly broke me — like actually broke me — was Cameron getting the death needle again. The way it triggered him into dissociating into Mori and almost hurting Emery? I had to put the book down and breathe into my hands. And then when he snapped back and realized what happened… and overdosed himself so he wouldn’t hurt her again? I was pulling my hair like a deranged Shakespearean extra. The emotional stakes were insane.
Moronova writes trauma, love, and healing with this razor‑sharp precision that makes you feel everything too deeply. The pacing is wild in the best way — no filler, no fluff, just pure emotional combustion. Every scene between Emery and Cameron felt like a punch and a hug at the same time. Their connection is messy, raw, and beautifully intense, and I ate up every second of it.
And that ending? Adorable. Soft. Warm. The kind of HEA that makes you kick your feet and grin like an idiot. The spice? A solid 10/10 — balanced, emotional, and perfectly earned. By the time I closed the book, I was both exhausted and euphoric. “My Knife, Your Back” is the kind of story that grabs your heart, squeezes it, and then gently hands it back with a kiss on the forehead. Five stars, no hesitation.
---------------------
⭐ 5 STARS — I’M STILL RECOVERING ⭐
“My Knife, Your Back” had me feral. I’m talking pacing-the-room, clutching-my-chest, whispering “no no no” like a Victorian widow. From page one, K.M. Moronova grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and honestly? I’m not even mad because every twist paid off like a jackpot. The tension, the angst, the emotional carnage — I devoured it like it was my last meal.
When Emery finally regained her memories, I swear I felt my soul reattach to my body. Watching Cameron carry that mountain of guilt was painful, like I could feel the weight of it pressing on my own chest. And don’t even get me started on Emery’s parents. Her dad? That man had me seeing red. Her mom? Equally rage‑inducing. Some people should simply not be allowed near children, let alone raise them. The moment her father got unalived? I won’t lie — I cheered. Loudly.
And then there’s the death‑drug scene. Oh. My. God. Emery spiraling, Cameron holding her, whispering “you’re okay, Emery, I love you, please come back to me” — I was screaming the roof off my house. It was agonizing and romantic in that messy, devastating way that only Moronova seems to master. Cameron being emotionally open, unfiltered, and absolutely devoted? Chef’s kiss. A man who communicates? Revolutionary.
But the part that truly broke me — like actually broke me — was Cameron getting the death needle again. The way it triggered him into dissociating into Mori and almost hurting Emery? I had to put the book down and breathe into my hands. And then when he snapped back and realized what happened… and overdosed himself so he wouldn’t hurt her again? I was pulling my hair like a deranged Shakespearean extra. The emotional stakes were insane.
Moronova writes trauma, love, and healing with this razor‑sharp precision that makes you feel everything too deeply. The pacing is wild in the best way — no filler, no fluff, just pure emotional combustion. Every scene between Emery and Cameron felt like a punch and a hug at the same time. Their connection is messy, raw, and beautifully intense, and I ate up every second of it.
And that ending? Adorable. Soft. Warm. The kind of HEA that makes you kick your feet and grin like an idiot. The spice? A solid 10/10 — balanced, emotional, and perfectly earned. By the time I closed the book, I was both exhausted and euphoric. “My Knife, Your Back” is the kind of story that grabs your heart, squeezes it, and then gently hands it back with a kiss on the forehead. Five stars, no hesitation.
---------------------
December 10, 2025
My Blade, Your Back and my brain? Not on speaking terms right now.
Let’s be honest: the entire main drama could’ve—no, SHOULD’VE—been wrapped up in book one. Instead, we wandered around in circles like emotionally damaged Sims until it was time for the “big reveal,” which I guessed so early it should’ve mailed me a thank-you card.
I adore Moronova’s books, I really do, but I clearly walked in with expectations way too high — and that’s on me. I’ll take the accountability.
⭐️ One star for correctly identifying the traitor before the characters’ two brain cells could rub together.
⭐️ Another star for Chapter 46, because anonymous POV chaos will always own me.
Everything else? Yeah… nope. Logic left the chat, tension fizzled, and the dark romance themes felt recycled.
Two stars. Generous. Honestly, I deserve a medal for finishing.
Let’s be honest: the entire main drama could’ve—no, SHOULD’VE—been wrapped up in book one. Instead, we wandered around in circles like emotionally damaged Sims until it was time for the “big reveal,” which I guessed so early it should’ve mailed me a thank-you card.
I adore Moronova’s books, I really do, but I clearly walked in with expectations way too high — and that’s on me. I’ll take the accountability.
⭐️ One star for correctly identifying the traitor before the characters’ two brain cells could rub together.
⭐️ Another star for Chapter 46, because anonymous POV chaos will always own me.
Everything else? Yeah… nope. Logic left the chat, tension fizzled, and the dark romance themes felt recycled.
Two stars. Generous. Honestly, I deserve a medal for finishing.
December 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BROKEN SOLDIER STARS...📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*YOUR BLADE, YOUR BACK°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is the second full length dark military romance book in the (Dark Forces) series by author K.M. Moronova. Cameron (Code name Mori) & Emery (Code name Morphine).
After reading the first book Your Knife, My Heart and loving it I was so excited when this was released, and couldn't wait to dive in after finishing up what I was reading. This world is heart pumping, emotionally sad, and an unforgiving world, action packed angsty moments which I crave in my books and this series definitely ticked all the boxes.
☀︎ Military/Black Ops
☀︎ Amnesia
☀︎ Enemies-to-Lovers
☀︎ Touch Her & You Die
☀︎ Morally Grey/Unhinged Hero
☀︎ Forced Proximity
☀︎ Found Family
This picked up right where the previous book left off, Many moons have gone by since Emery woke up with no memory at all.
Even though he sends chills down her spine she can't help but be drawn to Mori a boy in her squad. He's there in her dreams but just out of reach. I enjoyed this tip toeing around each other, as she didn't remember him, but he remembered everything about her. But never once told her anything of her past or who she was to him. So there was a lot of her chasing her tail trying to figure things out on her own.
(“I am only a wicked man filled with demons, but she makes me feel like the sea on a starless night-calm and clear.”)
Then the squad is sent on a suicide mission, to retrieve a flash drive, what's on that is anyone's guess but they have to get it back to base and hand it over. This mission and ones after had me sitting on the edge of my seat devouring all the chaotic hair-raising moments. Many times I heart created an extra beat as I prayed these characters I'd come to love came out unscathed.
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*YOUR BLADE, YOUR BACK°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is the second full length dark military romance book in the (Dark Forces) series by author K.M. Moronova. Cameron (Code name Mori) & Emery (Code name Morphine).
After reading the first book Your Knife, My Heart and loving it I was so excited when this was released, and couldn't wait to dive in after finishing up what I was reading. This world is heart pumping, emotionally sad, and an unforgiving world, action packed angsty moments which I crave in my books and this series definitely ticked all the boxes.
☀︎ Military/Black Ops
☀︎ Amnesia
☀︎ Enemies-to-Lovers
☀︎ Touch Her & You Die
☀︎ Morally Grey/Unhinged Hero
☀︎ Forced Proximity
☀︎ Found Family
This picked up right where the previous book left off, Many moons have gone by since Emery woke up with no memory at all.
Even though he sends chills down her spine she can't help but be drawn to Mori a boy in her squad. He's there in her dreams but just out of reach. I enjoyed this tip toeing around each other, as she didn't remember him, but he remembered everything about her. But never once told her anything of her past or who she was to him. So there was a lot of her chasing her tail trying to figure things out on her own.
(“I am only a wicked man filled with demons, but she makes me feel like the sea on a starless night-calm and clear.”)
Then the squad is sent on a suicide mission, to retrieve a flash drive, what's on that is anyone's guess but they have to get it back to base and hand it over. This mission and ones after had me sitting on the edge of my seat devouring all the chaotic hair-raising moments. Many times I heart created an extra beat as I prayed these characters I'd come to love came out unscathed.
March 27, 2026
me🤝🏻amnesia trope
so yeah. this had even more gore than the first book. i ended up skimming through those parts. but i LOVE cam and em. ohmygosh. cam was so sweet. i love these two tgth.
this book was confusing ash but not necessarily in a bad way. lol
Br with saranya <3
tw: physical violence, explicit gore/torture scenes, death, war trauma, ptsd , murder, self-harm, heavy substance abuse, forced substance abuse, abuse of corpses
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
side note
started- march 26
finished-march 27
so yeah. this had even more gore than the first book. i ended up skimming through those parts. but i LOVE cam and em. ohmygosh. cam was so sweet. i love these two tgth.
this book was confusing ash but not necessarily in a bad way. lol
Br with saranya <3
tw: physical violence, explicit gore/torture scenes, death, war trauma, ptsd , murder, self-harm, heavy substance abuse, forced substance abuse, abuse of corpses
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
side note
started- march 26
finished-march 27
March 23, 2026
i LOVED this. ugh, I already miss my psychos.
“Even if our lives are shorter, I’m going to live every single one of them with you, Em. I love you. I yearn for you even in my dreams.”
“Even if our lives are shorter, I’m going to live every single one of them with you, Em. I love you. I yearn for you even in my dreams.”
December 13, 2025
I want to preface this review by saying that I really liked the first book and gave it 4 stars, but this sequel did not work for me. The amnesia trope is admittedly one of my least favorites, so I was already a bit on the fence going into this. Still, this sequel fell short of my expectations. Cameron and Emery were infuriating for the first 40% of the book; I found myself disliking both of their characters, and their reconciliation felt unearned. The plot was all over the place and completely nonsensical at times, and the writing frequently made me cringe. I’m glad to know how Cameron and Emery’s story ends, but I don’t think we needed another 300+ pages to get there.
January 13, 2026
4⭐️
кемерон, моя поетична булочка, ця оцінка для тебе 🥹
✍️ вона - кожна квітка на моєму полі смерті.
✍️ могли б існувати нескінченні версії тебе, і я кохав би кожну з них так само шалено й цілковито.
✍️ я б обрав її навіть ціною всього світу.
✍️ я кохав тебе ��овністю. коханням, яке ми не встигли прожити. ти була сонячним світлом над замерзлим озером. шепотом щастя, який мені пощастило пізнати. я кохаю тебе, ем… кохаю.
❤️🩹 я не чула його сміху так довго. він заслуговує на життя, де він сміється так щодня. ми обоє заслуговуємо.
кемерон, моя поетична булочка, ця оцінка для тебе 🥹
✍️ вона - кожна квітка на моєму полі смерті.
✍️ могли б існувати нескінченні версії тебе, і я кохав би кожну з них так само шалено й цілковито.
✍️ я б обрав її навіть ціною всього світу.
✍️ я кохав тебе ��овністю. коханням, яке ми не встигли прожити. ти була сонячним світлом над замерзлим озером. шепотом щастя, який мені пощастило пізнати. я кохаю тебе, ем… кохаю.
❤️🩹 я не чула його сміху так довго. він заслуговує на життя, де він сміється так щодня. ми обоє заслуговуємо.
January 23, 2026
4.5⭐️
December 28, 2025
25 BOOKS IN 2025 CHALLENGE: 24/25
My favorite from K. M. Moronova! Can't wait for more books in this world!!!
My favorite from K. M. Moronova! Can't wait for more books in this world!!!
January 22, 2026
hell yeah
February 9, 2026
I became aware of the controversy surrounding this author after I'd already started this series, so reviewing Your Knife My Heart, and My Blade Your Back as normal feels a bit wrong.
I'll still be rating them, for my own peace of mind (if I leave something unrated, Goodreads keeps reminding me to do it) and for transparency sake, but my reviews won't be posted until this whole situation gets cleared up.
**I already own the books physically so I decided to finish them, please don't attack me for that**
I'll still be rating them, for my own peace of mind (if I leave something unrated, Goodreads keeps reminding me to do it) and for transparency sake, but my reviews won't be posted until this whole situation gets cleared up.
**I already own the books physically so I decided to finish them, please don't attack me for that**
January 1, 2026
MBYB kicked off immediately where the first book ended. Let me tell you, it hits you from all corners: gruesome hand-to-hand combat, internal battles of love and redemption, fatal attraction, and no mercy. I think one of the main reasons I love the dark universe is that it’s raw and unfiltered, the darkness bleeds internally, and every character is just trying to survive.🖤🔥
“I will always choose you, Em. Over anything. I want to prove that to you. No matter what becomes of me and the monster they made me, I’ll only obey you.”
Emery is the epitome of chaos and peace. Coexisting through resilience, which is why Cameron was drawn to her from the beginning. Our girl didn’t come to play in this book; she showed us that she can adapt to whatever comes her way.
As for Cameron, that man remains one hot and scary psycho, but you can’t help but love him. In the small moments, he was there for her while battling with his inner demons. Oh, and I can’t forget how much he sat back and admired her being such a bad a$$, he roots for her while also protecting her when needed.
4 ✨
While I absolutely had a time with YKMH, this one didn’t deliver as much as I thought. I had high hopes for it, because towards the middle of the book, it fell flat, and the romance wasn’t as angsty and burning from the pages like the first one. I was intrigued by the premise with Cam and Emery finding their love again, but mainly the plot and action surrounding these black pills and the villains. However, one thing I will always adore in the writing is how much it pulls at your heartstrings and has you questioning everyone’s loyalty and motive. Also, excuse me, Reed? That man is an enigma. What is up with always gravitating towards the mysterious, unhinged side characters? He’s deranged but meticulous. I would volunteer as tribute to whatever he asked for.
I can’t wait for what else the author has under her sleeve and her upcoming release, “Bulletproof” in April 2026.
“I will always choose you, Em. Over anything. I want to prove that to you. No matter what becomes of me and the monster they made me, I’ll only obey you.”
Emery is the epitome of chaos and peace. Coexisting through resilience, which is why Cameron was drawn to her from the beginning. Our girl didn’t come to play in this book; she showed us that she can adapt to whatever comes her way.
As for Cameron, that man remains one hot and scary psycho, but you can’t help but love him. In the small moments, he was there for her while battling with his inner demons. Oh, and I can’t forget how much he sat back and admired her being such a bad a$$, he roots for her while also protecting her when needed.
4 ✨
While I absolutely had a time with YKMH, this one didn’t deliver as much as I thought. I had high hopes for it, because towards the middle of the book, it fell flat, and the romance wasn’t as angsty and burning from the pages like the first one. I was intrigued by the premise with Cam and Emery finding their love again, but mainly the plot and action surrounding these black pills and the villains. However, one thing I will always adore in the writing is how much it pulls at your heartstrings and has you questioning everyone’s loyalty and motive. Also, excuse me, Reed? That man is an enigma. What is up with always gravitating towards the mysterious, unhinged side characters? He’s deranged but meticulous. I would volunteer as tribute to whatever he asked for.
I can’t wait for what else the author has under her sleeve and her upcoming release, “Bulletproof” in April 2026.
December 16, 2025
Pirma dalis tikrai patiko daug labiau, kadangi pusė 2-tros dalies teko skaityt su nekenčiamu trope 😄 Bet turiu visišką silpnybę tokiems veikėjams, kaip Cam ir bendrai paėmus istorija patiko! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 17, 2025
4.5 / 5 ⭐️
Obsessed. I LOVED Cameron and Emery's story so much.
After reading Your Knife, My Heart.. I was absolutely hooked and captivated by these two! The previous cliffhanger made me so anxious to read this one.
When I tell you I was clutching my pearls, on the edge of my seat, kicking my legs for mister Cameron Mortem, you best believe it! He felt much more loving, much more tender than in the first book, and I ate that upppp.
The pacing was a bit slow during the first half, but once the second half hit I just couldnt stop reading! It felt soooo high stakes. The action, the rifts that build within the group, the yearning between Cam and Em.. I felt it was all so well executed!
In all, I loved this duet so much <3
pre-read
FINALLY hehehe
I NEED to know how things go with Cameron and Emery after that cliffhanger sob
Obsessed. I LOVED Cameron and Emery's story so much.
After reading Your Knife, My Heart.. I was absolutely hooked and captivated by these two! The previous cliffhanger made me so anxious to read this one.
When I tell you I was clutching my pearls, on the edge of my seat, kicking my legs for mister Cameron Mortem, you best believe it! He felt much more loving, much more tender than in the first book, and I ate that upppp.
The pacing was a bit slow during the first half, but once the second half hit I just couldnt stop reading! It felt soooo high stakes. The action, the rifts that build within the group, the yearning between Cam and Em.. I felt it was all so well executed!
In all, I loved this duet so much <3
pre-read
FINALLY hehehe
I NEED to know how things go with Cameron and Emery after that cliffhanger sob
January 10, 2026
I was gonna rate it 3.7 or 3.8 stars but I really liked the last chapter !! I love when a book leaves me with a bit of suspense !
Anyway, I loved this book ! I think I enjoyed it a bit less than book one but I feel like it’s more because I’m not that much into military settings when it’s not fantasy 😅 I still found the story really good ! (and emotional..)
Anyway, I loved this book ! I think I enjoyed it a bit less than book one but I feel like it’s more because I’m not that much into military settings when it’s not fantasy 😅 I still found the story really good ! (and emotional..)
March 30, 2026
Emery… you really had me pissed at the beginning. I’m talking this close to throwing the whole damn book when I realized we were going the amnesia route 💀 I HATE that trope.
But I stuck it out and I’m actually so glad I did 😭
Now I’m fully obsessed with the entire team. Damian, Gage, Cameron… even Wraith and somehow Reed has me in a chokehold too 🙂
And the way I was SCREAMING the whole book for them to stop taking those “death pills”… absolutely not, could never be me 😭
I read both books in two days I was not playing. It had me completely hooked. And finding out there are more books in the series?? Yeah… I’m ready 😭
But I stuck it out and I’m actually so glad I did 😭
Now I’m fully obsessed with the entire team. Damian, Gage, Cameron… even Wraith and somehow Reed has me in a chokehold too 🙂
And the way I was SCREAMING the whole book for them to stop taking those “death pills”… absolutely not, could never be me 😭
I read both books in two days I was not playing. It had me completely hooked. And finding out there are more books in the series?? Yeah… I’m ready 😭
January 23, 2026
3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed book 1 in this duet and gave it 4 stars and I LOVED Leave Me Behind and gave that 5 stars.
This one though, kind of lost me a little bit. I feel like there were so many plots going on in this book, and they did wrap up at the end, but the middle felt like we weren't really exploring the different things going on in here enough. There was Em's amnesia, the pills her and Cam were taking, the shit with her dad, one or two other things and we were bouncing around from thing to thing that sometimes I got confused what plot we were focusing on in this chapter.
But overall, it came together in the end and it was fun to be back with these characters. I'll still read more from KM Moronova. I'm excited for Bulletproof and I have another one of her books already on my tbr. This was just felt a little bit all over the place for me unfortunately.
I really enjoyed book 1 in this duet and gave it 4 stars and I LOVED Leave Me Behind and gave that 5 stars.
This one though, kind of lost me a little bit. I feel like there were so many plots going on in this book, and they did wrap up at the end, but the middle felt like we weren't really exploring the different things going on in here enough. There was Em's amnesia, the pills her and Cam were taking, the shit with her dad, one or two other things and we were bouncing around from thing to thing that sometimes I got confused what plot we were focusing on in this chapter.
But overall, it came together in the end and it was fun to be back with these characters. I'll still read more from KM Moronova. I'm excited for Bulletproof and I have another one of her books already on my tbr. This was just felt a little bit all over the place for me unfortunately.
January 6, 2026
I really wanted to love this book as I did the first because the ideas and plot points were genuinely good. On paper, this should have been a hit for me. In reality… it just didn’t land the way I hoped.
There were so many moments where I felt like something big was about to happen, but then the action would get skipped over or wrapped up too quickly, which meant it never had the impact it should have. I kept waiting for that wow moment and instead got a lot of “oh… that’s it?” energy.
And then there’s the romance. Once Cam and Em were officially together and the romance became actual romance, I realised something important about myself:
I apparently do not thrive on soft, tender, emotionally healthy relationships 😅
I LOVED crazy Cam.
They were very sweet. Very gentle. Very supportive. And unfortunately, I was bored 😩I missed the tension, the sharp banter, the slow-burn angst, the are-they-going-to-kill-each-other-or-kiss vibes. Once everything turned calm and loving, my interest quietly clocked out.
Overall, this book had a solid foundation and a lot of potential, but for me it just fell flat. I think readers who enjoy softer romances and lighter action will probably have a much better time with this than I did. Sadly, my taste clearly leans more toward chaos and emotional damage.
Still glad I gave it a shot — just not a new favourite for me. But I still love the series overall.
There were so many moments where I felt like something big was about to happen, but then the action would get skipped over or wrapped up too quickly, which meant it never had the impact it should have. I kept waiting for that wow moment and instead got a lot of “oh… that’s it?” energy.
And then there’s the romance. Once Cam and Em were officially together and the romance became actual romance, I realised something important about myself:
I apparently do not thrive on soft, tender, emotionally healthy relationships 😅
I LOVED crazy Cam.
They were very sweet. Very gentle. Very supportive. And unfortunately, I was bored 😩I missed the tension, the sharp banter, the slow-burn angst, the are-they-going-to-kill-each-other-or-kiss vibes. Once everything turned calm and loving, my interest quietly clocked out.
Overall, this book had a solid foundation and a lot of potential, but for me it just fell flat. I think readers who enjoy softer romances and lighter action will probably have a much better time with this than I did. Sadly, my taste clearly leans more toward chaos and emotional damage.
Still glad I gave it a shot — just not a new favourite for me. But I still love the series overall.
December 10, 2025
Yeah so this duology was so stinking good (especially bc I was in need of a brain refresh after reading red rising) but I literally read both books today and if there was a third (already read and loved leave me behind and will impatiently await more of this world) I would absolute be staying up and continuing the dark force train that is so freaking fun
December 12, 2025
While I definitely wanted a second book, I think this was a somewhat disappointing follow-up to the first. I already was at a shaky place with the duology from where the first left off. I think Bree and Bryce were wasted characters and the amnesia trope was a bad ending spot.
Throughout this book, the amnesia trope and Emery's "journey" to remembering herself and Cameron was very sloppy and did not at all mend the ending of the first book. Emery basically forgot everything that made up her character, and someone in her position with her lack of memory would definitely have a lot more questions and hesitancy to such a hostile environment. To me, it was unrealistic that she entered the drug trials, and even more so that she didn't have more doubt in the leadership of the Dark Forces. She was sadly inconsistent and hypocritical even after recovering her memories, holding resentment for Cameron only to immediately fall victim the same things that he had.
Cameron lost all of his character as well. He was so much more of an open book that he felt incredibly disconnected from the character presented to readers throughout the first book. Most of his dialogue felt like word-vomiting in attempts to make him feel more romantic, which ends up feeling ingenuine because readers know he just doesn't show love that way. The chemistry felt very forced. Furthermore, my disconnection from Cameron resulted in me growing more fond of the side characters like Gage and Kaylen.
There were so many times that people should have been dead but miraculously recovered, and others that they died almost too easily. I think gore and violence in this book got thrown around way too much for shock factor without having any impact on the actual plot. Then, when characters were really in high-stakes situations, there was a lack of importance and nearly no tension, especially by the final climax.
There was also a lot of confusion in this book for me. I couldn't quite place how we were supposed to feel about Reed. And everything I tried to conclude about him contradicted other plot points. Motives were all mixed up and unclear for a lot of people. I could never quite figure out Nolan or Erik's role either, and it was incredibly vague how the Dark Forces as a group were related to the Mavestellis. The "death pills" and supplementary injections were also incredibly confusing and almost overused. To be mentioned in every other paragraph, I feel like we needed some more information about where they came from and what each different dose did. By the end of the book, Cameron had become a pin cushion simply for plot convenience and there was no significance to any of the drugs.
While I hold a lot of criticism for this book, it is only because I enjoyed the first so much. It was definitely easy to read in a page-turning sense, and most of the ideas held a lot of intrigue. There were just a lot of inconsistencies and questions that, if cleared up, could have put this story on a pedestal with the first.
Throughout this book, the amnesia trope and Emery's "journey" to remembering herself and Cameron was very sloppy and did not at all mend the ending of the first book. Emery basically forgot everything that made up her character, and someone in her position with her lack of memory would definitely have a lot more questions and hesitancy to such a hostile environment. To me, it was unrealistic that she entered the drug trials, and even more so that she didn't have more doubt in the leadership of the Dark Forces. She was sadly inconsistent and hypocritical even after recovering her memories, holding resentment for Cameron only to immediately fall victim the same things that he had.
Cameron lost all of his character as well. He was so much more of an open book that he felt incredibly disconnected from the character presented to readers throughout the first book. Most of his dialogue felt like word-vomiting in attempts to make him feel more romantic, which ends up feeling ingenuine because readers know he just doesn't show love that way. The chemistry felt very forced. Furthermore, my disconnection from Cameron resulted in me growing more fond of the side characters like Gage and Kaylen.
There were so many times that people should have been dead but miraculously recovered, and others that they died almost too easily. I think gore and violence in this book got thrown around way too much for shock factor without having any impact on the actual plot. Then, when characters were really in high-stakes situations, there was a lack of importance and nearly no tension, especially by the final climax.
There was also a lot of confusion in this book for me. I couldn't quite place how we were supposed to feel about Reed. And everything I tried to conclude about him contradicted other plot points. Motives were all mixed up and unclear for a lot of people. I could never quite figure out Nolan or Erik's role either, and it was incredibly vague how the Dark Forces as a group were related to the Mavestellis. The "death pills" and supplementary injections were also incredibly confusing and almost overused. To be mentioned in every other paragraph, I feel like we needed some more information about where they came from and what each different dose did. By the end of the book, Cameron had become a pin cushion simply for plot convenience and there was no significance to any of the drugs.
While I hold a lot of criticism for this book, it is only because I enjoyed the first so much. It was definitely easy to read in a page-turning sense, and most of the ideas held a lot of intrigue. There were just a lot of inconsistencies and questions that, if cleared up, could have put this story on a pedestal with the first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
Processing… will probably revise this later.
This duet is perfectly paced and executed (pun intended). I thought this book couldn’t match book one, but it absolutely did and exceeded my expectations. Without spoiling anything, the specific trope that happens at the end of YKMH and the beginning of MBYB really allows for that love to feel just as new and exciting in this book as well. I really enjoyed seeing Mori and Morphine in a field/ mission setting, as opposed to the trial setting in the last book. This story felt much more reminiscent of LMB, and I was super interested in the side characters who became more important. The ending was satisfying, and I felt like it was something that I couldn’t have predicted. Overall, an outstanding duet, and it’s safe to say that I’ll read anything that KM Moronova writes.
This duet is perfectly paced and executed (pun intended). I thought this book couldn’t match book one, but it absolutely did and exceeded my expectations. Without spoiling anything, the specific trope that happens at the end of YKMH and the beginning of MBYB really allows for that love to feel just as new and exciting in this book as well. I really enjoyed seeing Mori and Morphine in a field/ mission setting, as opposed to the trial setting in the last book. This story felt much more reminiscent of LMB, and I was super interested in the side characters who became more important. The ending was satisfying, and I felt like it was something that I couldn’t have predicted. Overall, an outstanding duet, and it’s safe to say that I’ll read anything that KM Moronova writes.
Want to Read
April 22, 2025OMGGGG
April 28, 2026
‘I would do anything for her. Even if she never remembers my love for her.’
are you kidding me?? 😭🥹 i loved the first book but the second one?? amazing. watching them fall in love all over again while fighting deadly battles..🤭 i loved it. the tension, the loyalty, the connection..all so beautiful. 😭❤️🩹 cameron’s devotion to her was just so special. how he went through so much pain but his true pain was her not remembering him? sobbing. and how he braided her hair because she couldn’t remember how she used to do it??? you’re KIDDING me. 😭😭🥹 i loved every second of this duet. amazing read. 🥹
“As mad as I am that you pushed me away, not very many people get to fall in love with the same crazy person twice.” 😭😭🥹
“There could be endless versions of you, and I’d love each one as fervently and entirely.” 🥹
“They can take everything from me as long as it isn’t you,” 😭
“Even if our lives are shorter, I’m going to live every single one of them with you, Em. I love you. I yearn for you even in my dreams.” 😭😭❤️🩹
January 26, 2026
DNFing at 85%…anyways, go download Daggermöuth by HMW!
January 21, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ struggled through this one so bad 😭 nothing wrong with it, just in a slump rn !!!!
March 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
My Blade, Your Back is the direct sequel to Your Knife, My Heart, and after the brutal cliffhanger at the end of the first book, the story continues immediately. Because of potential spoilers, I won’t go into too much detail about the plot itself. Once again, we return to the world of the Dark Forces, secret military units tasked with the most dangerous missions imaginable.
In this installment we also get to know several new characters more closely, while at the same time learning small but intriguing pieces about the past. These insights deepen the world and make the story feel even richer.
At the beginning I wasn’t completely sure if I would love this book as much as Your Knife, My Heart and Leave Me Behind. But that uncertainty quickly disappeared. The story becomes incredibly gripping, and the military setting combined with the constant fight for survival once again made the book absolutely thrilling and impossible for me to put down.
The relationship between the main characters takes a little longer to develop in this book for understandable reasons, but when it finally unfolds, it becomes incredibly beautiful. I found myself highlighting so many quotes that truly touched me. One of my favorites was:
“I’d take your blade a thousand times.”,
but also
“I’d pursue you to no end. You are the only home I’ve ever truly known,”
Moments like that made the emotional impact of the story even stronger.
This book broke me a few times along the way, only to slowly piece me back together again. With every chapter the story kept getting better and better.
And the ending… the ending????!!!!!
THE LAST THREE WORDS.!!!!!!!!!!!
What a plot twist. I absolutely did not see that coming. I’m still not over it.
My Blade, Your Back is the direct sequel to Your Knife, My Heart, and after the brutal cliffhanger at the end of the first book, the story continues immediately. Because of potential spoilers, I won’t go into too much detail about the plot itself. Once again, we return to the world of the Dark Forces, secret military units tasked with the most dangerous missions imaginable.
In this installment we also get to know several new characters more closely, while at the same time learning small but intriguing pieces about the past. These insights deepen the world and make the story feel even richer.
At the beginning I wasn’t completely sure if I would love this book as much as Your Knife, My Heart and Leave Me Behind. But that uncertainty quickly disappeared. The story becomes incredibly gripping, and the military setting combined with the constant fight for survival once again made the book absolutely thrilling and impossible for me to put down.
The relationship between the main characters takes a little longer to develop in this book for understandable reasons, but when it finally unfolds, it becomes incredibly beautiful. I found myself highlighting so many quotes that truly touched me. One of my favorites was:
“I’d take your blade a thousand times.”,
but also
“I’d pursue you to no end. You are the only home I’ve ever truly known,”
Moments like that made the emotional impact of the story even stronger.
This book broke me a few times along the way, only to slowly piece me back together again. With every chapter the story kept getting better and better.
And the ending… the ending????!!!!!
THE LAST THREE WORDS.!!!!!!!!!!!
What a plot twist. I absolutely did not see that coming. I’m still not over it.
December 6, 2025
My Blade Your Back is a great follow up to Your Knife, My Heart! If you’re a fan of books with mercenaries, dangerous missions, and of course enemies then I highly recommend reading these books! I feel like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. My nerves were frayed, and I felt so many emotions while reading. The story is SO good and entertaining. I loved the characters, the world, the way the author told their story and so much more! I don’t want to go into detail because I don’t want to spoil this series for you, but I very much recommend it (and I’m not usually a big fan of these types of romances!). Now however, I can’t wait for more!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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