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Profaned: A Gothic Romantasy
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Expected 26 May 26350 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
TL:DR
Trigger warning for SA.
The plot overall was really intriguing and is what kept me reading. I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the inclusivity and world building. But I have several issues with the plot line and characters.
I did enjoy Kira and Elja's friendship. It gave me Wednesday Addams and Enid vibes. Loved it.
FMC was awesome despite some of her choices. She has a fantastic personality and is witty, tenacious and overall badass. There were also some funny moments. The grumpy sassy rabbit familiar was so good.
The storyline was a plot twist I wasn't expecting which was a refreshing change from typical dark academia.
I wish the magic system was a bit more flushed out but it was really interesting from what we were able to learn.
I don't think I've ever said this before but I think this book should have been longer and added to it.
If you enjoy dark academia while also dismantling a secret society of evil men, give this one a shot.
+ Enemies to lovers
-----
I took a lot of notes so;
My main reasons for giving this book high marks is because 1. I absolutely loved that our FMC is deaf. It's not often that Deaf/HOH folks get representation in books. American Sign Language and deaf culture is a special interest of mine so this was fun for me to try and remember signs while she was signing. I'm not anywhere near fluent but I could picture some of the scenes in my head with her signing and I loved that. It gave her character a lot of depth and I loved that she never let it affect her ability to be a badass and persevere.
2. The plot itself was really intriguing and kept me hooked immediately. I stayed up way too late reading this because I couldn't put it down, regardless of the issues I have with the story.
With that being said, these are my issues with the story and why I couldn't rate this 5 stars.
The major issue is the romance aspect. There was ZERO chemistry between Kira and Vallen. She seemed more into his cousin than she did Vallen. They barely had 2-3 encounters before he was "falling for her" and she gave no inclination that she felt anything romantically towards him at all. And then they were just… together? It felt extremely forced and rushed. The intimate scenes were just… strange. They happened at the worst and weirdest times and felt like it came out of absolutely no where. I think maybe because it also felt so mechanical and no actual feeling behind it. If there was more chemistry between them, I think the scenes might have fit a bit better.
The betrayal I felt was way too far for him to ever find any redemption, considering the lack of emotional connection they had and the absolute brutality of the betrayal. How she managed to forgive him and regain feelings for him was astounding. I'm all for a redemption arc but there just wasn't enough there for it to make sense.
I think this story would have done better if the romance aspect was scraped entirely because it really ruined the most of it for me because it made no sense.
The ONLY person who made any effort into learning sign language was Elja, and it was merely glossed over. I don't think people understand how important it is for deaf/HOH people to have the ability to communicate and be understood and it means a lot when people just TRY to learn basic signs. Vallen didn't try AT. ALL. That really bugged me and rubbed me the wrong way. If he is supposed to "love" her but not even want to learn her language? Communicate without her having to do all the work lip reading and writing in her notebook? It just was another thing that took away from whatever sort of relationship they were supposed to have.
The magic system was confusing and I feel like it could've been flushed out more. It was interesting from what was given but I would've liked to learn more about the Gods, the history, the way the magic worked. And her studies. It felt like we didn't see her in classes except those couple times. The information we do get didn't give a rounded out picture of what the author was trying to have the magic system be.
I would've liked to know more about WHY Kira is special and her importance in the story.
I would've wanted to know a lot more about Vallen and his background. Also where the hell did Caspian go?! He just poofed! The ONE person who could sign was just thrown out of the story when he was a major person tied to the secret society. I really enjoyed Elja, I just wished she played more of a role in the story. Even through her betrayal.
Kira really had no one who didn't do her dirty, lol.
I really liked the secret society and the brutality of what the Elder and priests were doing. It felt so raw and real and unfortunately realistic in today's time so the plot being that they take this whole organization down was a big HELL YES from me. I just wish there would've been more explanation about it all.
The ending felt rushed and we didn't really have an actual "fight." This large powerful organization and there was little to no crescendo. Only the scene with the Elder was satisfying.
We never find out what happens with Thalia.
Did they save/rescue the remaining women and children? Did they unbind and release the souls in the catacombs? Did Kira ever get to learn the magic she wanted?
There were just so many questions left unanswered that made the story feel shallow which is a juxtaposition to the severity of the subject matter.
Overall, even with the plot line issues this story kept me hooked and I didn't want to stop reading.
I plan to read more from this author because I liked the writing style overall and think that I could enjoy other books by this author.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
TL:DR
Trigger warning for SA.
The plot overall was really intriguing and is what kept me reading. I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the inclusivity and world building. But I have several issues with the plot line and characters.
I did enjoy Kira and Elja's friendship. It gave me Wednesday Addams and Enid vibes. Loved it.
FMC was awesome despite some of her choices. She has a fantastic personality and is witty, tenacious and overall badass. There were also some funny moments. The grumpy sassy rabbit familiar was so good.
The storyline was a plot twist I wasn't expecting which was a refreshing change from typical dark academia.
I wish the magic system was a bit more flushed out but it was really interesting from what we were able to learn.
I don't think I've ever said this before but I think this book should have been longer and added to it.
If you enjoy dark academia while also dismantling a secret society of evil men, give this one a shot.
+ Enemies to lovers
-----
I took a lot of notes so;
My main reasons for giving this book high marks is because 1. I absolutely loved that our FMC is deaf. It's not often that Deaf/HOH folks get representation in books. American Sign Language and deaf culture is a special interest of mine so this was fun for me to try and remember signs while she was signing. I'm not anywhere near fluent but I could picture some of the scenes in my head with her signing and I loved that. It gave her character a lot of depth and I loved that she never let it affect her ability to be a badass and persevere.
2. The plot itself was really intriguing and kept me hooked immediately. I stayed up way too late reading this because I couldn't put it down, regardless of the issues I have with the story.
With that being said, these are my issues with the story and why I couldn't rate this 5 stars.
The major issue is the romance aspect. There was ZERO chemistry between Kira and Vallen. She seemed more into his cousin than she did Vallen. They barely had 2-3 encounters before he was "falling for her" and she gave no inclination that she felt anything romantically towards him at all. And then they were just… together? It felt extremely forced and rushed. The intimate scenes were just… strange. They happened at the worst and weirdest times and felt like it came out of absolutely no where. I think maybe because it also felt so mechanical and no actual feeling behind it. If there was more chemistry between them, I think the scenes might have fit a bit better.
The betrayal I felt was way too far for him to ever find any redemption, considering the lack of emotional connection they had and the absolute brutality of the betrayal. How she managed to forgive him and regain feelings for him was astounding. I'm all for a redemption arc but there just wasn't enough there for it to make sense.
I think this story would have done better if the romance aspect was scraped entirely because it really ruined the most of it for me because it made no sense.
The ONLY person who made any effort into learning sign language was Elja, and it was merely glossed over. I don't think people understand how important it is for deaf/HOH people to have the ability to communicate and be understood and it means a lot when people just TRY to learn basic signs. Vallen didn't try AT. ALL. That really bugged me and rubbed me the wrong way. If he is supposed to "love" her but not even want to learn her language? Communicate without her having to do all the work lip reading and writing in her notebook? It just was another thing that took away from whatever sort of relationship they were supposed to have.
The magic system was confusing and I feel like it could've been flushed out more. It was interesting from what was given but I would've liked to learn more about the Gods, the history, the way the magic worked. And her studies. It felt like we didn't see her in classes except those couple times. The information we do get didn't give a rounded out picture of what the author was trying to have the magic system be.
I would've liked to know more about WHY Kira is special and her importance in the story.
I would've wanted to know a lot more about Vallen and his background. Also where the hell did Caspian go?! He just poofed! The ONE person who could sign was just thrown out of the story when he was a major person tied to the secret society. I really enjoyed Elja, I just wished she played more of a role in the story. Even through her betrayal.
Kira really had no one who didn't do her dirty, lol.
I really liked the secret society and the brutality of what the Elder and priests were doing. It felt so raw and real and unfortunately realistic in today's time so the plot being that they take this whole organization down was a big HELL YES from me. I just wish there would've been more explanation about it all.
The ending felt rushed and we didn't really have an actual "fight." This large powerful organization and there was little to no crescendo. Only the scene with the Elder was satisfying.
We never find out what happens with Thalia.
Did they save/rescue the remaining women and children? Did they unbind and release the souls in the catacombs? Did Kira ever get to learn the magic she wanted?
There were just so many questions left unanswered that made the story feel shallow which is a juxtaposition to the severity of the subject matter.
Overall, even with the plot line issues this story kept me hooked and I didn't want to stop reading.
I plan to read more from this author because I liked the writing style overall and think that I could enjoy other books by this author.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
----3.5 stars---
This book follows Kira (FMC) and Vallen (MMC). Kira is a very strong main character, both in personality and character stability. She loves those around her deeply, but is also extremely intelligent and willing to fight for what she believes in. Vallen follows a similar code, often developing his character traits through Kira.
This book was written beautifully. The prose was poetic, lyrical, and symbolic. I could tell the author has a passion for the craft, it bled through almost every word. This stood out to me the most and was a pleasant surprise. There were a few minor issues, though, such as typos and formatting problems. The most noticeable was that the “Interlude” appears mid-page, and the word itself is not formatted (bolded or stylized) to distinguish it from the rest of the text.
I also appreciated how original this story felt. The magic system was compelling and unlike anything I’ve read before. The setting, a gothic academy, could have felt overused, but the author made it her own, especially through the secrets carved into its walls. The world overall was beautiful and complex in a grim, tragic way. However, I felt it wasn’t fully fleshed out. The magic system wasn’t explored enough, and neither was the world surrounding the characters. Kira is implied to be special, but we never fully learn how or what impact this has on the world around her. I often felt confused about the magic and wanted more clarity about the gods and the mechanisms behind it.
I loved Elja and Kira’s friendship, as well as Kira’s relationship with Esther. Elja was an amazing friend to Kira, and Kira to her, they both made efforts to support and protect each other. While Elja has her own struggles, they are understandable given the circumstances. I just wish she had played a larger role in the story so we could get to know her better. I felt similarly about Esther, whose character sometimes felt more like plot support than a fully developed person. The same applies to Thalia—we didn’t get much clarity about her or the chance to truly understand her character.
Vallen is a major issue for me, and his relationship with Kira is an even bigger one. In my opinion, Vallen is irredeemable. His betrayal impacts not only Kira but many others indirectly. His character feels overly dependent on Kira, which was frustrating. Without her, he doesn’t seem able to stand on his own. Vallen's emotions escalate fast, but we’re never given a convincing reason why. Their relationship develops too quickly, they barely know each other before they’re suddenly in love. Kira also shows little interest at first, yet their relationship escalates quickly into both emotional and physical intimacy.
The second half of the book improves in this regard, giving more space for their relationship to develop. However, it still felt rushed and somewhat surface-level by the end, as they never truly take the time to understand each other beyond what’s already established.
Overall, the idea was solid, original, and compelling. The writing style was gorgeous, and Kira was an excellent character. However, the execution felt somewhat rushed at times and not fully developed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
This book follows Kira (FMC) and Vallen (MMC). Kira is a very strong main character, both in personality and character stability. She loves those around her deeply, but is also extremely intelligent and willing to fight for what she believes in. Vallen follows a similar code, often developing his character traits through Kira.
This book was written beautifully. The prose was poetic, lyrical, and symbolic. I could tell the author has a passion for the craft, it bled through almost every word. This stood out to me the most and was a pleasant surprise. There were a few minor issues, though, such as typos and formatting problems. The most noticeable was that the “Interlude” appears mid-page, and the word itself is not formatted (bolded or stylized) to distinguish it from the rest of the text.
I also appreciated how original this story felt. The magic system was compelling and unlike anything I’ve read before. The setting, a gothic academy, could have felt overused, but the author made it her own, especially through the secrets carved into its walls. The world overall was beautiful and complex in a grim, tragic way. However, I felt it wasn’t fully fleshed out. The magic system wasn’t explored enough, and neither was the world surrounding the characters. Kira is implied to be special, but we never fully learn how or what impact this has on the world around her. I often felt confused about the magic and wanted more clarity about the gods and the mechanisms behind it.
I loved Elja and Kira’s friendship, as well as Kira’s relationship with Esther. Elja was an amazing friend to Kira, and Kira to her, they both made efforts to support and protect each other. While Elja has her own struggles, they are understandable given the circumstances. I just wish she had played a larger role in the story so we could get to know her better. I felt similarly about Esther, whose character sometimes felt more like plot support than a fully developed person. The same applies to Thalia—we didn’t get much clarity about her or the chance to truly understand her character.
Vallen is a major issue for me, and his relationship with Kira is an even bigger one. In my opinion, Vallen is irredeemable. His betrayal impacts not only Kira but many others indirectly. His character feels overly dependent on Kira, which was frustrating. Without her, he doesn’t seem able to stand on his own. Vallen's emotions escalate fast, but we’re never given a convincing reason why. Their relationship develops too quickly, they barely know each other before they’re suddenly in love. Kira also shows little interest at first, yet their relationship escalates quickly into both emotional and physical intimacy.
The second half of the book improves in this regard, giving more space for their relationship to develop. However, it still felt rushed and somewhat surface-level by the end, as they never truly take the time to understand each other beyond what’s already established.
Overall, the idea was solid, original, and compelling. The writing style was gorgeous, and Kira was an excellent character. However, the execution felt somewhat rushed at times and not fully developed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2026
This is a dark academia romantasy, I love the atmosphere that is set so much. There’s a secret society of powerful men that are nefarious.
The magic and the awesome FMC, Kira are fantastic. I love the representation of a main character who is deaf, it adds another great layer to her story.
She is steadfast and perseveres despite the obstacles. She has great wit and is so likable. Her friendship with Elja brought some entertaining moments.
This story has a strong “down with the patriarchy!” plot and it’s so timely and downright inspiring. I adore this part of the story so much. Going against the cabal of men is such a satisfying plot line.
I love the plot twist that isn’t typical, the storyline is incredibly interesting and kept me intrigued.
I struggled with the magical elements, I don’t know if it’s because I don’t read a lot of Romantasy, I felt I needed more information on that realm.
The romance with Vallen was a bit of enemies to lovers that, then developed into more quickly. I really fell for Kira, Vallen didn’t completely win me over. The tension between them was good as well as the steamy scenes.
The end gave me satisfaction, I did feel it was ended abruptly/fast considering the magnitude of the elements at play. It’s a great atmospheric story that evoked strong emotions. A few issues that if remedied would make it even better. Overall an enjoyable read and unique aspects that I appreciate.
The magic and the awesome FMC, Kira are fantastic. I love the representation of a main character who is deaf, it adds another great layer to her story.
She is steadfast and perseveres despite the obstacles. She has great wit and is so likable. Her friendship with Elja brought some entertaining moments.
This story has a strong “down with the patriarchy!” plot and it’s so timely and downright inspiring. I adore this part of the story so much. Going against the cabal of men is such a satisfying plot line.
I love the plot twist that isn’t typical, the storyline is incredibly interesting and kept me intrigued.
I struggled with the magical elements, I don’t know if it’s because I don’t read a lot of Romantasy, I felt I needed more information on that realm.
The romance with Vallen was a bit of enemies to lovers that, then developed into more quickly. I really fell for Kira, Vallen didn’t completely win me over. The tension between them was good as well as the steamy scenes.
The end gave me satisfaction, I did feel it was ended abruptly/fast considering the magnitude of the elements at play. It’s a great atmospheric story that evoked strong emotions. A few issues that if remedied would make it even better. Overall an enjoyable read and unique aspects that I appreciate.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Profaned by NM Peterson 6 ⭐
The book description is a LIE!
This book Is a manifesto about the ugliness of human kind. There are the frilly little things that might get you through the door, like dark academia, enemies to lovers, necromancy or disability representation. But what will keep you in is much more darker, rotten and egregious then that.
It's a book where power shows its ugly head and tries to break all that is good in the world. A book that holds a mirror to our society 700 - 800 years ago, and society today and shows us the exact same thing: greed, depravity, brutality, violence of every kind.
The book also gives us the story of 2 survivors, and their opportunity for retribution. The world created by Nicolet gives the characters the possibility to take the power back, and show the world that even the most powerful in the world can be taken down, broken and even killed. That the "small and inconsequential" can come back and bite you. That they are right to fear the fighters because even when you think you destroyed them, they still have fight left in them. Well, this is a book worth reading, and dare I say worth staying with it a while to get to the core of it.
For more favorite lines and a better looking review go to my insta review here:https://www.instagram.com/p/DYEc7eyCK...
Best line: “We’re quite the pair, he sent. Two dead things in love.”
#DarkAcademiaBooks
#GothicFiction
#Necromancy
#DarkFantasyBooks
#SocialCommentary
#HumanNature
#TragicRomance
#RevengeStory
#Retribution
#DystopianFiction
#PowerDynamics
The book description is a LIE!
This book Is a manifesto about the ugliness of human kind. There are the frilly little things that might get you through the door, like dark academia, enemies to lovers, necromancy or disability representation. But what will keep you in is much more darker, rotten and egregious then that.
It's a book where power shows its ugly head and tries to break all that is good in the world. A book that holds a mirror to our society 700 - 800 years ago, and society today and shows us the exact same thing: greed, depravity, brutality, violence of every kind.
The book also gives us the story of 2 survivors, and their opportunity for retribution. The world created by Nicolet gives the characters the possibility to take the power back, and show the world that even the most powerful in the world can be taken down, broken and even killed. That the "small and inconsequential" can come back and bite you. That they are right to fear the fighters because even when you think you destroyed them, they still have fight left in them. Well, this is a book worth reading, and dare I say worth staying with it a while to get to the core of it.
For more favorite lines and a better looking review go to my insta review here:https://www.instagram.com/p/DYEc7eyCK...
Best line: “We’re quite the pair, he sent. Two dead things in love.”
#DarkAcademiaBooks
#GothicFiction
#Necromancy
#DarkFantasyBooks
#SocialCommentary
#HumanNature
#TragicRomance
#RevengeStory
#Retribution
#DystopianFiction
#PowerDynamics
May 4, 2026
My Rating System
—
1 ⭐️ Gave it a chance, but DNF
2 ⭐️ Trudged through it, wouldn’t recommend.
3 ⭐️ Solid read. Wouldn’t quite recommend it *highly*, but maybe for the niche/genre it fits in (romantasy, fantasy, horror, horrantasy, etc). Had a few “issue” with it whether it was plot, characters, writing style…
4 ⭐️ Would recommend. Little to no issues.
5 ⭐️ Yes. Read it. Simple as that.
6 ⭐️ This is my personality now. I cried. I hated characters. Everything is perfect.
The concept of this book was absolutely incredible. I LOVE necromancy and gothic themes so this seemed like an absolute win for me, however, there were things *for me* that just didn’t do it.
1. I feel it was quite predictable.
-a) I knew immediately, prior to reading who the love interest would be
-b) I knew there was going to be a major betrayal
-c) of course she was the “chosen one”
-d) the MMC knew the FMC was the chosen one
-e) yes, I knew that it wasn’t a real friendship…
2. The magic was starting to be explained in the proper settings, but then 💩 hit the fan and the academic setting was abandoned for them to progress in the plot and I have no real idea how the magic works
3. I have no idea, what happened when they both died. They went to another plane of existence and were completely coherent - except for the MMC turning into a grotesque monster?! and then they were able to overthrow the previous religious hierarchy? I was beyond lost from the moment the deaths happened - until the end, unfortunately.
4. Unfortunately, the love did not break me - the relationship b/t the FMC and MMC annoyed me and was predictable.
This oddly felt like, something inspired by the Epstein files (ped0ph1lia is present and on page with ideations), stereotypical religious themes regarding predatory behavior, and extreme feminine rage.
However, minus the trope that the “love will break you,” the tropes of this book are spot on. If you love extreme feminine rage, gothic-y atmosphere, a dash of academia setting, necromancy, shady/grey MMCs, corrupt religious ideas, chosen one and rebellious characters — this is a read for you!
—
1 ⭐️ Gave it a chance, but DNF
2 ⭐️ Trudged through it, wouldn’t recommend.
3 ⭐️ Solid read. Wouldn’t quite recommend it *highly*, but maybe for the niche/genre it fits in (romantasy, fantasy, horror, horrantasy, etc). Had a few “issue” with it whether it was plot, characters, writing style…
4 ⭐️ Would recommend. Little to no issues.
5 ⭐️ Yes. Read it. Simple as that.
6 ⭐️ This is my personality now. I cried. I hated characters. Everything is perfect.
The concept of this book was absolutely incredible. I LOVE necromancy and gothic themes so this seemed like an absolute win for me, however, there were things *for me* that just didn’t do it.
1. I feel it was quite predictable.
-a) I knew immediately, prior to reading who the love interest would be
-b) I knew there was going to be a major betrayal
-c) of course she was the “chosen one”
-d) the MMC knew the FMC was the chosen one
-e) yes, I knew that it wasn’t a real friendship…
2. The magic was starting to be explained in the proper settings, but then 💩 hit the fan and the academic setting was abandoned for them to progress in the plot and I have no real idea how the magic works
3. I have no idea, what happened when they both died. They went to another plane of existence and were completely coherent - except for the MMC turning into a grotesque monster?! and then they were able to overthrow the previous religious hierarchy? I was beyond lost from the moment the deaths happened - until the end, unfortunately.
4. Unfortunately, the love did not break me - the relationship b/t the FMC and MMC annoyed me and was predictable.
This oddly felt like, something inspired by the Epstein files (ped0ph1lia is present and on page with ideations), stereotypical religious themes regarding predatory behavior, and extreme feminine rage.
However, minus the trope that the “love will break you,” the tropes of this book are spot on. If you love extreme feminine rage, gothic-y atmosphere, a dash of academia setting, necromancy, shady/grey MMCs, corrupt religious ideas, chosen one and rebellious characters — this is a read for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This book is in two parts. It sets the scene and does a good job of world building and helping us to understand how the FMC is in the predicament that she is in. We learn a lot about the history of the place she is in, though we speed through why she is important to the storyline. The second part runs fast and the details are less extensive as the first part. It almost feels like the author ran out of steam to explain everything that was built in the first half. Reading this left me with two questions. How are they able to reach their goals with people who are supposed to be so powerful and these people don't even put up a fight? Is the end actually the end or is this a cliffhanger? The end is tidy while being untidy.
Even with the plot issues, the book was very interesting to read and kept me reading to the end. The author had disability representation with the FMC. She had a strong character arc but one of the male characters disappeared and the other betrayed her.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Even with the plot issues, the book was very interesting to read and kept me reading to the end. The author had disability representation with the FMC. She had a strong character arc but one of the male characters disappeared and the other betrayed her.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨Review of advanced copy - Thank you to NetGalley and Author for the opportunity✨
Profaned has all the makings of a great dark fantasy romance and at its core it has great bones. It was very atmospheric and an easy read - I read it in 2 sittings! I was interested to see how the story played out. I liked the FMC, I thought she was resilient and interesting. This is a pretty heavy story but I think it dealt with the topics well and brought interesting aspects to the genre.
I just wish this book was a little longer, so that the magic system could be more fleshed out and the love interest could be a bit more believable. This made the book feel a bit more clunky to me, as I always felt a bit like I was lacking some information. As for the love interest it felt like it went from dislike to love immediately without a lot of buildup so I struggled to believe their relationship.
I think it’s worth a read if you enjoy dark academia, dismantling patriarchal systems and strong/interesting FMCs.
Profaned has all the makings of a great dark fantasy romance and at its core it has great bones. It was very atmospheric and an easy read - I read it in 2 sittings! I was interested to see how the story played out. I liked the FMC, I thought she was resilient and interesting. This is a pretty heavy story but I think it dealt with the topics well and brought interesting aspects to the genre.
I just wish this book was a little longer, so that the magic system could be more fleshed out and the love interest could be a bit more believable. This made the book feel a bit more clunky to me, as I always felt a bit like I was lacking some information. As for the love interest it felt like it went from dislike to love immediately without a lot of buildup so I struggled to believe their relationship.
I think it’s worth a read if you enjoy dark academia, dismantling patriarchal systems and strong/interesting FMCs.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Where do I even begin. Ok I know where. The story building and all the dynamics to make up the story line. The suspense on what is actually happening in this dark, twisted world. The FMC is a strong, fierce young lady, who is stubborn in the best way possible, defeating all odds. The MMC, I was least expecting, despite his brooding personality, and questionable choice, turns out to be a huge pivotal, never knowing what he will actually do character. This world was nothing like I've ever read before, it's truly a dark academia, necromantic, enemies to lovers, with a twist of dark religious aspect. Happy reading, for the book is to come out May 2026!
I thank the Author @nicolethorner_books for granting me the permission to read as an arc/street team member and provide my opinion.
#enemiestolovers
#darkacademia #magicnecromancy
I thank the Author @nicolethorner_books for granting me the permission to read as an arc/street team member and provide my opinion.
#enemiestolovers
#darkacademia #magicnecromancy
Review of advance copy received from Author
Actual review 3.75⭐️
This book started off a little slow for me, but once it took a dark turn, I was completely hooked.
Kira is accepted into the Sacred Ossuarium, believing she’ll finally learn to control her magic before returning home, but things quickly feel off. Enter Vallen, the Elder’s nephew: charming, mysterious, and impossible to ignore.
As secrets begin to unravel, the school reveals a much darker truth. I loved the tension between Kira and Vallen, how do you reconcile falling for someone you’re not sure you can trust?
The secret society known as the Ashes adds another chilling layer, pushing the story into unsettling territory. The deeper the story went, the harder it was to put down. I was gripping my Kindle and holding my breath through the twists.
A slow start, but absolutely worth it for the dark, twisty ride.
This book started off a little slow for me, but once it took a dark turn, I was completely hooked.
Kira is accepted into the Sacred Ossuarium, believing she’ll finally learn to control her magic before returning home, but things quickly feel off. Enter Vallen, the Elder’s nephew: charming, mysterious, and impossible to ignore.
As secrets begin to unravel, the school reveals a much darker truth. I loved the tension between Kira and Vallen, how do you reconcile falling for someone you’re not sure you can trust?
The secret society known as the Ashes adds another chilling layer, pushing the story into unsettling territory. The deeper the story went, the harder it was to put down. I was gripping my Kindle and holding my breath through the twists.
A slow start, but absolutely worth it for the dark, twisty ride.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I rate this book a solid 3.75, but since there are no partial ratings, I’m rounding up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I finished this book in two days! I literally could not put it down. Certainly worth the read! You will be engaged from beginning to end! Kira is deaf and it is nice to see inclusion within books! Kira is also a badass!!! Vallen is intense. So intense that I was cracking up laughing in the beginning of the book (Part 1) picturing his actions in my head!! I did feel like part 2, was a bit rushed, and I would have liked to see more of the relationship development between Kira and Vallen, and magical development for Kira. Overall great read, I recommend!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I just have to say, that I loved the scenes between the FMC and the MMC. I enjoyed the tension and following the twists and turns and every time they would end up together I’d be holding my breath to see what happens between them. The plot line was great and I can’t wait for Book 2 to see more of this world in detail and see what happens with the characters.
I loved the atmosphere and learning the secrets along with the FMC. Loved the disability rep and I thought the intimate scenes were so well written - and that is rare if you ask me.
Also note: The trigger warnings are really important to consider as some of the scenes were really graphic so they are not flimsy warnings that have been rattled off for shock factor; they are serious warnings.
I loved the atmosphere and learning the secrets along with the FMC. Loved the disability rep and I thought the intimate scenes were so well written - and that is rare if you ask me.
Also note: The trigger warnings are really important to consider as some of the scenes were really graphic so they are not flimsy warnings that have been rattled off for shock factor; they are serious warnings.
Review of advance copy
Profaned is dark academia with a hint of "touch her and die" vibes. I'll be honest, I didn't fully connect to the characters, however, I loved the disability representation and the FMC had a really strong character arc. I think this will be a really strong read for people who gravitate to this story setting (I thought I did but I think I was wrong). Also, the spicy scenes are very well done.
May 4, 2026
3.5 stars This book started off leaving me intrigued. The overall background of what was going on was very interesting but also infuriating which made for an entertaining time. Although there were some parts that felt slow and didn’t keep me engaged, overall I enjoyed this one.
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