What do you think?
Tangled at the Root: A Dark Sapphic Gothic Romance
Instead of a home in need of cleansing, Rosemary finds a closed-off ex-best friend insisting she hadn’t called her and demanding she leave.
The last thing Genevieve wants is her ex-best friend poking her nose where it doesn’t belong and making Genevieve hunger for things she can't let herself want.
Then something in the old house traps them inside. Danger and proximity lead to buried, unaddressed feelings resurfacing, along with the reveal of a few shocking secrets.
What happens when your ex-best friend has the overwhelming urge to kill you?
Worse, what happens when you want to let her?
The last thing Genevieve wants is her ex-best friend poking her nose where it doesn’t belong and making Genevieve hunger for things she can't let herself want.
Then something in the old house traps them inside. Danger and proximity lead to buried, unaddressed feelings resurfacing, along with the reveal of a few shocking secrets.
What happens when your ex-best friend has the overwhelming urge to kill you?
Worse, what happens when you want to let her?
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Viano Oniomoh
14 books525 followersViano Oniomoh is a passionate reader and writer, who was born and raised in Nigeria. She spends fifty percent of her time writing, forty percent reading, and the other ten listening to BTS. She may or may not use magic to get everything else in her life done. She also has no idea how to write about herself in the third person.
Find more about her at vianooniomoh.com
You can also connect with her on social media:
Viano Oniomoh on Facebook
@vianoniomoh on Twitter
and @vianoniomoh on Instagram.
Find more about her at vianooniomoh.com
You can also connect with her on social media:
Viano Oniomoh on Facebook
@vianoniomoh on Twitter
and @vianoniomoh on Instagram.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 7, 2026
Oh my!
It’s a very disturbing read—as expected of coursee, few things I couldn’t help but to skid over so definitely heed the content warnings. But it was also veryy intriguing and passionate, the lore of the characters and just the Nigerian folklore in general was really well developed and even highly piqued my interest to delve more into it myself after this read.
Viano Oniomoh really tackled everything that was needed to be tackled very well in only a hundred and something pages!
The plot twist was actually well done and wasn’t expected at all but the way it played out was very shocking and smooth. Our characters chemistry was so vibrating and what they had before their separation is wholly felt, even in the now as they attempted to deny it. A truly beautiful sick pair they were meant to be. They are literally yearning, acceptance, and hunger personified!! Self identification and how consuming something so long suppressed can be manifested, how deep love can go, be it if it was always acted on or when it’s finally freed!! I really enjoyed how these allegories played apart into the formation of this dark sapphic romance👏🏾👏🏾
I could’ve done without those last spicy scene, that’s just me personally because I felt it was really beautiful how they ushered the ancestor into the otherworld and coming to terms with how things will be for themselves and together just for it to go into that which didn’t really make muchsense..I feel it could’ve with a different execution or different time? Because I really liked the conversation after, exploring that vulnerability. Even with the grief of Rosemary’s mother, I know it’s supposed to be dark and erotic but I think I just really wanted to sit in that deep vulnerability of our characters a bit longer before getting flung into another feeling you know. But yeah, other than that this read was very gripping, and different to me and I think if anyone who enjoyed House of Rayne wants something more intense with a great intertwining of being both a plot and character driven story with BLACK SAPPHICS than you should definitelyyy pick up this one!
After Thoughts
- So since Rosemary can’t die, what was to the 18 minutes thing? And does she just not age either? What about the otherworld her ancestor and parents are in, can she choose one day to go there as well?
#attachedthenovellacharactersbelike
- If she were to be ate whole, how would she come back?
It’s a very disturbing read—as expected of coursee, few things I couldn’t help but to skid over so definitely heed the content warnings. But it was also veryy intriguing and passionate, the lore of the characters and just the Nigerian folklore in general was really well developed and even highly piqued my interest to delve more into it myself after this read.
Viano Oniomoh really tackled everything that was needed to be tackled very well in only a hundred and something pages!
The plot twist was actually well done and wasn’t expected at all but the way it played out was very shocking and smooth. Our characters chemistry was so vibrating and what they had before their separation is wholly felt, even in the now as they attempted to deny it. A truly beautiful sick pair they were meant to be. They are literally yearning, acceptance, and hunger personified!! Self identification and how consuming something so long suppressed can be manifested, how deep love can go, be it if it was always acted on or when it’s finally freed!! I really enjoyed how these allegories played apart into the formation of this dark sapphic romance👏🏾👏🏾
I could’ve done without those last spicy scene, that’s just me personally because I felt it was really beautiful how they ushered the ancestor into the otherworld and coming to terms with how things will be for themselves and together just for it to go into that which didn’t really make muchsense..I feel it could’ve with a different execution or different time? Because I really liked the conversation after, exploring that vulnerability. Even with the grief of Rosemary’s mother, I know it’s supposed to be dark and erotic but I think I just really wanted to sit in that deep vulnerability of our characters a bit longer before getting flung into another feeling you know. But yeah, other than that this read was very gripping, and different to me and I think if anyone who enjoyed House of Rayne wants something more intense with a great intertwining of being both a plot and character driven story with BLACK SAPPHICS than you should definitelyyy pick up this one!
After Thoughts
- So since Rosemary can’t die, what was to the 18 minutes thing? And does she just not age either? What about the otherworld her ancestor and parents are in, can she choose one day to go there as well?
#attachedthenovellacharactersbelike
- If she were to be ate whole, how would she come back?
June 9, 2026
Tangled at the Root really managed to capture my attention. I loved Rosemary and Genevieve, their chemistry and history with each other were intriguing as it went back and forth to how their feelings developed from a crush to love. It was tender to see those feelings develop when they were in college to scorching hot as they saw each other again after ten years. I loved the description and learning about Rosemary being an Oerhwu and Genevieve a Legbaju.
The epilogue did have me worry for a moment that Genevieve didn't live alongside Rosemary, but I was so happy to see that she did and the two got their happily ever after. My props also go to Genevieve for still trying to get her girl pregnant.
The epilogue did have me worry for a moment that Genevieve didn't live alongside Rosemary, but I was so happy to see that she did and the two got their happily ever after. My props also go to Genevieve for still trying to get her girl pregnant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2026
viano oniomoh, the writer that you are. i haven't read a single bad thing by this author yet, but genevieve and rosemary's story is easily my favorite. i wanted a dark sapphic gothic romance, and i got that and more. this is black sapphic yearning. it's dark, lush, gory,
disturbing
and transfixing. i felt the passion and chemistry between genevieve and rosemary beneath my skin. the vivid imagery that was genevieve left me horrified with goosebumps for multiple reasons. 🥵🌶️ there is a very thin line between fear and lust, as made excruciatingly clear in tangled at the root. i loved the uniqueness of rosemary and genevieve's history, all this was new to me. 10/10, honestly no notes. if i had to complain about anything, it's that this ended
way
before i was ready.
i want this book removed from my brain so i can have the pleasure of experiencing it for the first time again. my place as an erotic horror lover has been solidified by tangled at the root & i hope everyone is prepared to be sick of me, because i won't be shutting up about this book anytime soon. if you're considering reading this, DO IT!!
sn: is this cover not the most gorgeous thing you've EVER seen? 😍
i want this book removed from my brain so i can have the pleasure of experiencing it for the first time again. my place as an erotic horror lover has been solidified by tangled at the root & i hope everyone is prepared to be sick of me, because i won't be shutting up about this book anytime soon. if you're considering reading this, DO IT!!
sn: is this cover not the most gorgeous thing you've EVER seen? 😍
June 13, 2026
How sweet of you to dedicate your book to me!!!
Every time Genevieve called Rosemary “Magical girl” my heart just about melted. As a horny horror connoisseur myself, I loooooove a book where a grotesque monster finds love, and I’m very far from disappointed despite being slightly unprepared for how graphic it was. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that Rosemary and Genevieve are made for each other.
The Nigerian folklore is my absolute favorite part about this. I’ve previously said (in a completely unrelated review) that I use every opportunity to express how tired I am of reading about vampires, so when I manage to find something brand new (to me AND to most) I genuinely get so giddy. And so I even further appreciate the attention to detail when providing descriptions of the setting, the atmosphere and the characters. I sort of wish there was a bit more focus on this portion of the plot and maybe less sex scenes? I won’t dock points for delivering what was promised, I mean this is horny horror! I just wanted the history of the house and the eshé to be a bit more fleshed out throughout the novel.
I’m no stranger to these themes but like I said, this author knows how to paint a picture! So please please please heed the content warning and adequately prepare yourself, then prepare yourself some more.
Every time Genevieve called Rosemary “Magical girl” my heart just about melted. As a horny horror connoisseur myself, I loooooove a book where a grotesque monster finds love, and I’m very far from disappointed despite being slightly unprepared for how graphic it was. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that Rosemary and Genevieve are made for each other.
The Nigerian folklore is my absolute favorite part about this. I’ve previously said (in a completely unrelated review) that I use every opportunity to express how tired I am of reading about vampires, so when I manage to find something brand new (to me AND to most) I genuinely get so giddy. And so I even further appreciate the attention to detail when providing descriptions of the setting, the atmosphere and the characters. I sort of wish there was a bit more focus on this portion of the plot and maybe less sex scenes? I won’t dock points for delivering what was promised, I mean this is horny horror! I just wanted the history of the house and the eshé to be a bit more fleshed out throughout the novel.
I’m no stranger to these themes but like I said, this author knows how to paint a picture! So please please please heed the content warning and adequately prepare yourself, then prepare yourself some more.
June 22, 2026
What a wild ride! Rosemary and Genevieve had complicated lives and many many secrets. They were both lonely, but they didn’t reconnect initially with open arms. Being trapped in a sentient dangerous house together forced those secrets into the open and they both confronted all aspects of themselves and each other. It was dark and gory, with forbidden desires and Nigerian folklore. Very well done.
Spice: 4/5
Content Notes: Animal death; animal abuse; mentions, references, and descriptions of child physical and emotional abuse; mentions, discussions, and depictions of murder, including the murder of a child; mentions, discussions, and references to kidnapping and imprisonment (of a side character, as a past event); PTSD; blood drinking; violence; gore; cannibalism (kinda); and explicit sex scenes, which include (but are not limited to) primal play, blood play, monster sex, dubious consent, and/or consensual non-consent
Spice: 4/5
Content Notes: Animal death; animal abuse; mentions, references, and descriptions of child physical and emotional abuse; mentions, discussions, and depictions of murder, including the murder of a child; mentions, discussions, and references to kidnapping and imprisonment (of a side character, as a past event); PTSD; blood drinking; violence; gore; cannibalism (kinda); and explicit sex scenes, which include (but are not limited to) primal play, blood play, monster sex, dubious consent, and/or consensual non-consent
June 8, 2026
If you are looking for a dark, sapphic romance:
-bisexual FMCs; fem/stud
-plus sized fem FMC
-dual POV
-ex best friends to lovers
-gothic horror elements
-dual timeline (memories of the past)
-complex maternal dynamics
-generational curses & ancestry
-demons, magic & spirituality
-multilayered characters
-opposites attract
-vivid descriptions
-strong ending
-double epilogue
-check your trigger warnings
This was the 1st time that I’ve read spice that blended horror and erotica in this way. It was horrifyingly satisfying to read.
I adored both MCs for different reasons.
They blended together effortlessly. I couldn’t help but root for them separate and together.
This was unapologetically Black, disturbing, erotic & well paced. I often say how hard gothic horror is to execute. I had no doubt that Viano O would deliver effortlessly. If they’re writing it, I’m reading it.
-bisexual FMCs; fem/stud
-plus sized fem FMC
-dual POV
-ex best friends to lovers
-gothic horror elements
-dual timeline (memories of the past)
-complex maternal dynamics
-generational curses & ancestry
-demons, magic & spirituality
-multilayered characters
-opposites attract
-vivid descriptions
-strong ending
-double epilogue
-check your trigger warnings
This was the 1st time that I’ve read spice that blended horror and erotica in this way. It was horrifyingly satisfying to read.
I adored both MCs for different reasons.
They blended together effortlessly. I couldn’t help but root for them separate and together.
This was unapologetically Black, disturbing, erotic & well paced. I often say how hard gothic horror is to execute. I had no doubt that Viano O would deliver effortlessly. If they’re writing it, I’m reading it.
June 5, 2026
A lush, haunting, gruesome, and steamy Gothic romance rooted in Nigerian folklore!
The sapphic yearning - being both a literal and figurative hunger - is absolutely god-tier in this book😮💨🙏
(Also OBSESSED with the cover)
The sapphic yearning - being both a literal and figurative hunger - is absolutely god-tier in this book😮💨🙏
(Also OBSESSED with the cover)
May 30, 2026
Wow!
This was my first sapphic goth romance and my first book by this author... I'm gagged!!! Definitely adding this author to the list of favorites.
This was my first sapphic goth romance and my first book by this author... I'm gagged!!! Definitely adding this author to the list of favorites.
July 8, 2026
What Am I Supposed To Do?
This story is brutal, haunting, and full of a voracious mystery. Rosemary and Genevieve are both tragic and compelling separately and together. From their childhoods before meeting, during the few years together, and after they reunite. The lives they lived apart from each other after meeting seems miniscule compared to everything else. Hope, love, and repressed hungry desire tangling in the middle of horrific and traumatic secrets as the large terrifying mystery looms.
The book is unflinching in its lively and often graphic language, but it's always coupled beautifully with clever turns of phrase and transcendent metaphors. Sometimes, the passages in the book felt as if the very experiences were inhabiting me. For its slow start in the first few pages, after Rosemary gets 'welcomed' into the house, I was locked in. Not only did I get introduced to some new Nigerian mythology to look more into, I'm pleasantly surprised to realize slow burn into a disturbing fiery blaze still made my heart race. My fear and arousal receptors didn't feel mixed up. This book made them feel synergized!
An amazing feat considering there's a fetish within that usually goes on my nope list. I cannot even tell you how it worked for me. It just did. 🤷🏾
There were so many heartbreaking themes expressed, even if the characters try glossing over it. Generational trauma and duty, sins of the ancestors, alienation, repression, shame, sexuality, gender, loneliness, grief... So much grief and not just the dying kind. This is a heavy book, but there's also something freeing about it. I feel like I'm able to breathe easier after finishing it.
I did have some questions about Rosemary and Genevieve's appearance changing over the years. Also, wouldn't have minded a scene of Genevieve testing that theory they posed to Rosemary at the end... 👀😋
Over all, I read this book straight through the night. My chest and head hurt from not sleeping, but it was worth it. A rare Black WLW dark Gothic romance win. What am I supposed to do if not buy, rec, and also ask my library to stock this gem? 🖤👏🏾
This story is brutal, haunting, and full of a voracious mystery. Rosemary and Genevieve are both tragic and compelling separately and together. From their childhoods before meeting, during the few years together, and after they reunite. The lives they lived apart from each other after meeting seems miniscule compared to everything else. Hope, love, and repressed hungry desire tangling in the middle of horrific and traumatic secrets as the large terrifying mystery looms.
The book is unflinching in its lively and often graphic language, but it's always coupled beautifully with clever turns of phrase and transcendent metaphors. Sometimes, the passages in the book felt as if the very experiences were inhabiting me. For its slow start in the first few pages, after Rosemary gets 'welcomed' into the house, I was locked in. Not only did I get introduced to some new Nigerian mythology to look more into, I'm pleasantly surprised to realize slow burn into a disturbing fiery blaze still made my heart race. My fear and arousal receptors didn't feel mixed up. This book made them feel synergized!
An amazing feat considering there's a fetish within that usually goes on my nope list. I cannot even tell you how it worked for me. It just did. 🤷🏾
There were so many heartbreaking themes expressed, even if the characters try glossing over it. Generational trauma and duty, sins of the ancestors, alienation, repression, shame, sexuality, gender, loneliness, grief... So much grief and not just the dying kind. This is a heavy book, but there's also something freeing about it. I feel like I'm able to breathe easier after finishing it.
I did have some questions about Rosemary and Genevieve's appearance changing over the years. Also, wouldn't have minded a scene of Genevieve testing that theory they posed to Rosemary at the end... 👀😋
Over all, I read this book straight through the night. My chest and head hurt from not sleeping, but it was worth it. A rare Black WLW dark Gothic romance win. What am I supposed to do if not buy, rec, and also ask my library to stock this gem? 🖤👏🏾
June 23, 2026
This book left me awestruck! Wow what an amazing story! Rosemary has a gift that she uses to help others. She gets a call about a house but when she shows up there is someone there that she never thought she would see. Rosemary's ex best friend and first love lives in the home but claims she didn't make the call. There is something wrong with the house and Rosemary wants to get to the bottom of it. She wants to help even if it means she has to deal with all the emotions that come with being around the only person she has ever loved and couldn't have. Genevieve doesn't know why her ex bestfriend is at her ancestral home but she can’t be here. She needs to be in control so that she can do what her family has done for generations. The problem is that Rosemary is stubborn and won’t leave. Genevieve struggles to be around the one person who simultaneously makes her calm and feral. She can’t let Rosemary see the part of her that wants to love her but also tear her apart. Oh my goodness the tension and yearning in this story was off the charts. It was so heart breaking that these two couldn’t ever express their love but it was also so satisfying when they finally let go. The build up of this story was so amazing and it had me frantically reading to see what was going to happen. The eerie, spooky vibes were so perfect and there was the perfect amount of horror for me. The way these two characters fit together was so amazing and let me tell you the steamy scenes were immaculate! This is by far the best sapphic romance I have ever read! I highly recommend this book if you love reading black FMC’s, spooky Nigerian folktale, sapphic love, monster romance, magic, plus size FMC, erotic horror, and childhood best friends who finally become lovers.
September 10, 2026
SHE WANTS TO EAT HER!!!!
- sapphic horror romance / paranormal romance / monster romance
- nigerian folklore
- sentient houses
- generational trauna
- feminine desire
- monsterfvcking
this was a RIDE
- sapphic horror romance / paranormal romance / monster romance
- nigerian folklore
- sentient houses
- generational trauna
- feminine desire
- monsterfvcking
this was a RIDE
September 14, 2026
Tangled at the Root delivered exactly what I was looking for: dark, twisty, hot and unafraid to go there - with a lot of heart.
Definitely heed the trigger warnings, listed in the book and with other reviews.
Definitely heed the trigger warnings, listed in the book and with other reviews.
September 23, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Nigerian folklore woven into a Dark Sapphic Gothic romance?!? *chefs kiss*
This is my first read by Viano Oniomoh. I own two other works by this author but I’m glad this was my intro to them.
Nigerian folklore woven into a Dark Sapphic Gothic romance?!? *chefs kiss*
This is my first read by Viano Oniomoh. I own two other works by this author but I’m glad this was my intro to them.
September 26, 2026
Dark Gothic Paranormal Romance
This was such an INTENSE one! Two friends find each forge again in a sentient house where VERY creepy things are happening.
A little bit of gore, spice, and primal instincts come together to make this perfect read for a spooky sapphic September.
This was such an INTENSE one! Two friends find each forge again in a sentient house where VERY creepy things are happening.
A little bit of gore, spice, and primal instincts come together to make this perfect read for a spooky sapphic September.
August 4, 2026
tfw you want to eat the love of your life in more ways than one
August 31, 2026
(3.75) The erotic horror in this was ABSOLUTE PEAK! I loved how the story centers around black sapphics!! The plot/pacing/writing felt a bit disjointed at times so I was a bit confused on what was happening at certain points. I wish the romance was more fleshed out, more specifically I wish we got more in depth insight into what the characters relationship was like beforehand & why they stopped talking since it’s second chance. Because of that, I didn’t feel as connected to their romance as I would’ve liked, but I still had a good time with the story.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews