The Scent of Crazy

Red Flags #1

by D.A. Valerian

She set the trap. He walked in smiling, convinced he was the hunter.

SUMMER

I manipulate.

I deceive.

I seduce.

I steal.

I kill.

I'm not a bad person!

And I'm definitely not a stalker, though some could argue that shadowing Atlas Holt and his friends for months, casing his business, or measuring him in his sleep out of boredom is the definition of stalking. I call it preparation.

I need Atlas's love as a means to a blood-soaked end. But playing carefully curated, sick and twisted games with this delusional psycho is pushing me dangerously close to the trap I set.

Simple plans rarely stay simple.

ATLAS

Summer Night is like a rollercoaster: exhilarating, unpredictable, and every once in a while, it leaves me wondering if it's passed the routine maintenance and I'd be getting off alive. That only makes me want her more.

Whether her ways of flirting would land me in a straitjacket or a grave is not the real question.

Who is she, and how many body bags does her real name drag behind it?

Hopefully, fewer than mine does.

I have a feeling the truth won't just hurt.

It will kill.

This dark romantic comedy features dual POV, a guaranteed HEA, and morally gray characters locked in unhinged power games where obsession, manipulation, and revenge-fueled murderous intent collide with killer banter and twisted humor. While each book in the Red Flags series can be read as a standalone dark rom-com, an overarching story unfolds across the installments, making the journey even more rewarding when read in order, as all the red flags begin to align.

Tropes:

♥ Morally gray FMC and MMC

♥ Mutual stalking

♥ Strong, vengeance-driven FMC

♥ Obsessed and unhinged MMC

♥ Predator-vs-Predator power games

♥ Secret identity

♥ He falls first

♥ Dark humor

Neither the “romantic” nor the “comedy” labels should fool you into thinking there isn’t plenty of darkness bleeding from the pages of The Scent of Crazy in the form of graphic themes, morally corrupt characters, and adult content throughout. You can find a comprehensive list of content warnings on my website. Please read responsibly!

Each book in the Red Flags series features a different couple.

Genres: Dark Romance, Stalker, Enemies To Lovers, He Falls First, Revenge, Touch Her and Die, M F Romance

396 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2026

Reviews

[Barbara]

ARC review


Holy Mother of dark romance Gods what have I just read?! Be ware this book is very addictive! I ate it up like there is no tomorrow!
I cannot believe this was a debut novel! It was extremely funny and unhinged and I loved every second of it!
It kept me up all night, it made me read while I was walking to work and very literally nearly head butted a tree as I was not aware of what was happening around me! This book won’t let you keep your attention on anything else!
The main characters are pure gold. Their banter was perfect, the tension between them so hot it nearly put my kindle on fire! I loved the dark humour in the book, it made me laugh so much!

I definitely need more dark romance in my life especially if it’s written by D.A.Valerian! She instantly made a spot on my list of “if she writes it I buy it”!
I had the best time reading this book, I honestly can’t praise it enough!
If you love dark romance, excellent dark humour, intriguing side characters (their stories will unfold in the upcoming books), delicious tension and unforgettable main characters then you must read this book!
Just be aware of the trees appearing out of nowhere while you read and walk at the same time!

Thank you very much for the author for sending me her book before its release date! I cannot wait for book2!

[bookrat_reads]

So addictive! I devoured this book. I did not want to put it down. Just the right kind of book to hook me. You can never go wrong with morally gray main characters, yes both! Stalking from both ✔️
Crazy friends ✔️
Revenge plot ✔️
He falls first ✔️
Dark humor ✔️
It had me kicking my feet, giggling. 💜

[Ash]

Rtc!

[Katie]

They are all a little crazy in this one! 😂

This book is great for fans of stalking, spy vs spy vibes, ride or die, Mafia family drama, intense spice, and found family.

When I say this book is intense, I mean it starts intense and stays intense all throughout. Our MFC is an orphan who is just "minding her business" and our MMC is obsessed the moment he sees her, not realizing that their meeting wasn't an accident after all. Their romance is explosive and feral, and the banter and games are strong!

There are quite a few triggers and I would recommend reading those before grabbing this one. Even though it starts off cutesy, it gets wild fast and contains a lot of darker themes too. Definitely a four pepper book (maybe 4.5).

I received an ARC from Greys Promotion and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Megan Cowell]

So beautifully unhinged… I loved every second of it.

Just when I thought I could decide who was crazier… SURPRISE - crazy hit the fan again. Atlas was so effing sexy. Summer was too though.

I honestly don’t even know what to say lol. This was just SO good, so deliciously written, incredibly unhinged - and worth every single second I spent on it!

[Ashly]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
📚 Standalone in the interconnected Series
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F
😵 Mutual Stalking

Listen...if you're looking for a sane MMC, keep scrolling because this man is absolutely DELUSIONAL...and I loved every second of it 😂

This book fully embraces the "obsession isn't a red flag, it's a personality trait" mindset, and somehow it just works. Atlas is completely unhinged, wildly possessive, and has the most questionable logic imaginable, but the way his internal monologue tries to justify every insane thing he does had me laughing more than once.

Summer wasn't just there to react to his chaos either. She had MORE than enough personality to hold her own, which made their dynamic so much more entertaining. Every interaction had me wondering what ridiculous thing was going to happen next.

I also loved that this book didn't try to make the obsession seem normal or healthy. It knew exactly what kind of story it was telling and leaned all the way into the dark humor and absolute madness of it all.

The pacing was super fast, the chemistry was chemistry-ing, and before I knew it I had flown through the entire book wondering how I ended up rooting for two people who probably...NO, DEFIANTLY need several therapists 😂

**Tropes:**
🖤 Dark Romance
😵 Stalker Romance
🖤 Obsessive MMC
😵 Morally Gray MMC
🖤 Touch Her & Die
😵 Possessive MMC
🖤 Dark Humor
😵 Forced Proximity
🖤 "He's Absolutely Delulu" Energy
😵 Questionable Life Choices 😂

[Amora]

“It doesn’t fuckin’ matter anymore. Her love is real now. The most real thing I’ve ever had. It’s mine. And I’ll never let her take it back.”

This one is so interesting!! I really love it. I love
all the characters. Even the side characters don't feel like side characters at all with their unique skill. I cant wait for the next book in the series🫶

[Robin Primo]

⭐️.5

I don’t think I have ever disliked a book as much as this one, while continuously wanting to know how it ended. I don’t want to waste a lot of time and energy on this book. So I will just say a few things:
- He saw women as property that he could take….
- He did things to her while she was sleeping, but he thought it was okay, because she didn’t say no….
- It felt like the book started at chapter 10 because it felt like I missed an introduction to some things.

The ending is the only reason I’m giving this book any stars. The ending was fun, unexpected, and full of things happening. That was fun. So don’t get me wrong: the 1.5 stars are ONLY for the last 5 chapters.

[Sarah Sweeney]

ARC review - 4.5 ⭐️

First, thank you, D.A. Valerian for the opportunity to read and review The Scent of Crazy. I had so much fun reading this book, and can’t wait for part 2!

If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, stalking, and enjoyed the banter between the main characters in books like Butcher and Blackbird or Leather and Lark, this book is definitely for you.
Underneath the tough exterior, Atlas (MMC) is a giant cinnamon roll, and Summer (FMC) is a sharp tongued, quick witted badass. The banter between the two of them had me cracking up throughout the entire book.
I also really enjoyed the side characters. Raven and Link’s story is going to be interesting, for sure, but I can’t wait to read more about Dean, Conner and Carter, as well.

This was my first time reading D.A. Valerian’s work, and I’m looking forward to reading more.

[Allie | Looking for Likeminded Souls | Addicted to my Kindle 🫀]

“I thought you were playing me. I got sad, but then chose to get mad instead and . . . I filled your bed with snakes.”

Honestly, it being a debut novel for the author I never expected this book to be so good, but daaaaaammmn 🔥

From the beginning we were thrown in the middle of the action and the plot just kept on giving!! 🤩

Summer is a goddess ❤️‍🔥 this girl takes no prisoners and gives as good as she takes. I am soooooo glad she wasn’t a pushover and actually kept everyone in the book, and me, on their toes ✨

Atlas is the definition of an obsessed alpha boyfriend. He tried everything to make her his, manipulating, blackmailing, stalking, bullying, buying jewelry 😀 the guy really didn’t know what hit him.

And the boys! Their devotion to Summer and Atlas warmed my heart and I am soooooo looking forward to their own stories!

Just a sneak peak of our girl:

“A snake bit me,” I admit in a low voice, while pulling his hand down to continue cleaning it.

“A what bit you?”

“I thought you were playing me. I got sad, but then chose to get mad instead and . . . I filled your bed with snakes.” I bat my lashes, like that would make my words fly under the radar. And there it is, that look again as he goes speechless.

“I’m sorry. I’ll get rid of them.”

[KellyReadsToo]

The Scent of Crazy by D.A. Valeria
Length: 398pages
Rating: 5Stars
FMC: Summer Night
MMC: Atlas Holt

Tropes:
• Stalking (both MC’s)
• Secret Identity
• Obsessed
• Dark Romance
• Revenge


A bit about the book: Summer was out for revenge against the family that was responsible for the loss of her foster sibling. All the information she found sent her on a stalking mission. She ends up getting way too close to her target.

My Thoughts: Hilarious banter between all the characters. This story was just what I needed for the perfect dark stalker romance.


Advanced Copy Gifted By:
#DAValeria

[Nate Martin]

#ScentOfCrazy by @d.a.valerian.author
Y'all..if you want unhinged stalker dynamics, sleuthing, knife play, sex craze, revenge motives, and oh. Did I say sex craze???

Read 👏 This 👏 NOW!

The pacing is there, the spice is heavy 🥵

Summer is out for revenge against those who killed her family..she sets her sights on Atlas. A connection to the mastermind of her family's unaliving.

She reels him in...but all of a sudden she's reeling for him. The back and forth banter, the dark playfulness between these two is unparalleled. They see each other's fucked up flaws and accept them.

Can Summer continue her revenge plot if it involves Atlas and hurting him?

Every chapter had me begging for more (not unlike our two main characters).

Atlas's friend group is just as nutty and protective as he is.
The found family dynamic has ball-busting humor and they're all ready to jump into action if any of them are in trouble.

This was a great change of pace for me, and I can't wait to see what kind of hijinks our characters get up to next!

[Marija Unkind]

I was entertained through the whole book. I really enjoyed the story about two crazy young people who matched each other so well. Their dynamic was fun to follow.

At times it felt a little juvenile and the story stayed a bit too surface level. I found myself wanting more depth, both in the characters and their relationship, because I think it would have made me connect with everything on a much stronger level.

That said, I still had a really good time reading it. It was an enjoyable, easy read and the side characters were wonderful. I honestly wouldn’t mind reading more about some of them in the future.

Thank you to D.A. Valerian and Grey’s Promotions for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.

[Zandra Lindsjö]

3,5 -3,75⭐️

Both FMC and MMC are crazy, I love their chemistry and how they challenge each other. I laugh more than once 😂 I liked the dark humor
The ending was good, BUT I wished that we would had gotten little more plot/background story earlier in the book. Because the beginning was fun but like I said it lacked a little bit.

Due to great chemistry between the characters, funny clap backs you did wanted to keep reading but the ending was better than I expected.

But to be the first book for the author it’s good

I will definitely read book 2

[Melissa Sleeman]

Ugh I need book 2 NOW! I was addicted and didn't want it to end. It kind of gave me Butcher and Blackbird vibes? 🙃 Idk could be just me. The banter throughout was excellent and the spice was 🌶🌶🌶

Dark humor ✅️
Tension ✅️
An unhinged romance ✅️

If this outstanding debut is any indication, D. A. Valerian has an exciting career ahead of her!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Courtney Louise]

Im a bit late with my arc review due to circumstances and it took me a while to read due to this . But this book was really good the latness of the review and time length of this book had nothing to do with the book its self

. It's a dark Ron com and personally i loved it . The fmc was fiesty and fierce and a great fmc . The MMC you cant help but fall for him . There was a few things in the book which made me not rate it 5 stars .with out giving spoilers i feel like some parts were brushed aside which I think was needed in the book and the ending I wanted the FMC to finish a certain character as i felt like it was needed.

All in all this book is great , it makes you feel all the emotions and has you eating the chapters up

[Jackie]

ARC review: 2 crazies being crazy together, what more could you ask for?

[Jacelynn]

I tore this book up! Loved 98% of it!

[Christy]

I’m going to need book 2 asap! This is a series starter right?

[Rinrin10]

What the circus did I just read? Strange writing style. But also entertaining. Author really likes exclamation marks. I liked that the FMC gave it back as good as she got. She was actually “not like the other girls”.

[Yas]

why does every sentence end in an exclamation mark?? is everyone just shouting in this book like i don’t understand

[Nell]

I like the premise more than the execution. Not everything needs a !

[Toy]

❤️‍🔥 The Scent of Crazy: Red Flags Book 1 by D.A. Valerian Book review❤️‍🔥


❤️‍🔥 CHILLS. ABSOLUTE CHILLS. ❤️‍🔥

Move over, seasoned charts-toppers—there is a new queen of dark romance on the scene! For a debut novel, The Scent of Crazy (Red Flags Book 1) by D.A. Valerian doesn’t just walk into the genre; it burns the whole house down and builds a throne on the ashes. 👑🔥 If you love your romance pitch-black, intoxicating, and utterly unhinged, eeny, meeny, miny, moe...this is a tantalizing book for shore! ✨

😴I started in the evening and read until 7am, while drinking coffee off and on. I could not put “The Scent of Crazy” down even when my finger cramped from swiping pages. I mean, how many people can say they had to call out of work sick because they were up all night reading. It’s that good! 😴

🚨 THE DISCLAIMER IS WILD 🚨

Can we just pause and talk about that content warning?! Going in, I was a little nervous. But then that deliciously twisted, dark romance-loving part of my brain took over and whispered, “Hell yeah, let’s do this!” 😈 From page one, I was completely snared. What makes D.A. Valerian a master-tier storyteller right out of the gate is that the intense themes aren't just there for shock value; every single boundary-pushing reference is eloquently executed and fits the narrative flawlessly. 💯



🎵 THE AUDIO ATMOSPHERE IS A MUST 🎵

Do yourself a massive favor: download the playlist before you start! 📲 I manually added every single track to my library so it was queued up and ready to go. Reading while wrapped in that specific, curated musical vibe creates an incredibly hypnotic, immersive audio atmosphere. It completely entrances you from the very first note! If you’re interested you can do it too with any music streaming service and/or free on YouTube 🎶🙌



👑 THE POV GAME: TIT FOR TAT 👑
Nothing satisfies a reader more than getting deep inside the minds of both characters. Valerian gives us a flawless, alternating dual POV format—going chapter-for-chapter between Summer/Maeve and Atlas. The tension? Electric. ⚡ The dynamic? Absolute fire. 🔥




👥 CHARACTER BREAKDOWN 👥


• Summer / Maeve 💎
o The Vibe: The ultimate “I’d rather die than tap out” heroine.
o The Verdict: Forged in steel with an iron will, she is a survivor who does not need a protector. Her dark past haunts her, serving as her ultimate driving force as she steps onto the campus of Veridian University seeking revenge. 🎓🖤



• Atlas Holt ⛓️
o The Vibe: The quintessential possessive, alphahole bad boy dialed up to a solid 100/10.
o The Verdict: He takes your typical criminal mafioso archetype and cranks the obsession to the absolute maximum. Once his sights are locked on Summer, her plotting and scheming don't stand a chance. He will own her. 🐺🖤


• The Sinful Inner Circle 🤫
o Dean Malik: The sole heir to a ruthless blood diamond empire. 💎
o Lincoln Cavanagh: A lethal hacker who is entirely consumed by a girl named Raven. 💻
o Connor & Carter Heyes: The twin playboys of the group who are maxed out on charm and trouble. 👥


• Raven 💥
o Summer’s fierce best friend. Even though they only cross paths briefly a couple of times due to the sheer chaos in their lives, her side arc is tantalizing! It heavily hints that she and Lincoln are either getting their own standalone or taking over major real estate in Book 2. I need it now! 🔎



⛓️ EVERYTHING YOU PROMISED & MORE ⛓️
This twisted tale delivers on every single promise with absolute perfection:

• Darkness bleeding through the pages ✅
• Morally corrupt characters ✅
• Psycho, crazy killers & and infatuated stalkers ✅
• Evil villains & explicit violence ✅
• Scintillating sex, blood, and sweet revenge ✅




📚 THE BRILLIANCE IS IN THE DETAILS 📚

• The Vocabulary: Huge kudos to the author for sprinkling in gorgeous, sophisticated vocabulary words! It never felt pretentious; instead, it completely elevated the prose. I absolutely love when a book challenges me to look up a word. It’s an elite experience for us readers! 🧠✨

• The Pizza Upgrade: Side note... I will literally never call it "four-cheese pizza" again. It is officially Pizza Quattro Formaggi (Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Fontina, Parmesan) for the win! 🍕🇮🇹


🏁 THE VERDICT: 5/5 RED FLAGS 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

The book wraps up on a mild cliffhanger. While you won't be dying of cardiac arrest waiting for the next drop, the anticipation is so real. We are definitely going to need Raven’s POV next, and I am already front row, center, waiting for the sequel.


If you want a debut that reads like a veteran dark-romance masterpiece, ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR IMMEDIATELY! 🖤✍️

[Lisa]

“Proceed with curiosity…and caution.” {D.A. Valerian}

Well holy shit! I just felt like I was on a rollercoaster straight out of a psychopaths mind! But like a really hilarious, unhinged and deranged psychopath! I fucking LOVED these characters, this story! Give me all of the absolute batshit crazy dialogue and interactions—because I was dying of laughter, my heart was racing but also SWOONING. Does that mean I’m crazy?! Most likely. I won’t deny it. Nor am I ashamed.

This story had me ENTRAPPED from the very first page. This book didn’t just meet my expectations—it devoured them. Summer is, without a doubt, an absolute chaotic, meticulous, fierce and unpredictable woman. But she’s also breathtaking, hilarious and determined—and she will do whatever it takes to get revenge for her family. That includes vetting and getting close to the son of the culprit. Atlas Holt, a man that you wouldn’t dare cross, is almost (just almost) as unhinged as Summer. His thoughts and his actions are manic. He sets his sights on Summer and realizes she’s not as innocent as she looks. That they are the same—disturbed, demented, feral and their actions are fueled by the past. And he will stop at nothing to make her “his”.

I CANNOT get over these two. The amount of times I was crying from laughter, blushing and processing their absolute unhinged behavior is obsessive. The back and forth between them was flawless and that dynamic has me loving the story and characters even more. They matched each other’s energy and seeing who could out-do the other was incredibly entertaining and satisfying. When the not-so-normal romance happened—it was everything. None of it was conventional, it was madness, but for them, it worked. And when that spice finally hit—IT HIT HARD. Don’t let that fool you though, the growth between the two was incredible. Not only do we continue to see their psychotic tendencies, but we see the kindness, compassion, respect and love that they keep buried deep down inside. It had my heart exploding with pure, unadulterated tenderness. I am absolutely obsessed with these two and I’m perfectly happy with them living rent free in my mind.

The supporting characters throughout, you couldn’t help but love and hate them at the same time. Atlas’ friends (Dean, Carter, Connor, Link) brought even more craziness and it made me even more intrigued. Each one had made their way into my heart and I truly hope in the future we get more of them. I’m so curious about all of them and how they got to where they are—and where they end up. Summer’s friend Raven, even though we only saw a little bit of her, I knew I was going to adore her.

The plot throughout was intense, unique and even touching at times. It had me in a chokehold. The way it continued to get better and better, page after page—I couldn’t stop. I simply just didn’t want to stop reading, nor did I want it to end. I could continue reading about these characters forever. There’s just something about the craziness of them that keeps me wanting more—and thankfully, I’ll get it. D.A. Valerian is gracing us with another story from a couple of the characters and I cannot wait to read it. I’m absolutely getting my hands on a physical copy for a shelf trophy. It deserves to be displayed like the masterpiece it is.

I cannot thank D.A. Valerian and Grey’s Promotions enough for allowing me to read a copy early.

Mind you, when I love a book, I have A LOT of highlights. And by a lot—I mean 268–and that’s with restraint. I have no regrets.

[Tracy Kemp]

I have never love two completely unhinged characters more than these two. I would rate this book 20 stars if I could.


Some books entertain you. Some books consume you. And then there are the ones that drag you into absolute chaos, make you laugh until you can't breathe, rip your heart out just enough to keep you addicted, and leave you staring at the final page wondering how you're supposed to survive until the sequel. This was that book.
From page one, I was completely hooked. The writing is effortlessly sharp, the banter is wickedly funny, the chemistry is electric, and every chapter somehow pulls you deeper into the madness. It's dark, hilarious, romantic, and completely impossible to put down.
Atlas and Summer are walking disasters in the most beautiful way imaginable.
Atlas? Consider my heart officially stolen. This man is dangerously attractive, hopelessly obsessed, morally questionable, and waving every red flag like it's a victory parade... yet somehow he still radiates golden retriever energy. Watching him fall harder every time Summer revealed another piece of her beautifully chaotic soul was honestly one of my favourite parts of the entire book. He's protective, completely gone for her, and absolutely delusional in the best possible way.
And Summer? She's everything. Fierce, resilient, vulnerable, chaotic, sarcastic, and unapologetically herself. She refuses to shrink for anyone, and that's exactly what makes her so compelling. She's the kind of heroine who makes reckless decisions, owns every one of them, and somehow makes you cheer her on anyway.
Together, they're pure anarchy.
Their relationship never relies on unnecessary toxicity to create tension. Instead, it's built on relentless teasing, razor-sharp banter, mutual chaos, and an undeniable connection that makes every interaction feel alive. They challenge each other, drive each other insane, and somehow fit together like two beautifully broken puzzle pieces.
Can we talk about the humour for a second? Because I genuinely laughed from beginning to end. Summer's very first strike against Atlas had me absolutely wheezing, and somehow the comedy never took away from the darker moments—it made them hit even harder. The balance between humour, romance, and emotional depth is executed so well that every scene feels effortless.
The spice sits comfortably around 🌶️ 3.5/5, but what I loved most is that it actually serves the story. It's passionate, playful, emotional, filthy when it needs to be, and perfectly reflects who Atlas and Summer are. It never feels forced—it simply deepens their connection.
Beneath all the flirting, chaos, and sizzling chemistry is a darker thread that kept me completely invested: the mystery surrounding Summer's family's murder and her relentless pursuit of revenge. While romance remains the heart of the story, the suspense adds just enough danger to keep you constantly turning the pages... and that cliffhanger? Absolutely criminal.
This book gave me everything I wanted: dark romance, addictive banter, laugh-out-loud moments, emotional depth, obsessive love, mystery, and two gloriously unhinged characters I never wanted to leave.
⭐ Rating: 5/5 🖤 If your favourite love language is "touch her and you'll disappear," morally grey men with puppy-dog devotion, chaotic heroines, razor-sharp banter, dark secrets, and couples who match each other's madness perfectly... prepare to become completely obsessed.

[Shelby]

The Scent of Crazy by D. A. Valerian
Book 1 in the Red Flags Series
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars

What to Expect:
Revenge Plot
Mutual Stalking
Both Are Morally Gray
Secret Identity
Organized Crime
He Falls First
Dark Humor

ARC Review
This book is unhinged in the best way possible.

From the very beginning, you know you’re not getting a typical romance, and it delivers on that promise. Summer and Atlas are both chaotic, dangerous, and completely morally gray, which made their dynamic so damn good. The mutual stalking, the tension, the twisted games…. I ate it up!

One of my favourite things about the book was the banter. It’s genuinely funny, and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Their back-and-forth felt natural and unhinged at the same time, in a way that fits their personalities perfectly.

Summer
Her grief over her twin’s death is so powerful that it hits you right in your chest. Struggling to look at herself because she sees himself in her made me break a little. It honestly hit a bit close to home. When my mom passed, people had a hard time looking at me because I look just like her, so I can understand the emotional toll that takes on a person, and I could resonate with Summer in that moment. The bond she describes, how losing him feels like losing half of herself, adds an emotional toll to her story. It’s not just her revenge; it’s love, loss, and a grief that never truly heals.

Atlas
He’s possessive, intense, slightly unhinged (okay, very unhinged), but what I loved was how quickly he became gone for her. The “he falls first” trope is STRONG here, and watching him go from control to complete obsession was very entertaining.

Link
I needed to shout Link out; he quickly became one of my favourite characters. He stood out to me because he’s someone who actually tried to be the voice of reason and protect Summer in his own way, which added an interesting layer to the group dynamic.

Overall
Dark, chaotic, and completely addictive–this book had me hooked from start to finish. The mix of twisted romance, emotional depth, and unhinged characters made it impossible to put down. If you love morally gray characters, tension, and a little bit of “this is so wrong, but I’m obsessed,” this one absolutely delivers.

I’m 100% continuing this series, and I can’t wait for the next book.


Quotes:

"Fuck... She's the kind of woman wars get started over."

"Death only likes to bang me, but it never keeps me."

"Where others see your destructive side, I recognize a woman strong enough to fight for what she wants, not letting anyone push her around. You are a force of nature nothing compares to. Don't let anyone tell you the darkness you possess is something bad. It's the best part of you. A unique kind of darkness that brings light to me every time I think of you."

“Choke on your blood as I choked on my tears.”

“But the bottom line is, you took my brother from me, and for that… I’ll drown your fucking world in blood.”

[Elif Hazar]

ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴄʀᴀᴢʏ || ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ

“𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻, 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓼𝓱𝓮’𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱.”

✨4/5
🌶️4/5

Summer, “THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE.” I’m absolutely smitten with you,
Too bad for you.Death only likes to bang me, but it never keeps me.
My girl – your plan for revenge and the way you’re playing with Atlas like a dog. Oh, and Atlas, my darling, thinks he’s the one luring Summer into his own game. Little does he know, the game’s already been set up.

𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴.

Atlas uses one to summon Summer to the bar and, whilst intent on killing anyone who approaches her, slips up behind his girl and joins her in her dance—but he’s so taken with Summer that he’s going mad for her skin, especially those lips of hers. He’s literally writhing with the urge to kiss her. “I want to kiss the creature in my possession more than I’ve ever wanted a fuck.” And of course, he can’t resist – but it’s not just his inability to resist; Summer’s response makes for such a kiss that, oh my God. The bar – and we – are ablaze.

𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑟…
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚.

𝑆ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒…
𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜 𝑔𝑜𝑑𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟.𝐻𝑒’𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦. 𝐵𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠.

Summer’s love for her brother and the path of vengeance she has embarked upon for his sake move me so deeply; it is the sweetest bond of sibling love in the world. She has even given up on herself for his sake. Clinging to her dreams, even though it causes her pain, just to see Milo…

“𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.”
𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

My goodness, what a scene it was when Atlas walked into Summer’s room and tied her up. Even though Summer was captivated by Atlas and his skilful hands and lips, she acted as if she hated him, yet Atlas, realising just how much he relished her faintest moans and every little expression, carried on teasing her.

“𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒.”
“𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒.”
“𝐼 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝐺𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝐺𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒.”“𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑝 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒.”
“𝑀𝑦 𝑝𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑂𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟.”
“𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑂𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝑆𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑐ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑.”

And then there’s Summer’s revenge scene!! Girl, you’re brilliant. Just look at Atlas, left standing there begging you. She toyed with him so much that Atlas—who thought he was the big bad wolf—ended up as nothing more than a puppy at Summer’s feet. A puppy, at that, desperate for Summer and the slightest touch from her.

“𝐼’𝑚 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑑𝑜𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠ℎ, 𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑗𝑒𝑟𝑘 𝑜𝑓𝑓, 𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑚𝑒…”

🔥Dark Romance
💥Possessive MMC
😜Dark Humor
🖇️Forced Proximity

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance)]

Pure chaos with a scent of crazy. 😏 I loved the game of cat and mouse, but which character is the cat and which is the mouse? Honestly it depended on who had the upper hand at any given time because it was always switching and that was the attraction that kept me reading this book. 

Summer Night was formally known as Maeve, lost everything and now has a new name given by...witness protection, FBI, CIA...honestly, I wasn't entirely sure, but she had someone on the inside who had not only helped her change her identity, but had helped her chase down the information to seek vengeance on Mason Holt and his crime enterprise. The man who was responsible for taking away her former life and family. Summer is doing this through Atlas Holt, Mason's son, by driving him mad with her demon ways. At least according to Atlas.😏

Atlas is transfixed by Summer. He can't stop thinking about her from the first moment he meets her and that isn't like Atlas at all. Summer has him wrapped around her little finger, but in a dangerous game of who will survive to see the next day. She isn't like any woman he knows and that is all part of her allure. He can't stay away and that's exactly what she's counting on.😏

This book is unhinged, chaotic and yet compassionate in all of the best ways, especially when the moment calls for it. Both Summer and Atlas are what I would deem burnt black marshmallows and only for each other. Their craziness was a total draw for the other and the more they let their insanity out the more their chemistry levels rose. The dark crazy cycle continues until it was inevitable for them to be consumed by each other in a vortex of passion. That part of the story was completely addictive and I was there for it.

I will admit, the rest of the plot I was much more hazy on, but it didn't exactly stop my reading. I loved Summer and Atlas as a total red-flagged couple because his crazy matched hers and vice versa. While the book began as a game of vengeance, somewhere along the way Summer's views shifted and the man she was watching, the in she thought she needed to use to get her revenge, suddenly began to slip away. It's crazy, goes beyond the gray, and was quite the wild ride. As a dark romance, a total yes!!

While I appreciated the rest of the plot that the author was trying to weave into the book, multiple times the pacing felt a bit uneven and that could simply be due to this being a debut novel. I still enjoyed this couple and their intense chemistry, especially their off-the-wall banter. Atlas' inner thoughts constantly made me chuckle and I'm always a sucker for a dark hero that has a sense of humor. So overall, this was a solid 4.5 star read.

[Jennifer English]

Do you ever go into a book, knowing its red flag city? Like, not 1 or 2 but like, a whole field of them? Yeah, that was this book. I knew it was not going to be a light read, I knew there were going to be red flags. I just didn't know I would enjoy the red flags, just like our main characters, heck, even side characters do. Please, please, check the trigger warning before reading this book.

Summer is on a vengeance quest. Atlas is her target. Well, the target to help her get to her real targets. She stalks, I mean, watches him for a good while to learn what it is he like but also what will keep his attention. She even breaks into his room while he sleeps at night. Then she puts her plan in motion. And Atlas doesnt know what hit him.

He thinks he's perusing her, not knowing that she's made herself be the thing that he wants. Except, her true side keeps peeking through and thats the side that he's desperate for. I cannot even begin to list the things that he did that were major red flags, that would make any sane person run the other way. The things he does, the things he says, the way he treats her - just think of the dude running in the video with the massive red flag. Yeah, thats Atlas. Except, Summer is a bit that herself, so it only makes sense that they're explosive together.

His friends, that he considers his brothers, knows that theres more to her than what she shows, they try to tell Atlas, but he doesn't care. He knows she's hiding things and he's ok with it. As long as they end up together, he just does not care. When her back story comes fully to light, my heart absolutely breaks for her. I know this is a book but I also know things like that happen in real life, and it just isn't right. Thankfully, Atlas and his friends agree. Even if they still dont know everything, they want to help. When it all comes to a head, each of the guys try to protect Summer in their own way, but by now they should know she can handle herself. And she does, so spectacularly.

Oh! Y'all, the spice between 2 walking red flags is out of this world. Like straight up 🥵🥵🥵 I didn't want y'all to think there was none of that, because theres a lot more then you would expect in a vengeance quest story.

I think this is going to be one of those stories that will stay with me, like makes me think back on it, over the years. I read a lot, so a lot of stories kinda blend together. But there's a few, like this one, that stand out, that I'm going to have no trouble remembering, because it was written so well, and it was so good, not just the bad but the good as well.

Thank you so much Grey's Promotions for allowing me to ARC read this! It was definitely one of the stand out books for 2026!

[Amanda]

The Scent of Crazy by DA Valerian was one of those books I genuinely couldn’t put down. Deliciously unhinged, wonderfully chaotic, and packed with top-tier banter, this book had me thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Atlas and Summer, particularly the back-and-forth and just how far their ‘paybacks’ were willing to go. The power dynamic constantly shifting between them–especially throughout the scenes involving restraints–was incredibly well done. There was always this delicious sense of wondering who was actually going to come out on top.

I also really enjoyed the exploration of being chosen for who you actually are rather than the version of yourself you present to the world. Summer in particular feels like the unhinged, feral internal voice that so many of us probably have tucked away somewhere–and thankfully, most of us don’t let her out to play quite like she does. There are definitely not enough Atlases for all of us!

The found family dynamic was another highlight. Everyone is fucked up in their own way, and watching that group develop a deeper understanding and respect for one another was fantastic. The game of never have I ever in particular revealed so much about the characters while leaving me desperately wanting the full stories behind each of the answers.

I also appreciated the way healing was portrayed as a nonlinear journey. Different characters are at different points in their own healing, and the story does a great job showing that growth and the way we process trauma can change as we ourselves change and grow.

There were also a few things about Dean specifically that I picked up on throughout the story that have my brain firmly in conspiracy-theory mode. I have absolutely no idea whether those observations will factor into what comes next but I’ll certainly be paying attention.

I also want to give the author a huge amount of credit for the transparency around the trigger warnings, particularly regarding animal harm. That is something I personally struggle with far more than almost anything involving human characters, so knowing what to expect made a significant difference to my decision to read the book. I thought that portion of the story was handled thoughtfully and was impactful without unnecessarily dwelling on it.

Overall The Scent of Crazy delivered exactly the kind of dark, chaotic, twisted romance I was hoping for, while still giving its characters emotional depth and room to grow. I’m absolutely ready for the next book!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book, and for their patience and understanding with my delayed review due to personal circumstances.