Whisperbound

Hallow Fest

by Agnes Henbane

Two married serial killers. One night of murderous fun. Welcome to Hallow Fest.

Ophelia

It’s been nearly ten years since the night the voices found me. They crowd my head, telling me who to kill. I know I can’t always act on them, but ignoring them isn’t a solution either. That’s why Rian created Hallow Fest, a way to satiate the urges in a controlled and safe environment. For years, it worked. For years, it was my favorite night of the year.

This year, something's different; the voices won’t go away. They keep asking for more and more, they won’t let me stop and I don’t know how to quiet them. For the first time, I’m scared they’ll make me do something I won’t ever be able to come back from.

Rian

Loving Lia isn’t for the faint of heart. The voices in her head tell her to kill, and she needs to feed them to retain some semblance of peace. Organizing a yearly Halloween event is my way of helping her do that, of making her believe I’m serious when I say I’ll help her keep the voices happy. Because I want to keep her happy. More than anything.

However, this year, something feels different. She’s struggling to control them more than ever, and I’m struggling to keep my anger at bay. I can’t stand to see her suffer, and I would do anything to make sure she’s safe. But the rage simmering under my skin leaves me desperate for some murderous fun of my own.

Whisperbound is an erotic horror novel intended for mature readers. Please check trigger warnings before reading.
This book does not have a HEA.

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 31, 2026

About the author

Agnes Henbane is a writer of dark paranormal romance and dark romance, writing about morally gray heroes and heroines.

She collects special edition books, reads more than she writes and is a little bit of a tea snob, but won’t say no to a delicious cup of coffee either.
Born and raised in Belgium, English isn’t her first language but to her it’s the only language that books speak.

Reviews

[Nic · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

This was an ARC copy I received from Love Notes PR. Thank you to them and the author.

I loved that our main two characters are already married. You don’t see that often and it set a dynamic which I enjoyed. The fact the husband threw a massive Halloween party so his wife could kill was repeated a little bit too much.. for my liking.


Rian is great! He’s everything you wanted in a mmc that is only for his girl Lia. But my girl Ophelia is a complex women and the voices she hears that makes her want to murder were written so great!

Overall it didn’t leave me wanting more sadly but I loved the idea of this book and the writing in it!

[Jes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this book before release day!

Add to your TBR if you love:
- erotic horror
- no HEA (it's okay, I like the pain too)
- unhinged and unredeemable MCs
- spooky Halloween vibes

Unhinged isn't even the word for this read! The spice and gore were the true main characters, and I wasn't sad about it. Our MCs, Rian and Ophelia, are already married and they host an event on Halloween to satiate their dark and impulsive thoughts. I mean, they are straight up filthy. I was not prepared for the ending and I love a good non-HEA.

[Erica * IG: DIVACANREAD * · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark. Disturbing. Spicey. Fun.

Ophelia and Rian are very much in love. They have lots in common, one think being they are both murderers. Their love story is unique, dark, disturbing, and oh so fun. During their yearly Halloween celebration, things take a turn. Somone from Ophelia's past threatens to ruin what they have. And Ophelia must face the fact that her thoughts and feelings for her husband may go past love......

Check your TW and buckle up for a wild ride!

[Ash Powell · Rating 2.25 out of 5]

This was an ARC copy I received from Love Notes PR.

My favorite thing about this book was that the two main characters were already happily married. The idea of the book was cool, I really liked the mmc Rian, and the spicey scenes were hot, but overall the book didn’t leave me wanting more.

Rian is a deeply flawed, sexy, morally gray protagonist with only a soft spot for Lia. Ophelia is a loving wife with a traumatic past who also happens to hear voices in her head that tell her to murder. To assuage the voices in his wife’s head, Rian puts together a massive, complex Halloween event every year that is a front for serial killers to get together and kill people in secret. It’s a cool premise, but- the people who work there just clean it up for them? No one ever reports these people missing?

Rian and Ophelia kill someone and then have sex over the dead body not once, but three times. There was a lot of repetition in the book overall.

I personally did not like the ending of the book AT ALL, but I can see how others would, and overall it did make the story stand apart from other dark romances.

[Samantha Strecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does not end in a HEA, which I’ve realized is not for me as a constant go to read and that’s okay! If this is something you do regularly enjoy, you’ll love this story!! It’s horror/erotica + coupled serial killers + revenge plot + Halloween vibes + obsessed MMC + crazed FMC

A fun short read perfect for spooky season

Hallow Fest is a serial killers playground.
This book follows Rian and Lia, serial killers who try their best to ease their own darkness. Rian is absolutely obsessed and devoured to his wife, only shares emotions with her. Lia struggles with the voices in her head, the ones demanding kill after kill.
I enjoyed that this book started out with the main character already together. That was new for me! Creators of this haunt/event, they get ready for the night that’ll lead to them finally silencing the voices in Lia’s mind.

[Stacey Fitzpatrick · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Its dark and disturbing wrapped up in a unhinged love story 🖤

For a short story it certainly gives you all you need for a good time.

Rian and Ophelia are the stars of the show, married, in love and have a million things in common, the most obvious being that they are both into murder…totally the character trait you swipe right for 👀

To enable their murderous was they throw a Halloween event so they can embrace their darkness and carry out all their dark and impulsive thoughts. It’s completely unhinged, intense, gory and perfect for the spooky season.

This is your next read if you’re into:
🖤 erotic horror
🖤 non HEA ….it’s worth it
🖤super unhinged MC’s that can not be saved
🖤spooky season reading

A huge thank you to Agnes Henbane the author and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review Whisperbound before release day!

[Elise A · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I really loved the story of this book. I was a little hesitant because there was no HEA (warned beforehand) and I have to mentally prepare for that usually but I was ok with the end (I’d say more of a partial HEA instead of none tbh)

These two psychos are absolutely off their rocker and yet they are so likable. You actually truly feel bad that Lia’s voices are getting out of control and hope her next kill makes them go away. You WANT her to kill 😂 And Rian just wants her to be ok and will burn (no pun intended) the world down for her.

There were a couple twists which I appreciated. The only reason it’s a 4 star is the typos actually but it’s hard to edit perfectly as an indie author. The story was great. I wish I could have known a little more about the characters’ pasta though.

[Hannah Inglis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recieved as an ARC from LoveNotes PR.

I was drawn in from page one, from the very first sentence. I found it a really fast easy read, fast paced & kept you hooked throughout.

Dark themes as expected, and as stated, a book i would for sure reccomend to dark romance readers.

I loved the twists in the book, however i did on occasion find Lia's mention of hearing voices repetative, but understand this is needed for the plot.

I overall really enjoyed and would be interested in reading further in the series.

Thank you for the opportunity.

[Heather · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I received this as an arc. I was pumped to receive a non-HEA and a horror romance. The horror was there. The spice WITH the horror *chef’s kiss*. Exactly what I want to see when I hear sexy horror lol. The MCs are perfect for each other and their levels of crazy help balance the other out. I would love to see more of their backstory! The only reason why I took away 0.5 star is because the ending didn’t necessarily leave me completely heartbroken. Don’t get me wrong it’s a non-HEA, but like, a happy one?? I know that makes no sense but it will when you read it, which you totally should.

[Crystal Knott · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Whisperbound was a great read! Having both horror and smut elements mixed perfectly and the characters were wickedly brilliant. And I loved Rians soft nature towards Lia and how he continues to want to the best for her throughout the book.

The books follows Rian and Lia, a serial killer couple, who hide their festivities in a Halloween fest (the most perfect disguise). Lia needs the killings to satisfy the voices in her head. However this time they are not satisfied and she is unsure what to do… until she does, in the most heartbreaking way possible.

[Jennifer · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

This is a quick read about two flawed people who are deeply in love. Ophelia hears voices that tell her who to kill, and Rian created Hallow Fest, an annual Halloween event, as a controlled way for her to satisfy those urges. Their story of how they met is unique, and I really liked the setting and premise. Murderous fun on Halloween night is a fresh hook.

Rian was the standout for me. The way he cared for Lia and protected her, even while struggling with his own rage, was really great.

Check the trigger warnings before you start. Expect love, but not a happily ever after.

[Monica D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moni’s lil’ spoiler free thoughts:
Whisperbound by Agnes Henbane
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Thoughts: A quick little horror erotica perfect for this spooky season. Lia and Rian had such a complicated love. I really felt for both of them. Even if there actions were wild.
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Key points: Unhinged couple activities. Erotic horror with a not so happy ending.
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Recommend?: Yes, but check your triggers.
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Thank you to Agnes Henbane and the Love Notes PR team for this ARC.

[Lindsey Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a miss for me and I almost stopped reading after the first chapter. I don’t mind gore and spice in the books that I read but when the gore is what leads to the spice.. that’s a pass for me. If the gore and spice were independent of one another then I probably would have given a higher rating.

What in the world did I just read? The idea of this book can be loosely compared to Butcher & Blackbird or Havoc & Holly but taken to an entire different level of gore plus spiciness.

I liked the concept of the voices in Lia’s head and the need to appeal to them. I thought that made for a good storyline but I did not like the ending. I know it says there is no HEA but I was hoping it would end differently then it did.

if you're okay with k*lling being the catalyst to the spice then maybe this book will sit better with you then it did with me. But tread lightly and make sure you read all of the trigger warnings before diving in -- though the i don't think the warnings prepare you for everything.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a unique plot to have a married couple in an erotic horror novella! I was intrigued by how complex Ophehlia was in the story. Both characters had problems they had and it couldn’t be solved.

I received a free advance copy of this book from the author.

[Mariana Barbosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Agnes and Love Notes PR for sending me this ARC 🫶🏻
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I am processing what I just finished reading.... What the fuck was that ending? 😭
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The reading is super quick, easy and addictive - also the plot twists were just amazing 👀

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This couple is wonderful. He helps her urges by throwing a cover up party. They are both unhinged and it leads to some disturbing spicy scenes.

Thank you Agnes Henbane for the free copy and this is my free review

[Taylor Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review -
Fun Halloween read! I knew going into this that it was no HEA but i still held onto hope that it would be 😭 Lia & Rian caught my attention right from the start and held onto it the entire story.