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Chastain Castle #1
Condemned
Book one in the Chastain Castle trilogy.
When Julian moves to rural Oregon to become the new attendant of a rich family, he's under the impression that life will get easier. But as he meets Atlas, the young master of the estate, he realizes that instead of the simple, he will now be facing an unprecedented lust and attraction too great to bear, as well as the man's cryptic condition that he must ignore.
As Atlas dutifully awaits the cure that was prophesied months after his eighteenth birthday, his family hires a few new employees---one of whom is a man so beautiful that his condition can't help but react to him. And if battling the guilt of his desires wasn't already hard enough, now he's being forced to encounter Julian and the way he craves him so intensely almost daily.
Will the two men survive one another and their unstoppable attraction? If they allow their walls to lower and their hearts to reach out, will Julian still want Atlas after learning the truth?
After all, who could love a condemned man?
A mature, paranormal M/M romance with an HEA guaranteed.
TW's: mentions of death and drowning, supernatural and religious themes, attempted sacrifice/suicide, dark magic, and explicit content such as graphic depictions of intercourse between two men, rough sex, non-consensual (non-con) paranormal sexual activity with enjoyment (not between the two male leads), forced pleasure, and mild choking.
When Julian moves to rural Oregon to become the new attendant of a rich family, he's under the impression that life will get easier. But as he meets Atlas, the young master of the estate, he realizes that instead of the simple, he will now be facing an unprecedented lust and attraction too great to bear, as well as the man's cryptic condition that he must ignore.
As Atlas dutifully awaits the cure that was prophesied months after his eighteenth birthday, his family hires a few new employees---one of whom is a man so beautiful that his condition can't help but react to him. And if battling the guilt of his desires wasn't already hard enough, now he's being forced to encounter Julian and the way he craves him so intensely almost daily.
Will the two men survive one another and their unstoppable attraction? If they allow their walls to lower and their hearts to reach out, will Julian still want Atlas after learning the truth?
After all, who could love a condemned man?
A mature, paranormal M/M romance with an HEA guaranteed.
TW's: mentions of death and drowning, supernatural and religious themes, attempted sacrifice/suicide, dark magic, and explicit content such as graphic depictions of intercourse between two men, rough sex, non-consensual (non-con) paranormal sexual activity with enjoyment (not between the two male leads), forced pleasure, and mild choking.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 11, 2026
Did I ever think I'd be this obsessed with a paranormal MM romance featuring demon orgasms? Absolutely not. And yet, here we are, completely consumed.
The pacing is perfection. The spice? 🥵 The tension and angst? I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time.
From the very first page, the tension is immediate. You know something sinister is lurking in that ominous, mysterious castle on the cliff. The writing is so smooth that I felt like I was walking onto this estate myself. The world building is so immersive.
Atlas is such an intriguing, mysterious character. I was coming up with a hundred different theories about what was really going on. Every reveal deepened the mystery and left me with more questions, pulling me further into the book.
And the dynamic between Atlas and Julian was everything. Julian's devotion to Atlas knows no bounds, and his strong need to protect his little bunny had me feeling just as protective over Atlas.
I literally could not put this book down. I had to know how this unhinged mess would resolve itself.
This was my first book I read by this author, and it was absolutely not my last. This book deserves to get all of the hype.
The pacing is perfection. The spice? 🥵 The tension and angst? I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time.
From the very first page, the tension is immediate. You know something sinister is lurking in that ominous, mysterious castle on the cliff. The writing is so smooth that I felt like I was walking onto this estate myself. The world building is so immersive.
Atlas is such an intriguing, mysterious character. I was coming up with a hundred different theories about what was really going on. Every reveal deepened the mystery and left me with more questions, pulling me further into the book.
And the dynamic between Atlas and Julian was everything. Julian's devotion to Atlas knows no bounds, and his strong need to protect his little bunny had me feeling just as protective over Atlas.
I literally could not put this book down. I had to know how this unhinged mess would resolve itself.
This was my first book I read by this author, and it was absolutely not my last. This book deserves to get all of the hype.
July 14, 2026
Okaaaaaaay so that was a hell of a ride!! 🫨
I wasn’t joking, I really couldn’t stop up until 2(3?)am, I somehow read through both the ballistic missile strike AND an annoying mosquito buzzing around my ear 🫠
I don’t even know how to review this without spoiling anything, because honestly - do yourself a favour and go in blind! I was all over the place the first half guessing what the hell was happening with Atlas and how it’s going to unfold! And Julien managed to be both surprisingly dirty and sweet 🤭
“You’re all mine. You’re my sweet little bunny, my darling boy to love on and hold. No one else. Nothing else gets to have you. You hear me?”
It was soooo intriguing, unusual and completely unexpected. Then the pace kicked into another gear near the end, and it turned into a wild emotional rollercoaster. The tension was absolutely insane!
You're in for great spice, an unconventional plot, an incredible atmosphere, powerful characters, and one hell of a grand gesture ❤🔥
And now I'm off to book two💃
I wasn’t joking, I really couldn’t stop up until 2(3?)am, I somehow read through both the ballistic missile strike AND an annoying mosquito buzzing around my ear 🫠
I don’t even know how to review this without spoiling anything, because honestly - do yourself a favour and go in blind! I was all over the place the first half guessing what the hell was happening with Atlas and how it’s going to unfold! And Julien managed to be both surprisingly dirty and sweet 🤭
“You’re all mine. You’re my sweet little bunny, my darling boy to love on and hold. No one else. Nothing else gets to have you. You hear me?”
It was soooo intriguing, unusual and completely unexpected. Then the pace kicked into another gear near the end, and it turned into a wild emotional rollercoaster. The tension was absolutely insane!
You're in for great spice, an unconventional plot, an incredible atmosphere, powerful characters, and one hell of a grand gesture ❤🔥
And now I'm off to book two💃
July 13, 2026
I’m clearly an outlier here. Although the plot was interesting, how am I supposed to believe in this relationship? Julian and Atlas have literally zero conversations where they get to know one another on a deeper level. This relationship is completely based on “I want to fuck you” vibes and Atlas’ condition. That’s it.
Do either of them having any interests? No clue. Does Julian ever mention hopes and dreams for his future? Nope. Are there any interesting conversations where Atlas talks about any of his family members? No. Do we find out anything about Julian’s mom, why she’s not around? Of course not. Do we know about any hardships or past hurts Julian has had in his life? How dare you ask, we must keep him one note at all costs. How do we get through 440 pages with neither MC having any sort of personality or any interesting characteristics, beyond Atlas’ sheer tops and his condition? There’s literally nothing holding these two together outside of sexual preferences. That’s it.
And the interesting plot? It became so repetitive! The lore could have been so much more interesting and in depth. What were those muttered Latin words? And did the solution have to be the most cliché, obvious one? I was hoping the plot would carry this story through to the end, so I could ignore how the relationship was lacking. But nope. That was lacking too.
Do either of them having any interests? No clue. Does Julian ever mention hopes and dreams for his future? Nope. Are there any interesting conversations where Atlas talks about any of his family members? No. Do we find out anything about Julian’s mom, why she’s not around? Of course not. Do we know about any hardships or past hurts Julian has had in his life? How dare you ask, we must keep him one note at all costs. How do we get through 440 pages with neither MC having any sort of personality or any interesting characteristics, beyond Atlas’ sheer tops and his condition? There’s literally nothing holding these two together outside of sexual preferences. That’s it.
And the interesting plot? It became so repetitive! The lore could have been so much more interesting and in depth. What were those muttered Latin words? And did the solution have to be the most cliché, obvious one? I was hoping the plot would carry this story through to the end, so I could ignore how the relationship was lacking. But nope. That was lacking too.
August 20, 2026
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book I couldn’t put down—this one had me hooked from start to finish. The plot was different from anything I’ve read in the MM genre lately, and I thought the paranormal aspect was well executed. This was… interesting indeed.
I’ve also been suffering from a serious smut overdose for months, but with this one? No complaints 🙂↕️ I was devouring every steamy scene. The dirty talk… damn. And then you combine that with Atlas’s sweetness? Yeah, that worked for me.
The romance was such a good mix of sweet and hot, and there was enough of a build-up for it.
Did this book have a few flaws or minor shortcomings? Yeah, I’ll admit it. But did I only notice some of them after reading other people’s reviews? Also yes. So did any of that affect my own reading experience? Not at all. This was definitely a good “vibe read” for me. I was so hooked that I simply didn’t pay much attention to the flaws while reading.
There were also some interesting characters and subplots that leave plenty of questions unanswered and definitely have me curious enough to keep reading the next books in the series.
I’ve also been suffering from a serious smut overdose for months, but with this one? No complaints 🙂↕️ I was devouring every steamy scene. The dirty talk… damn. And then you combine that with Atlas’s sweetness? Yeah, that worked for me.
The romance was such a good mix of sweet and hot, and there was enough of a build-up for it.
Did this book have a few flaws or minor shortcomings? Yeah, I’ll admit it. But did I only notice some of them after reading other people’s reviews? Also yes. So did any of that affect my own reading experience? Not at all. This was definitely a good “vibe read” for me. I was so hooked that I simply didn’t pay much attention to the flaws while reading.
There were also some interesting characters and subplots that leave plenty of questions unanswered and definitely have me curious enough to keep reading the next books in the series.
August 11, 2026
This was not as good as I thought it would be... It was an interesting concept, but I don't think it was particularly well executed. The behavior of the characters often didn't make sense, and it was SO weird how Julian sudden went from shy, sensible cinnamon roll to enthusiastic, kinky dom... It didn't really feel like him anymore.
It wasn't terrible, but I have no desire to read anymore of the series, and I almost wish I hadn't read this one. I had initially given it a 4, but I think it's closer to a 3, actually.
It wasn't terrible, but I have no desire to read anymore of the series, and I almost wish I hadn't read this one. I had initially given it a 4, but I think it's closer to a 3, actually.
July 16, 2026
Wait, so the guy kills himself for their son and in return they give him his job back? What the actual fuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2026
5 ⭐️ I could not put this book down!! When I did inevitably have to pause for a few hours to return to life, I thought there’s no way I’m this obsessed with this story centered around a demon giving one of the MMCs orgasms. Between the castle, Julian, and the beautifully soft descriptions of Atlas, I felt so immersed in this book. Although this book is done, I still have SO MANY questions and can’t wait to read books 2 & 3. Such as - WTF is up with Atticus, and even more so, WTF is up with Landon - my theory is that Landon is a paranormal being but I’m so intrigued of how all their own story lines will play out. I hope we get to see more of Julian and Atlas ❤️🔥
July 12, 2026
THE WAY I STAYED UP ALLLL NIGHT FOR THIS ONE. Started and finished the same day. Stayed up till 2 am to finish. I work at 5 am. Putting this one down was just not an option. So much smut, but imo, was good smut that was super well written and didn’t completely overshadow the plot. It was very dark and DEFINITELY read the triggers, this one most certainly put the dub in dub con.
July 21, 2026
I cant continue this shit. All the characters are dumb and the dumbest of them all is julian. DNF
DONT READ IT
DONT READ IT
August 9, 2026
4.25⭐️
A mysterious and dark paranormal romance! Julian and his father moved to a remote town in order to fulfil a new job, which is to be workers at the enormous and guarded Chastain Castle. There, Julian meets Atlas, a strange young man around his age. When Julian and his father arrive, they’re informed of their duties and told that they are not allowed in the wing, where Atlas resides at night, due to his mysterious illness. As you might imagine, Julian has a hard time staying away, especially because Atlas is beautiful and flirty, and he just needs to know what’s going on with him.
I genuinely think that it’s best to go into this book blind, as it keeps the mysterious air for longer. But if you love, mysterious paranormal MM romance, then you are going to enjoy this one I’m sure.
Overall, I really liked this book, and it did keep me engaged the entire time. I do wish that there was more emotional development between the characters in terms of their relationship, and I do wish that we got to have a little bit more background on the characters.
I found that premise of this book to be the most interesting part, and I’m really curious to read the other books in the series. This book definitely caught my attention and I am definitely jumping right into the next book.
I suggest not reading any further if you don’t want any spoilers, but I would like to share some of my thoughts, and I will add some content warnings for those who feel that they need them before jumping into a darker paranormal story.
~~~~
(Spoilers! + thoughts about the plot)
This book has:
-a mysterious castle with an even more mysterious young man locked away in his wing
-paranormal elements (incubus demon who is attached to and feeds off of MC non-consensually)
-religious themes
-sacrifice and unconditional love
-sneaking around and forbidden relationship
(Young master / basically his servant)
-TW for suicide
I think that the whole idea of having an evil sex demon that is attached to one of the main characters in a creepy castle is honestly such a cool idea. I feel like the execution could’ve been a little bit more polished, and some of the themes could’ve been explored a little bit more deeply. However, I think the overall plot was very successful, and I was entertained the entire time.
Of course, the whole “love is the answer” vibe that we had at the end was a little bit corny but still interesting. I also found that having the parents around all the time and also the little sister was a little bit weird and made the characters seem like they were younger than they were, even though they were supposed to be in their 20s.
I did also notice a couple of times where it seemed like words were used that were slightly incorrect and sounded like words that would have been more correct in that context, which makes me believe that maybe this book could’ve used one more editor to look at it. For example obsessive/excessive and fears/tears. It was still not that bad, but it was noticeable as a reader.
This book also had great set up for the other two books in the series, and I’m really curious to see what’s going to happen in book 2 with Atlas‘s brother. We’ve already kind of established that he knows the love interest and has some animosity towards him. I think this will be refreshing since Julian and Atlas definitely just immediately loved each other, even without really getting to know each other in this book.
OK, I didn’t mean for this to be so long but obviously I enjoyed this book and loved yapping about it so I do recommend it for sure and I hope that you go in blind!
A mysterious and dark paranormal romance! Julian and his father moved to a remote town in order to fulfil a new job, which is to be workers at the enormous and guarded Chastain Castle. There, Julian meets Atlas, a strange young man around his age. When Julian and his father arrive, they’re informed of their duties and told that they are not allowed in the wing, where Atlas resides at night, due to his mysterious illness. As you might imagine, Julian has a hard time staying away, especially because Atlas is beautiful and flirty, and he just needs to know what’s going on with him.
I genuinely think that it’s best to go into this book blind, as it keeps the mysterious air for longer. But if you love, mysterious paranormal MM romance, then you are going to enjoy this one I’m sure.
Overall, I really liked this book, and it did keep me engaged the entire time. I do wish that there was more emotional development between the characters in terms of their relationship, and I do wish that we got to have a little bit more background on the characters.
I found that premise of this book to be the most interesting part, and I’m really curious to read the other books in the series. This book definitely caught my attention and I am definitely jumping right into the next book.
I suggest not reading any further if you don’t want any spoilers, but I would like to share some of my thoughts, and I will add some content warnings for those who feel that they need them before jumping into a darker paranormal story.
~~~~
(Spoilers! + thoughts about the plot)
This book has:
-a mysterious castle with an even more mysterious young man locked away in his wing
-paranormal elements (incubus demon who is attached to and feeds off of MC non-consensually)
-religious themes
-sacrifice and unconditional love
-sneaking around and forbidden relationship
(Young master / basically his servant)
-TW for suicide
I think that the whole idea of having an evil sex demon that is attached to one of the main characters in a creepy castle is honestly such a cool idea. I feel like the execution could’ve been a little bit more polished, and some of the themes could’ve been explored a little bit more deeply. However, I think the overall plot was very successful, and I was entertained the entire time.
Of course, the whole “love is the answer” vibe that we had at the end was a little bit corny but still interesting. I also found that having the parents around all the time and also the little sister was a little bit weird and made the characters seem like they were younger than they were, even though they were supposed to be in their 20s.
I did also notice a couple of times where it seemed like words were used that were slightly incorrect and sounded like words that would have been more correct in that context, which makes me believe that maybe this book could’ve used one more editor to look at it. For example obsessive/excessive and fears/tears. It was still not that bad, but it was noticeable as a reader.
This book also had great set up for the other two books in the series, and I’m really curious to see what’s going to happen in book 2 with Atlas‘s brother. We’ve already kind of established that he knows the love interest and has some animosity towards him. I think this will be refreshing since Julian and Atlas definitely just immediately loved each other, even without really getting to know each other in this book.
OK, I didn’t mean for this to be so long but obviously I enjoyed this book and loved yapping about it so I do recommend it for sure and I hope that you go in blind!
August 27, 2026
OMG, I am GOBSMACKED!!! Hunter Bailey does it again!
Condemned is the first book in Hunter's upcoming paranormal trilogy and I DEVOURED this in one sitting.
Book one focuses on Julian, a new attendant at Chastain Castle, and Atlas, the ethereal middle son of the Chastain family. He suffers from a mysterious “illness” that makes him wary of physical touch and causes dangerous nighttime flares, leading to one strict rule: no one allowed in the West Tower after dark. Naturally, Julian ignores the warning.
Pacing throughout is fantastic, the world-building is seamless, and Julian and Atlas’s romance develops at the perfect speed. And the spice??!! When it hit, I drooled. Actual drool. No exaggeration.
Atlas and Julian are such a precious pair. Atlas is gentle, sweet, and impossible not to love, while Julian's protective nature shines whenever they're together. And THE YEARNING. I was right there with them every step of the way.
I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this trilogy! Each book focuses on a new couple and Hunter has said all three books will release at the same time. I am absolutely foaming at the mouth to read the other two!!
This story is unique, compelling, and so incredibly well done. I genuinely haven't read anything else quite like it.
Condemned is the first book in Hunter's upcoming paranormal trilogy and I DEVOURED this in one sitting.
Book one focuses on Julian, a new attendant at Chastain Castle, and Atlas, the ethereal middle son of the Chastain family. He suffers from a mysterious “illness” that makes him wary of physical touch and causes dangerous nighttime flares, leading to one strict rule: no one allowed in the West Tower after dark. Naturally, Julian ignores the warning.
Pacing throughout is fantastic, the world-building is seamless, and Julian and Atlas’s romance develops at the perfect speed. And the spice??!! When it hit, I drooled. Actual drool. No exaggeration.
Atlas and Julian are such a precious pair. Atlas is gentle, sweet, and impossible not to love, while Julian's protective nature shines whenever they're together. And THE YEARNING. I was right there with them every step of the way.
I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this trilogy! Each book focuses on a new couple and Hunter has said all three books will release at the same time. I am absolutely foaming at the mouth to read the other two!!
This story is unique, compelling, and so incredibly well done. I genuinely haven't read anything else quite like it.
July 17, 2026
I saw a recommendation for this series on IG and the paranormal aspect really grabbed my attention so thought I'd give this a chance. The first one was my least fave. I couldn't quite get with the couple and the paranormal aspect in this one was just a tad uncomfortable to me but I mean I finished all 3 so don't know what that says about me lol the pet name was also an ick for me and pair that with overuse was a bit much for me and that occurs with all 3.
July 28, 2026
Julian and Atlas, the desperation and tension between you two had me wanting a cold shower, a cigarette, and snickers bar. What a ride the last 5 days it’s been! It was scary, it was loving, it was intense! 10s across the board! I could have sworn I felt something touch my leg in the middle of the night anddddd other parts of me. 🤭
July 30, 2026
I liked it
Different take on demon and incubus storylines… I enjoyed it. I do think it got a little bit drawn out in some sections, but I kept reading it so it obviously was not enough to deter me
Editing was good and I didn’t find any typos or anything. Overall, it was well written.
I do wish the heat and spice was higher… But that’s a personal preference. I thought that both Atlas and Julian were well developed characters with very different personalities. Of course they fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
I definitely will be reading the next book in the series.
Different take on demon and incubus storylines… I enjoyed it. I do think it got a little bit drawn out in some sections, but I kept reading it so it obviously was not enough to deter me
Editing was good and I didn’t find any typos or anything. Overall, it was well written.
I do wish the heat and spice was higher… But that’s a personal preference. I thought that both Atlas and Julian were well developed characters with very different personalities. Of course they fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
I definitely will be reading the next book in the series.
September 14, 2026
Hmmm… the concept is very, very intriguing, but I definitely missed the depth. It was a fast read because it was interesting enough to keep me going, and I genuinely wanted to know where everything was going.
I just wish I understood the characters more beyond the curse.
Still, I’m rooting for you, Hunter. 🤍
I just wish I understood the characters more beyond the curse.
Still, I’m rooting for you, Hunter. 🤍
August 3, 2026
Def a smooth brain book😂 not bad but also not good
July 22, 2026
Just. OK. This was hyped up..and it didn't deliver. For me*..
July 22, 2026
Hunter Bailey's writing is wonderfully descriptive, making every hallway, every room, and every corner of Chastain Castle easy to picture. The gothic atmosphere is immersive, mysterious, and beautifully crafted.
Condemned is the first book in the interconnected Chastain Castle Trilogy and what an incredible way to begin the series.
From the moment Julian meets Atlas, the attraction is immediate. Julian has never seen anyone as beautiful as him, and Atlas, despite his reserved nature, can't seem to stop staring at Julian either.
Their connection is undeniable from the very beginning.
One relationship I especially loved was the bond between Atlas and his brother, Atticus. His protectiveness and devotion to Atlas added another emotional layer to the story and showed just how much this family had already endured.
The mystery surrounding Atlas' condition kept me completely invested. We know early on that no one is allowed near the West Tower after dark, but Hunter Bailey carefully withholds the truth, building suspense until the reveal finally arrives.
That slow unraveling made the payoff even more satisfying. Atlas is such a tease. Every chance he gets, he finds a way to fluster Julian, but beneath all that confidence is someone quietly waiting and hoping for a cure.
His condition has convinced him that he isn't worthy of love, that he's been permanently tainted by the monster haunting him. That broke my heart.
The yearning between Julian and Atlas is incredible. Every interaction is filled with longing, restraint, and undeniable chemistry. Their romance unfolds at exactly the right pace, allowing every emotional moment to feel earned.
What impressed me most was Julian's reaction after discovering Atlas' secret.
He doesn't run. He stays. He chooses Atlas.
He risks everything to help protect him from the incubus that has tormented him for so long, proving just how kind, brave, and selfless he truly is.
Together, they begin searching for a way to finally break the curse.
Landon, however...
He annoyed me throughout Book One 😭
Still, everything else about this novel completely won me over.
The storyline was captivating, the mystery surrounding the curse kept me hooked and the eventual reveal was absolutely worth the wait.
I also loved spotting the interconnected references to the main characters from the later books in the trilogy.
Hunter Bailey crafted an unforgettable gothic romance filled with mystery, longing, dark magic, family, and hope.
The happy ending felt completely deserved.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Honestly...
Infinity stars from me.
Condemned is the first book in the interconnected Chastain Castle Trilogy and what an incredible way to begin the series.
From the moment Julian meets Atlas, the attraction is immediate. Julian has never seen anyone as beautiful as him, and Atlas, despite his reserved nature, can't seem to stop staring at Julian either.
Their connection is undeniable from the very beginning.
One relationship I especially loved was the bond between Atlas and his brother, Atticus. His protectiveness and devotion to Atlas added another emotional layer to the story and showed just how much this family had already endured.
The mystery surrounding Atlas' condition kept me completely invested. We know early on that no one is allowed near the West Tower after dark, but Hunter Bailey carefully withholds the truth, building suspense until the reveal finally arrives.
That slow unraveling made the payoff even more satisfying. Atlas is such a tease. Every chance he gets, he finds a way to fluster Julian, but beneath all that confidence is someone quietly waiting and hoping for a cure.
His condition has convinced him that he isn't worthy of love, that he's been permanently tainted by the monster haunting him. That broke my heart.
The yearning between Julian and Atlas is incredible. Every interaction is filled with longing, restraint, and undeniable chemistry. Their romance unfolds at exactly the right pace, allowing every emotional moment to feel earned.
What impressed me most was Julian's reaction after discovering Atlas' secret.
He doesn't run. He stays. He chooses Atlas.
He risks everything to help protect him from the incubus that has tormented him for so long, proving just how kind, brave, and selfless he truly is.
Together, they begin searching for a way to finally break the curse.
Landon, however...
He annoyed me throughout Book One 😭
Still, everything else about this novel completely won me over.
The storyline was captivating, the mystery surrounding the curse kept me hooked and the eventual reveal was absolutely worth the wait.
I also loved spotting the interconnected references to the main characters from the later books in the trilogy.
Hunter Bailey crafted an unforgettable gothic romance filled with mystery, longing, dark magic, family, and hope.
The happy ending felt completely deserved.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Honestly...
Infinity stars from me.
July 13, 2026
4.5/5, such a good read!
I loved the characters, especially Atlas and Abigail. She is such a sweet presence in the book, and it allows us to see Julian get comfortable pretty quickly, considering he is in such a new environment. Atlas is such an angel. His internal turmoil is so good but also hard to read because he doesn’t treat himself the way he deserves to be treated. Thank god for Julian! And the description of Atlas’s outfits from Julian’s point of view? So good. I also loved the dynamic that the whole family had, with Atticus being such a good brother, and Theodora being such a sweet mom. I like that their family dynamic wasn’t difunctional, so the other parts of the plot could take the spotlight. The plot was very good, it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I also appreciate that there were still a lot of questions that remain unanswered.
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, I felt like I could really see Atlas walking around the castle in his cute outfits. And just in general, the vibes of the book were so spooky and vivid. Everything was cloudy and foggy, and the descriptions of the temperature changes made it feel like I was there in the castle. I also really liked how strange everything seemed at the beginning of the book, and then it slowly fell into place. Like why was Atlas acting so weird? Why was he so hot? Why did he spend his days looking out at the water? Lastly, a detail that I really appreciated (that I also LOVED from MDG/MSA), was the pet names! Unfortunately, everything reminds me of MDG, and I don’t think I will ever recover.
I loved the characters, especially Atlas and Abigail. She is such a sweet presence in the book, and it allows us to see Julian get comfortable pretty quickly, considering he is in such a new environment. Atlas is such an angel. His internal turmoil is so good but also hard to read because he doesn’t treat himself the way he deserves to be treated. Thank god for Julian! And the description of Atlas’s outfits from Julian’s point of view? So good. I also loved the dynamic that the whole family had, with Atticus being such a good brother, and Theodora being such a sweet mom. I like that their family dynamic wasn’t difunctional, so the other parts of the plot could take the spotlight. The plot was very good, it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I also appreciate that there were still a lot of questions that remain unanswered.
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, I felt like I could really see Atlas walking around the castle in his cute outfits. And just in general, the vibes of the book were so spooky and vivid. Everything was cloudy and foggy, and the descriptions of the temperature changes made it feel like I was there in the castle. I also really liked how strange everything seemed at the beginning of the book, and then it slowly fell into place. Like why was Atlas acting so weird? Why was he so hot? Why did he spend his days looking out at the water? Lastly, a detail that I really appreciated (that I also LOVED from MDG/MSA), was the pet names! Unfortunately, everything reminds me of MDG, and I don’t think I will ever recover.
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August 12, 2026I am so upset by this one. It started out so strong but by 40% I was irritated & over the miscommunication. Grown men doing the “does he really? No, he couldn’t possibly?!” thing is infuriating. 😠 If you’re grown enough to be having sex then you should be able to USE YOUR WORDS & have an adult conversation about your feelings. 🤷♀️
But, I think a lot of my issue with this story is in the plot itself. Something about knowingly, letting your (adult) child be abused by a demon for years and not truly doing anything to cure it, just did not sit well with me. 🙅♀️
And for as much information as you’re given, there’s a lot that we’re not given. WTF is up with this family?!? 🧐 They remind me of the vampire family from The Little Vampire except they’re not cool in a strange way. They’re just fucking strange in a bad way. It’s like they’re trapped in Victorian era while the rest of the world is modern so it’s just really odd.
And when someone finally comes along wanting to help save their son from being graped by a demon, they’re all morally against it and rather wait for a cure to just fall in their lap while praying it away 🤨🙄 so I just it’s a NO for me.
I was gonna DNF at 60%, but I just ended up skimming through and nothing was really missed. Then, of course, the ending was just as ridiculous.
So if you like over the top dramatics then this is for you. If you like any logic whatsoever, then just pass cause it’s gonna annoy you.
But, I think a lot of my issue with this story is in the plot itself. Something about knowingly, letting your (adult) child be abused by a demon for years and not truly doing anything to cure it, just did not sit well with me. 🙅♀️
And for as much information as you’re given, there’s a lot that we’re not given. WTF is up with this family?!? 🧐 They remind me of the vampire family from The Little Vampire except they’re not cool in a strange way. They’re just fucking strange in a bad way. It’s like they’re trapped in Victorian era while the rest of the world is modern so it’s just really odd.
And when someone finally comes along wanting to help save their son from being graped by a demon, they’re all morally against it and rather wait for a cure to just fall in their lap while praying it away 🤨🙄 so I just it’s a NO for me.
I was gonna DNF at 60%, but I just ended up skimming through and nothing was really missed. Then, of course, the ending was just as ridiculous.
So if you like over the top dramatics then this is for you. If you like any logic whatsoever, then just pass cause it’s gonna annoy you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2026
I was surprised about how much I really liked this book. I was really on the fence about it and had the sample in my kindle for a week or so just because I’ve been desperately trying to get out of rereading old favorites because I’ve been in a two year stream of DNFs, slumps, and mean reviews.
I got through this pretty fast, I liked the content and the story line, I took a star off because the timeline of when this takes place was confusing because we’re driving a car but end up sounding like we should be on a horse and carriage for most of the book.
There’s a plethora of assumptions that the characters base their whole relationship on and it was extremely juvenile. I don’t know if I’d quite call it miscommunication because a lot of it is based on a facial expression or something similar. I felt that if the author wanted turmoil then they should’ve used a bit more imagination.
It could’ve used some actual character/ relationship building, the events would’ve been more impactful if the story had more emotional connection than “he’s pretty and I want to fuck him.” I don’t think these characters know anything about each other when I stop to think about it.
I still liked it, worth 3.5-4 stars in my opinion.
I got through this pretty fast, I liked the content and the story line, I took a star off because the timeline of when this takes place was confusing because we’re driving a car but end up sounding like we should be on a horse and carriage for most of the book.
There’s a plethora of assumptions that the characters base their whole relationship on and it was extremely juvenile. I don’t know if I’d quite call it miscommunication because a lot of it is based on a facial expression or something similar. I felt that if the author wanted turmoil then they should’ve used a bit more imagination.
It could’ve used some actual character/ relationship building, the events would’ve been more impactful if the story had more emotional connection than “he’s pretty and I want to fuck him.” I don’t think these characters know anything about each other when I stop to think about it.
I still liked it, worth 3.5-4 stars in my opinion.
September 10, 2026
It was good.
But there were things that I absolutely hated!
4 things that made it a ⭐️⭐️ when it could’ve been ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1. The fucking family doing absolutely nothing to help Atlas, just getting in the way.
2. Them locking him away in the west wing at the end, keeping him suffering and waiting for nothing really, and fucking Atticus too, I hated his character, it was pointless.
3. Atlas pushing Julie away to keep him safe, I get it but?? they had already talked about it like two times, so it got repetitive.
4. Julie KILLING himself!!! to save Atlas, and the fucking family giving him his JOB back as a thank you???? wtf
they were rich and he literally jumped off a cliff for their son!! so keeping him as an employee?? didn’t like it.
And thats it.
There were other things too, like I found oscars character very weird, or the mystery surrounding Barfred and Landon, and what was the whole Cassie and Cameron about??? they gave us nothing after portraying it like it was important to solving the curse.
I guess I could find out in the other books. Am I going to? NO.
I liked the plot and the paranormal theme, LOVED Julie, but it feels a bit like wasted potential to me.
But there were things that I absolutely hated!
4 things that made it a ⭐️⭐️ when it could’ve been ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1. The fucking family doing absolutely nothing to help Atlas, just getting in the way.
2. Them locking him away in the west wing at the end, keeping him suffering and waiting for nothing really, and fucking Atticus too, I hated his character, it was pointless.
3. Atlas pushing Julie away to keep him safe, I get it but?? they had already talked about it like two times, so it got repetitive.
4. Julie KILLING himself!!! to save Atlas, and the fucking family giving him his JOB back as a thank you???? wtf
they were rich and he literally jumped off a cliff for their son!! so keeping him as an employee?? didn’t like it.
And thats it.
There were other things too, like I found oscars character very weird, or the mystery surrounding Barfred and Landon, and what was the whole Cassie and Cameron about??? they gave us nothing after portraying it like it was important to solving the curse.
I guess I could find out in the other books. Am I going to? NO.
I liked the plot and the paranormal theme, LOVED Julie, but it feels a bit like wasted potential to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2026
3.7⭐️
3/5🌶
Atlas & Julian
Unique and interesting premise, I personally have not read anything similar to this before.
The pace was good and the mysterious storyline was a good starting point but I thought that something was just missing.
Apart from the curse, Atlas & Julian did not really bond.
I wished that Julian would have taken Atlas out to town, introduced him to his friends correctly, talk about their life, dreams, what they like...
We don't get a deeper look into who they really are. Everything revolves around the curse and they fall madly in love with each other but there is nothing else to it.
The fact that he just gets his job back and they are employee/employer and they move into the stupid toom together was strange as well considering all the traumatic experiences they had there.
Are they going to live in the castle forever? Why not travel, talk about their future, go to college, discover the world together...it feels as if Atlas is trapped in the castle.
Where Atlas' parents were not concerned enough with his curse, his brother was a bit too obsessed.
3/5🌶
Atlas & Julian
Unique and interesting premise, I personally have not read anything similar to this before.
The pace was good and the mysterious storyline was a good starting point but I thought that something was just missing.
Apart from the curse, Atlas & Julian did not really bond.
I wished that Julian would have taken Atlas out to town, introduced him to his friends correctly, talk about their life, dreams, what they like...
We don't get a deeper look into who they really are. Everything revolves around the curse and they fall madly in love with each other but there is nothing else to it.
The fact that he just gets his job back and they are employee/employer and they move into the stupid toom together was strange as well considering all the traumatic experiences they had there.
Are they going to live in the castle forever? Why not travel, talk about their future, go to college, discover the world together...it feels as if Atlas is trapped in the castle.
Where Atlas' parents were not concerned enough with his curse, his brother was a bit too obsessed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2026
I'll start by saying I didn't have high expectations for this book, but oh my goodness, how wrong I was! I've read many books with paranormal themes, but none have impacted me like this one. From the very beginning, the story unfolds with small revelations that keep you hooked and eager to discover how Julian and Atlas's story develops.
My heart ached for Atlas, seeing him suffer because of his past and present, longing for something he can't have. But then Julian comes in, who knows what he wants and won't stop until he saves the person he longs for. These two are perfect for each other, and I'm eager to read Atticus and Cameron's story.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I loved her refreshing writing style and how she manages to immerse you in the story without you even realizing it.
My heart ached for Atlas, seeing him suffer because of his past and present, longing for something he can't have. But then Julian comes in, who knows what he wants and won't stop until he saves the person he longs for. These two are perfect for each other, and I'm eager to read Atticus and Cameron's story.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I loved her refreshing writing style and how she manages to immerse you in the story without you even realizing it.
September 16, 2026
Eu gostei do livro, mas ele poderia facilmente ser mais curto. A impressão que dá é que por ser um livro de fantasia, quis aumentar.
Critico tbm a quantidade de conversa suja quando eles nem tinham intimidade pra isso, achei estranho, não sei se é normal 😂
Primeiro beijo foi pra dps de 50%, algo que eu tbm não tava esperando.
Eu achei que a história deles ia se prolongar por mais dois livros, ainda bem que não. O plot me surpreendeu tbm. Achei loucura o Julie se matar por um cara que ele só conhece ha uns meses. Será q alguém realmente faria isso?
Outra critica: achei que o pai do Julie não foi tão ativo como deveria. O filho dele foi agredido por um demônio daquela casa, se eu fosse mãe dele faria muito pior
Critico tbm a quantidade de conversa suja quando eles nem tinham intimidade pra isso, achei estranho, não sei se é normal 😂
Primeiro beijo foi pra dps de 50%, algo que eu tbm não tava esperando.
Eu achei que a história deles ia se prolongar por mais dois livros, ainda bem que não. O plot me surpreendeu tbm. Achei loucura o Julie se matar por um cara que ele só conhece ha uns meses. Será q alguém realmente faria isso?
Outra critica: achei que o pai do Julie não foi tão ativo como deveria. O filho dele foi agredido por um demônio daquela casa, se eu fosse mãe dele faria muito pior
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up. This has a cool setting, a mystery, forbidden desires & tension. And spice too! Interesting side characters as well, which I think some will end up with their own book, since this is a trilogy of sorts. I love MM romance, but so much is the same. This was a great romance, but different than everything I’ve read. It does have a HEA for the main couple, but leaves many unanswered questions for the next books. Can’t wait to move on to book 2, which is already out! (I love that I don’t have to wait months or years for the next book!)
August 12, 2026
2 ⭐️
Yall.... we cannot be serious. 😭 wtf did i just read. I kind of feel bad for Julian that he literally killed himself and to repay him the Chastains gave him back his job 💀💀💀 like wtf. He literally broke a whole entire curse, sacrificed himself and thats the thanks he gets???? He literally went head to head with the incubus and still got no recognition 💀💀💀💀 i do feel like there is obviously so many secrets still to be revealed so im going to read the next book just to find them out but hopefully its better than this one 😭
Yall.... we cannot be serious. 😭 wtf did i just read. I kind of feel bad for Julian that he literally killed himself and to repay him the Chastains gave him back his job 💀💀💀 like wtf. He literally broke a whole entire curse, sacrificed himself and thats the thanks he gets???? He literally went head to head with the incubus and still got no recognition 💀💀💀💀 i do feel like there is obviously so many secrets still to be revealed so im going to read the next book just to find them out but hopefully its better than this one 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2026
I'm not sure if what Julian felt was love or lust, and I'm also not sure if Atlas' feelings were genuine or more about his need for human affection.
It was also kind of weird that Atlas was being assaulted and his family just had to accept it...Also, you're telling me that his family had that book the entire time and no one translated it? Guess they didn't try very hard to help him.
The storyline was good though, albeit it felt a bit long.
It was also kind of weird that Atlas was being assaulted and his family just had to accept it...Also, you're telling me that his family had that book the entire time and no one translated it? Guess they didn't try very hard to help him.
The storyline was good though, albeit it felt a bit long.
August 9, 2026
🖤Atlas & Julian🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was so good! Julian was such an incredible character and is absolutely perfect for Atlas with his unwavering loyalty and understanding of Atlas’ mind. The way he understood the complex wanting and hatred Atlas feels towards his curse is everything Atlas needed to heal. Atlas was clearly blind thinking that all of this was just physical for Julian, but he is socially inexperienced so it worked for him.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was so good! Julian was such an incredible character and is absolutely perfect for Atlas with his unwavering loyalty and understanding of Atlas’ mind. The way he understood the complex wanting and hatred Atlas feels towards his curse is everything Atlas needed to heal. Atlas was clearly blind thinking that all of this was just physical for Julian, but he is socially inexperienced so it worked for him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2026
Hauntingly beautiful
Stumbled upon this book via a suggestion by an influencer on Instagram. I wanted to kick off spooky season with something paranormal & this is it! The writing is gorgeous, the 2 MMC are stunning individuals with a supporting cast just as complex & intriguing. There’s tons of spice, suspense, & yearning. Didn’t even realize this was a series, I would have been content if this was a one & done.
Stumbled upon this book via a suggestion by an influencer on Instagram. I wanted to kick off spooky season with something paranormal & this is it! The writing is gorgeous, the 2 MMC are stunning individuals with a supporting cast just as complex & intriguing. There’s tons of spice, suspense, & yearning. Didn’t even realize this was a series, I would have been content if this was a one & done.
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