Ruined

by Alyson Dawn

She catches the eyes of a masked man, but he soon realizes he's not the only monster hidden in the darkness.
(Full blurb to come!)Masked MMCenemies to loversTouch her and dieForced proximityThis is a dark romance and contains themes that may not be suitable for all readers.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Stalker

328 pages, Paperback

Published July 18, 2026

Reviews

[Sabrina Malave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
this book kicked off my June reading strong by being a 5 star read! it was very much different from what I have read lately with the aspect of the setting of a spicy club - this was a first for me and i LOVED it ! The banter between the FMC and MMC was AMAZING made me laugh a kick my feet quite a bit through out the book. I would definitely suggest minding the trigger warnings for this one and yes there was alot of spice but it did not overshadow the plot for me. The plot was so good, it kept me guessing and running to the author to rant about my theories and the feels this book was giving me. I NEED ANOTHER BOOK ASAP Ms. DAWN This was 5/5 !

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to read this
Rating 4.5/5
Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶
The rules where simple fml was only ment to be a watcher and take pictures of the club however she broke the first rule never tale off the mask 😷
This caught the attention of the 1st ml he become obsessed with her as she didn't obey him like everyone else but soon he learnt he wasn't the only one who was stalking her

The fml and ml banner was so well written i couldn't wait for the next scene just so I could see who would win in there flirty talk fight

[jodie_reads_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Advanced Reader Copy review*

Ruined by Alyson Dawn is gripping, fast-paced, and full of tension!

The characters are well written and help you get invested in the story early on. Kyrin is definitely my favourite character, but Silas is so morally grey it’s enough to make your toes curl.

It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, with the added stalker/manipulation elements and the question over who else is keeping tabs on Ember.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.75


🖤 Dark Romance
✨️ Masked Characters
🖤 Who Did This To You?
✨️ Smex Club
🖤 Unhinged Boyfriend
✨️ Enemies To Lovers

⚠️ CHECK CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS! Protect your mental peace ☮️⚠️

✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️

The blurb of this book initally dragged me in, and wouldn't let go! I was sooo ready for the unhinged masked man that I will gladly call my book boyfriend! He was the man that so many women dream of having on their side, and to build that special relationship with. He is possessive, obsessive and refuses to let another man even think about being with you.

Let's just out it out there that their banter was TOP NOTCH!!! I couldn't help but kick and squeal when they would be sparring verbally! I loved how they just had their own boidy language they spoke and it would never leave room for anyone else.

The plot had so mnuch going for it! It wasn't just a smutty book that you would be lost in smut and no plot. This had a fantasic premise and definitely kept you guessing as to what was going to happen next!

MS. DAWN IMMA NEED THIS NEXT BOOK ASAP!!!

Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Alyson Dawn ✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.

[Carrie W · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get through this. I would read a few pages and put it down. It just wasn't something that kept my interest. But I continued...and finally finished. This was mediocre at best.

When photographer, Ember, is hired to photograph people in a sex club (they're all masked) to capture the ambiance, the owner, Silas, is immediately obsessed. He takes her up against the wall and he starts to spiral in his obsession. He gets his cousin to get him access to every camera available so he can see her at all times. He places a tracker in her phone and puts a camera in her bedroom where she shares a house with her roommates. When Silas sees she has another stalker that comes into her room at night and takes advantage of her, he goes ballistic.

Silas doesn't know why she doesn't wake up while her stalker is touching her but he has to tell her what he's uncovered. Before he can, she gets a hold of his phone and sees all the videos. She thinks it's him since the stalker's face is hidden. When Silas catches the stalker in the act, Ember has been drugged, and prevents the stalker from any further assaults.

And they live happily ever after.

To me, the immediate obsession was over the top..I mean, it went from "I'm going to show her who's boss" to "I can't live without her" in a matter of minutes. Ember's reaction to him was equally strange, fighting him every step of the way except when he touches her. Then she's like a wet noodle. I guess it was just the rushed chemistry that didn't sit with me. Even though there are other books where I loved this type of trope...this one just didn't pull it off.

[BooksandAshes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.25⭐️
Spice: 4🌶️

Advance Reader Copy Review

The punch this packs in less than 300 pages!!! Fast paced and to the point. We have insta-lust. We have angst. We have amazing banter. The Author just gave it all to us.

Our FMC is sassy and has a wild fire burning within. She isn’t scared to stand ten toes down and dive in head first. Her strength was amazing.

Our MMC is a man of very few words but the words he does speak will burn you up!!! He wants to break her and snuff out that wild flame but once he gets burnt by that flame he realizes that, that flame is what’s making him feel alive after being so numb.
The way he falls in love with her is so beautiful. He is willing to do anything to keep her safe. They way they heal each other 🥰

The spice was spicing. lol. I love a man who takes control!!!

I need more of his brothers ASAP though. Please?

Thank you so much Alyson for the opportunity to read this amazing story early! You definitely did your thing.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


From the moment I read Ruined, I knew this wasn’t going to be a typical romance. A masked man becoming fascinated with a woman is intriguing enough, but the real hook is the chilling realization that he may not be the most dangerous thing lurking in the shadows.

What makes this story so compelling is the atmosphere. Every interaction feels loaded with tension, secrecy, and the constant sense that something terrible is waiting just around the corner. Instead, it twists expectations by suggesting that monsters come in many forms and not all of them wear masks.

The suspense is what kept me turning pages. Just when I thought I understood who held the power, the story shifted, revealing new layers of darkness beneath the surface. The line between predator and prey becomes increasingly blurred, creating an addictive push and pull that leaves you questioning everyone’s motives.

[Brittany Harville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was soo good! Definitely a 5 ⭐️ dark romance! Silas was the ultimate obsessive stalker MMC! For being dark this story also had so much depth and back story to the main characters! Silas is dark, brooding and a mask wearing owner of a members only club. Ember is a photographer who shows up not knowing exactly what the location is she will be working on wearing yellow! Are these two really opposites attract, or are they the oerfect pair to bring the other side out of each other? Throw in some trauma and life experiences and this story has it all!

[Shaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎭Masked Club
📹Stalker
😡Enemies to Lovers
🫦Touch Her and ☠️
Ember and Silas hate each other from the start. But it’s a thin line between love and hate and they quickly realize they can’t seem to stay away from each other. When, through his stalking, Silas discovers Ember has another stalker he kidnaps her to keep her safe. As the story unfolds the relationship has ups and downs as Embers has to decide if she trusts Silas. All while he completely owns her body. This is a spicy dark romance with masked men, and I was here for all of it.
Thank you Alyson Dawn for the arc!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Kari McKenna · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

**ARC Copy of Ruined sent by the author in exchange for an honest review**
3.5 Stars
3 Spice
Genre: Dark Romance
Tropes: Masked Men, Stalking, Obsession, Touch Her and Die
Main Characters: Silas Solstice and Ember Vale

Ember Vale is a budding photographer who is asked to take some promotional shots for the club, Ruined. When she arrives, she learns that ruined is a Kink Club where a member can determine why they're there by which mask they choose to wear for the duration of their attendance - either a Dominant, a volunteer or a watcher.

The owner, Silas,is arrogant and quiet, and while he meets Ember when she's there to take pictures, he quickly dismisses her presence, which sets Ember off. She continues to do photography work for the club, breaking every rule of the club until Silas has no choice but to handle her in the only way he knows how.

It is then, Silas becomes obsessed with her, wanting to know everything about her, stalking her, putting a tracking device on her phone, and cameras in her home and alternative place of work. Meanwhile, it turns out Ember has another stalker who's keeping themselves in the shadows and unknown, pining all of their actions on Silas.

Overall, this was a very interesting plot that kept me interested. I really liked Ember as a character - she's feisty, intelligent and talented, and it takes her a long time to consider Silas as someone she can trust. I also like the banter between Silas and his brothers, who make a regular appearance throughout the book.

Some points in the plot became a little dry and I found myself wanting to speed through it a bit to get the the information about the second stalker. Some of the description went on a little long and maybe wasn't completely necessary as part of the story.

Over all, this is a really interesting dark romance and I did really enjoy the "two stalkers" plot.

[★ Greta Booklovers ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars! Per gli amanti dei protagonisti mascherati...

Greta Booklovers blog >> https://shorturl.at/Rfyh3

Ruined è il primo capitolo della serie Sons of Solstice firmata da Alyson Dawn: un dark romance intenso, pensato per gli amanti dei protagonisti mascherati, delle ossessioni pericolose e del celebre trope "toccala e muori". La storia ruota attorno a Ember Vale, una talentuosa fotografa assunta per curare la campagna promozionale del Ruined, un nightclub esclusivo dove i tabù sociali si dissolvono e i desideri più nascosti prendono forma. All'interno del locale le gerarchie sono scandite dalle maschere indossate dai membri: Dominante, Volontario, Osservatore.

Silas, il proprietario, è un uomo tanto arrogante quanto enigmatico. Già dal loro primo incontro la sua insolenza spiazza Ember, accendendo in lei una reazione furiosa che rifiuta ogni forma di sottomissione. Pur di rimanere nel suo raggio d'azione, la ragazza sceglie di continuare a lavorare nel locale, trasformando la provocazione in un vero e proprio metodo di lotta: viola sistematicamente ogni regola del club per pungerlo sul vivo e forzare la sua attenzione, costringendolo a uscire dal suo riserbo e a intervenire personalmente. È allora che l'ossessione di Silas prende il sopravvento. Desideroso di conoscere ogni dettaglio sulla sua vita, inizia a pedinarla, installa un localizzatore sul suo telefono e nasconde telecamere sia a casa sua che nel suo posto di lavoro. Silas però non è il solo a violare l'intimità di Ember: nel buio si muove furtivo un secondo stalker, un predatore silenzioso che sfrutta la stessa ossessione del protagonista per manovrare i fili da dietro le quinte, con il chiaro intento di incastrarlo e addossargli ogni colpa. La percezione costante di essere osservati da una presenza esterna mantiene la suspense alta, trascinando il lettore in un vortice psicologico magnetico.

Silas incarna perfettamente il classico personaggio moralmente grigio, tormentato e con un ego smisurato, che inizia a vacillare proprio quando Ember rifiuta di sottomettersi al suo volere. Ember, d’altro canto, appare l’unica persona in grado di tenergli testa, in una guerra silenziosa fatta di sguardi brucianti, provocazioni e un delicato equilibrio tra dominio e vulnerabilità. Le vicende non si limitano a essere vissute ma vengono impresse, fotogramma dopo fotogramma, attraverso l'obiettivo della macchina fotografica della protagonista. Per lei lo scatto non è un semplice strumento di lavoro, ma un bisturi invisibile capace di incidere la superficie patinata del club per svelare ciò che si nasconde nel profondo. Con la precisione millimetrica di una lente d'ingrandimento, il suo obiettivo scruta oltre le maschere dei frequentatori. Perchè Ember non si limita a fotografare le persone, ma le crepe attraverso cui filtra la loro vera essenza, catturando quella fragilità che tutti gli altri fingono di non vedere. Ogni scatto diventa così una confessione silenziosa, che costringe i protagonisti a fare i conti con la vulnerabilità che custodiscono gelosamente dietro alle loro maschere. Nonostante gli spunti interessanti, il romanzo presenta a mio avviso alcune criticità.

Il primo incontro tra Ember e Silas, così come la successiva evoluzione della loro dinamica relazionale, si consumano con una rapidità che brucia le tappe. Il passaggio tra ostilità e attrazione tra Ember e Silas soffre di una compressione temporale e psicologica che ho trovato davvero eccessiva. La transizione avviene a un ritmo così accelerato da comprometterne la credibilità. Il conflitto iniziale non viene esplorato a fondo nelle sue motivazioni profonde. I lettori percepiscono l'opposizione dei due personaggi come un dato di fatto e non come il risultato di attriti reali o caratteriali. La rivalità, inoltre, si dissolve all'improvviso, lasciando spazio a un'ossessione travolgente priva di passaggi intermedi. Questo azzera la tensione narrativa che ci si aspetterebbe da un rapporto di natura "enemies-to-lovers". Il passaggio dalla repulsione all'ossessione è così fulmineo da generare un effetto di spiazzamento. La sensazione costante è quella di aver involontariamente saltato dei capitoli cruciali, smarrendo i passaggi logici e psicologici che avrebbero dovuto giustificare una simile metamorfosi sentimentale. Ruined è un romanzo che possiede un enorme potenziale e tutti gli ingredienti basilari per stregare i fan del genere dark romance. Purtroppo, alcune scelte narrative affrettate ne frenano la piena riuscita, lasciando il rimpianto per un'evoluzione psicologica che, con maggiore respiro temporale, avrebbe reso l'opera pienamente riuscita. - Greta Booklovers

[Barb Feinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to Ruined as a sworn romantasy reader, someone whose idea of a good time is magic systems and enemies to lovers arcs spanning three kingdoms and 5 books. Dark romance was entirely new territory for me. I had no map. I had no compass. What I had, by the end, was absolutely zero chill and a new favorite book.

Ruined follows Ember, a photographer hired to shoot inside an exclusive, secretive club; the kind of world that operates by its own rules, shrouded in masks and power and things you aren't supposed to see. Then she meets Silas. A masked man who commands absolute control over everyone in his orbit. Everyone, that is, except her.

What immediately won me over was how immersive this book felt. Ember's work as a photographer isn't just a job title, it's a lens (pun intended) through which the entire story breathes. The scenes inside the club are rendered with such sensory detail that I felt like I was in that mirrored room alongside her, watching the world refract back in a hundred directions at once. Alyson Dawn doesn't just describe a scene, she paints it, and you feel the heat of the room and the electric charge of eyes meeting across a crowd. As someone who loves worldbuilding in fantasy, I didn't expect a contemporary dark romance to scratch that itch so completely.

And then there's Ember herself. She is sassy. Gloriously, relentlessly, unapologetically sassy. In a world where everyone bows to Silas, she asks pointed questions about his ego and dick size. She even throws away his flowers (I personally would have kept the flowers, but I respect the commitment to the bit), and she delivers lines that made me laugh out loud in public. Her humor is a shield, but it's also genuinely who she is and that authenticity makes her feel real in a way that's rare.

Silas, for his part, is everything the genre promised and then some. His ego is enormous, his control is absolute, and the moment Ember refuses to fall into line something in him breaks. He wants to ruin her (duh!). He becomes obsessed. And yet, underneath all of that, there is a protectiveness that had me grinning like a fool. The shift from resistance to desire is layered and absolutely delicious. You feel every step of it. I missed dinner. I skipped sleep. I turned into what I can only describe as a gremlin.

What makes Silas more than just a dark, brooding love interest is the world Alyson Dawn builds around him, specifically, his brothers. Kyrin and Greyson are not background characters; they are essential to understanding who Silas is and why. Dawn handles this with a grace that genuinely surprised me. The trauma is not glossed over, but neither is it used as cheap backstory. It lives in the way the brothers interact, in a loyalty so deep and instinctive it feels almost feral. And once you understand what Silas has always been to the people he loves, his obsession with protecting Ember stops being just a dark romance trope. It becomes something that makes complete, aching sense.

But here is what elevates Ruined from a great dark romance into something I think about long after closing it: the writing. Truly, genuinely beautiful writing. I had to put the book down. I stared at the ceiling. That is the kind of writing that makes you want to press the book into strangers' hands in the middle of the grocery store. It is not an accident or a happy coincidence, it's the work of someone who understands that dark romance at its best is not just about heat and tension. It's about being undone. About being, as the title so perfectly says, ruined.

Coming from a fantasy background, I was curious whether dark romance would feel shallow or purely surface level by comparison. Ruined answered that question definitively. The emotions here are just as vast, the character work just as careful, and the world just as lived in. It's simply packaged differently, in a dark club filled with masks and two people who have no business being as compelling together as they are.

[Gwyn Gable · Rating 5 out of 5]

​Ember is a woman who knows who she is, what she wants, and lives life by her own rules. Then there is Silas, a broody sex club owner who appears to just be going through the motions, merely existing rather than truly living.  When Ember shows up to his club (an appointment that was his brother's doing. Something Silas isn’t happy about) to "audition" as the photographer for an upcoming gala, Silas tries to intimidate her. Silas is instead frustratingly drawn to this firecracker who purposely defies him. From that moment on, we are taken on a wild ride, packed with consuming obsession, intense stalking, and an unknown threat looming over Ember.


​While that setup might sound like a classic dark romance trope,  the author’s spot-on depiction of healing from trauma stands out and deserves to be highlighted.


​Without giving away spoilers, Ember experiences a violation that almost destroys her. The author’s depiction of the psychological aftermath, is perfectly captured through Ember's internal struggle:


“I wanted to feel. I wanted to move on. I wanted to be myself again, but it was like something was there, stopping me—like I was locked out of my mind and I didn’t have control.”


​The repetition of “I wanted” resonated loudly within my core. As a survivor myself, I instantly recognized this sentiment. Then she feels like "something was there, stopping me," something that hit me right in the feels. It perfectly describes that invisible force that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go, no matter how desperately you want it to.


When she describes being "locked out of my mind," I had to pause and take a deep breath as memories of my own struggles with trauma came flooding back. It was incredibly relatable, and had me reflecting on my own personal progress. It made me realize that while past trauma may break us initially, it ultimately shapes who we are today, whether we want to accept that reality or not.


​Ember's healing journey is incredibly compelling. When she notes that "the haze in my mind started to clear. I still felt like I was fighting…but now, I should…be present," I just loved how authentic her recovery felt. While her timeline was somewhat accelerated (healing looks different for everyone, and even years later, I still find myself lost in my own mind) it felt profoundly real. 


​This book checks every box: an obsessed, possessive MMC, intense stalker vibes, a fiercely strong FMC, a sex club setting, and distinct Dom/sub undertones. Silas is one of the best Doms I have ever seen depicted in dark romance. He is so in tune with Ember that he anticipates her needs before she even recognizes them herself. The way he protects and takes care of her, always putting her healing and well-being first, is honestly so incredibly sweet.

[Krystle · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ruined had several elements that immediately caught my attention. I always enjoy a morally gray MMC, and Silas delivered on that front. The sex club setting also felt fresh for me, as it’s not a trope or backdrop I’ve encountered often outside of a handful of recent reads.

One of my favorite parts of the story was the relationship between Silas, Greyson, and Kyrin. Their dynamic felt authentic, and I found myself just as invested in their sibling bond as I was in the romance. While it’s clear there are pieces of Greyson and Kyrin’s history that will likely be explored further, I would have loved a little more insight into Greyson specifically in this book.

Where the story lost me was with Ember’s characterization and some of the surrounding plotlines. Nearly every man in the book seemed obsessed with her while she remained completely unaware of it. For me, that dynamic felt unnecessary and unrealistic. Silas’s attraction to Ember didn’t need to be justified by having every other man covet her first. Ember already had qualities that could naturally draw someone to her, and the constant attention from other men ultimately made parts of her characterization feel frustrating rather than endearing. This also tied into the subplot involving her boss secretly being in love with her, which felt like another example of the story piling on male attention rather than adding meaningful depth to Ember’s character or the overall plot.

I also struggled with the masquerade event storyline. After Ember worked hard to earn the photography opportunity and proved herself during the trial shoot, I was excited to see her step into that role. Instead, the event became more focused on her relationship with Silas than on the opportunity she’d worked so hard to achieve. That shift felt disappointing and took away from a moment that could have showcased her growth and ambition.

Overall, Ruined had some strong elements, particularly the morally gray hero, the sibling relationships, and the unique setting. While some character and plot choices didn’t quite land for me, I’ll still be interested to see where the series goes next and learn more about the characters, especially Greyson and Kyrin.

[Shalaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters:
Ember:
Ember is what you get if you mix someone an eldest child, a yellow dress and a brat. I love her independence, I like she wants to be financially stable and not rely on her rich friend at all.

Silas:
You have beige people, and you have grey people. He is someone who had to grop up too fast, who hides pain and trauma under control. But he also is someone who will stop at nothing to protect those he cares for.

Greyson:
He kind of brother you call at 2 am, tell him you need to dispose of a body and burn it, and he answer: “Give me 45 min”

Bodhi:
If you are a fan of bodhi in Fourth Wing, I’m sorry.

Romance:
It’s marketed as enemies-to-lovers, and not really. It’s more clashing personalities than lovers. The romance between them is slow. The lust happens fast, and you will have a good bit of action early in the book.

But the romance itself is slow because both characters need to come to terms with a lot in their lives. Even with all that, it happens fast, timeline-wise.

BUT, I still loved it. I cheered for them, I was on the edge of my couch, and I giggled.

Mission accomplished.

My thoughts:
I was in the mood for a good stalker romance, and guuuuurl was I served. I ATE THAT BOOK UP. It’s so damn unfair with how good it is!

The writing style was the first thing that hooked me; I don’t know why exactly, but it did. Before I even noticed, I had finished the book, devouring it within a morning.

I cheered for quite a few characters; I didn’t expect the conclusion. Well, no, I expected it, but I didn’t expect who the asshole would be.

The story is truly captivating; I couldn’t stop reading, wanting to know what would happen, what Silas would do, how Ember would answer and fight back.

Another good point is the way the author talked about trauma, different kinds of trauma and how different people process and live with it differently.

Now I’m sad because I have to leave those characters behind, but a little bird told me there will be more books in the series for the other two brothers. So it’s not the last we hear about Silas and Ember.

[Brittany Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️

First of all, thanks to Alyson for giving me the opportunity to ARC read Ruined.

Silas, our broody MMC, is the owner of a masked sex club called Ruined and spends most of his days observing operations and living a somewhat routine lifestyle. Ember, our bubbly FMC, is the opposite in almost every way! Where Silas is darkness, Ember is light. Where Silas is quiet and broody, Ember is loud and has a fire inside of her that is fitting of her name.

The two collide when Silas’s brother, Kyrin, recommends Ember to be the photographer for the clubs annual masquerade. Silas agrees to give Ember a trial run to see her work and the moment they meet, the shift in the story begins. What starts off as a mutual “dislike” of each other turns into something much more raw, at times spicy and a bit obsessive as the story goes on.

Overall I enjoyed the storyline and liked the little plot twist at the end.

However, there were some things I would’ve like to see more of (or less of) throughout the story. The main ones being:
- I wish we had more time at Ruined. I loved the club dynamic and wished it was more involved.
- I feel like Ember’s job at the bookstore and her boss’s obsession with her was kind of random. I feel like it all could have been left out.
- I wish we had more from Kolby to really sell his obsession with Ember. It seemed like we were supposed to assume he was the one messing with Ember but there really wasn’t anything sketchy about him to give that vibe other than vaguely being told he was into her.
- I wish we had more info about Silas’s background. He vaguely mentioned that his father killed his mom toward the end and then it just got swept under the rug like it wasn’t a big deal.
- I feel like the cop showing up at Silas’s to ask about Bhodi and then nothing else happening with that was odd. Bhodi’s remains most likely would’ve been discovered in the aftermath of the fire so a death investigation would have been more fitting than a missing person investigation IMO.

Those things aside, I still enjoyed the story and the writing style and would read more from Alyson in the future.

[skia_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruined is all the things us dark romance girlies live for.

Silas owns a nightclub where everything is dark, controlled, and exactly the way he wants it... until Ember walks in wearing the brightest yellow dress imaginable.

From that moment on, she completely throws him off his game.
He gives her rules. She ignores them.
He tries to intimidate her. She pushes right back.
The more she refuses to bend to his will, the more obsessed he becomes. And yes... Silas is every bit as unhinged as I hoped he'd be. He's possessive, obsessive, controlling, and constantly watching Ember, convinced he knows what's best for her.

Ember is that badass FMC we love to read about. She has this confidence and stubbornness that made every interaction between them entertaining. She refuses to let Silas steamroll her, and I loved that she challenged him every chance she got.

Watching these two constantly clash kept me hooked. Their chemistry was addictive, and I genuinely wanted to see how they would ever find common ground.

That said... while I absolutely ate this story up, some parts felt a little rushed. Their first encounter happened a little too fast for me. I would've liked to see Ember push back a little longer before giving in. Don't get me wrong... she absolutely challenges Silas throughout the story, but I wanted more of that in the beginning.

The plot twist was also pretty predictable, which was a bit of a miss for me. It wasn't bad by any means... I just thought it could've been better.

This story had all the elements I love in a dark romance, but I never got that moment that completely blew me away.

The story was addictive. I finished it in one sitting and genuinely enjoyed it from beginning to end.

So while I loved this story... I didn't fall in love with it.

If you're looking for a dark romance with an obsessive, morally gray MMC.. I mean full on touch her and die vibes.. a badass FMC who stands her ground, and plenty of tension between them, I still think this one is worth picking up.

4⭐️
I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really appreciated that the story focuses on the present rather than heavily diving into the characters' past traumas. Those were briefly explored but I like how that didn't take away from their current situation.

There are definitely some spelling and editing issues that get more noticeable as the story progresses. For example in one sentence it said "aign" when it was supposed to say "sign." Another time Greyson said that Greyson sent him when it was supposed to say that Kyrin sent Greyson. Also nearly every man in the story seemed to desire Ember. Personally, that's something I find a bit overdone and annoying. It did not turn me off of the book, it just made me roll my eyes.

I did find Ember to be pretty frustrating at times. She was extremely short-tempered and so determined to get her way that it became a little irritating. However, I do think those traits fit the role she played as Silas’ opposite. Silas, on the other hand, completely won me over from the beginning. He never pretended to be someone he wasn’t, and he was consistently caring and honest about his feelings. While Ember kept denying her feelings for him, which is common in romance stories, it was refreshing to see Silas immediately accept how he felt about her instead of fighting it.

I liked the pace of the story, their banter and their inner thoughts. Silas, club owner, and Ember, photographer, could not be more different and yet their chemistry is off the charts. It was so funny to basically feel how anxious Silas was while reading about Ember not having a savings account nor an emergency contact. I loved the playlist the author put together for this book!

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I'd definitely recommend it and am so glad I got the chance to meet these characters. I'm hoping we get more books focused on the brothers, Kyrin and Greyson.

[Charlene Atmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so unexpected in multiple ways, but I loved it! I’m always a fan of books with masked and morally grey men, so if you’re like me, you definitely want to give this book a try.

The story is about Silas and Ember. Silas is all about control and he knows what he wants. He’s a very dominant type and isn’t used to people not doing what he says. But then there comes Ember. She’s a photographer and gets hired by Silas brother Kyrin. Her job is to capture the taboo club and their guests in their natural habitat. After one look, Silas is obsessed with Ember. He stalks and tracks her, trying to find out everything there is to know about Ember. Silas may also find out he’s not the only monster lurking in the dark.

When I read the blurb about masked men I didn’t expect it to be in a taboo club, masquerade setting. But I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The story itself was also very different than how I thought it was going to go. Silas is this serious, almost brooding type. Whereas Ember is a breath of fresh air that disrupts Silas’s life. I love Silas and Ember’s dynamic. They truly compliment each other. Also their chemistry and the spice was hot. Couldn’t get enough.
The brothers Solstice are amazing. They really have each others back when necessary. Kyrin and Greyson have their own personalities and it’s so fun to see how they handle each situation.

Everything about this book was great and I thought it was very fast-paced without it being rushed. I was also on the edge of my seat for the big reveal at the end. It was definitely a plottwist for me. Overall I really enjoyed this book and give it four stars.

Thank you Alyson Dawn for the e.ARC!

[The Vulgar Vicinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️
Themes:
Touch Her and ☠️🖤
Masked Med 🖤
Enemies to Lovers 🔥

Summary:
Ember: The job was supposed to be easy, a simple photography contract at an exclusive club. Little did I know that Silas, the owner, would be arrogant and completely insufferable. Within his dark world, he ruled from behind a mask and within the shadows, while everyone around him bowed at his feet. But I was never the type to obey, and ! wasn't about to let him believe he had any control over me.

Silas: The rules were supposed to be simple, like everything else inside my club. I never expected them to be openly defied by someone made of pure chaos and fire. My anger toward her defiance quickly twisted into an obsession. The more I watched her, the more I wanted to burn. But I soon realized that someone else was tempted by her flames, and I wasn't about to let anyone else claim the woman I planned to ruin.

Review:
This book pulls you in from the first page!! It was an easy read that completely envelopes you. I loved how the FMC (Ember) isn’t some “victim” but a woman full of fire and strength, with a f*ck it attitude. The MMV (Silas) is a broody male who will protect her at any cost, even if she doesn’t know. 😏 If you want to read a story where the MMC’s stalking catches a stalker, this is for you!! There are some dark themes so please look at trigger warnings ‼️

Favorite Quote:
“Our darkness is one that invades without you knowing, a slow kind of ruin. A type that eats you until you’re ready to admit exactly who you are.”

Thank you to Alyson Dawn for the gifted eARC #Ruined #Booktok #SonsOfSolstice

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok

Really enjoyed this one! I’m such a sucker for a possessive, masked stalker MMC who will literally do anything to protect his girl.

This was fast-paced and full of banter. I couldn't put it down.

The story follows Ember, a photographer who is hired to take photos at a taboo club. Silas, the club's owner, is convinced she won't be able to handle his world—but she quickly proves him wrong. Their relationship starts off with plenty of tension, but Silas becomes determined to claim her as his own.

There is stalking, obsessive possessiveness, jealous punishments and plenty of spicy scenes. When a major twist is revealed, Silas becomes her hero.

Really enjoyed the side characters, especially Silas’ brothers. Would love more of them!

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced dark romance with great banter, plenty of spice, and an obsessive MMC that kept me hooked the whole time.

‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧

➳❥ Dark Romance
➳❥ Enemies to Lovers
➳❥ Taboo Club
➳❥ Touch Her & Die
➳❥ Kidnapping
➳❥ Stalker
➳❥ Masked Men

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼

“The darkness here tends to destroy anything that it deems too bright.”

“You don't look away when you fall apart for me, do you understand? Welcome to your ruin.”

“The flames I hated, the ones I had vowed to suffocate, ended up welding us together.”

“I'd never truly lived before her. I simply wandered around a black-and-white world, refusing to see the color.”

[Yajaira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Release Day Ruined 🥀
Book 1 in Sons of Solstice series

•ARC Review•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️

⚠️ This book gets dark and I mean dark. SO please please check your trigger warnings. ⚠️

First off tank you so much @chaptersatdawn for allowing me to ARC read your newsiest release. You have become a favorite. 🫶🏻

What to expect:
Taboo Club, masked mmc, stalking, enemies to lovers, touch her and die😉

My review:
Silas, oh my goodness definitely a new book boyfriend. Silas Solstice knows exactly who he is and he knows exactly what he wants and won’t stop until he gets it. I loved seeing his character grow and him being able to open up about his life.

Ember, you funny, impulsive, fearless girl she has the funniest comebacks towards Silas I love it. She won’t take no one’s shit especially his. Embers story is emotional.. Just know I cried with her a lot.

Silas and Embers chemistry is so good, I hate him and I hate her but we’re obsessed with each other!? Yesss. They both balance each other out so perfectly, the tension and hate? SO GOOD.

The plot twist was twisting oh my it had me turning pages left to right. My mind kept jumping from point A to point B. If you read this book just know you’ll be screaming at Ember a lot, questioning so much and asking questions like why? How could you? 🤯

Favorite quotes:
“The darkness here tends to destroy anything that it deems too bright.”

“You don’t look away when you fall apart for me, do you understand? Welcome to your ruin.”

“I like you vicious because it makes me feel alive, Ember,” he said slowly, “you make me feel alive.”

#ruined #arcreview #happyreleaseday #bookstagram #bookaesthetic

[Danika · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to Alyson Dawn for trusting me with an ARC, first one and I’m so happy! 💙💙

Ruined absolutely had me hooked. I told myself “just one more chapter”… and suddenly it was the middle of the night and my husband woke up asking me if I had put my book down yet. The tension? Yes, Incredible. The emotions? Yes, Emotional damage in the best way. The chemistry between these characters had me kicking my feet one minute, screaming at them the next and wanting me to put down the book but read more at the same time!

The characters felt real, flawed, and impossible not to get invested in. Reading everything unfold had me completely glued to the pages, and there were so many moments that had me gasping, smiling, or wanting to throw my phone across the room. I’m an Apple Books user, sorry. Haven’t gotten a Kindle just yet.

Now let’s talk about the spice… 🌶️🔥 Because if you’re wondering whether there’s such a thing as “too much spice,” the answer is NOPE. Alyson Dawn understood the assignment and DELIVERED. Every spicy scene had me fanning myself, wanting more and it all fit the story instead of feeling forced. If you’re a spice lover, you’re going to be well FED.

If you love dark romance with emotional angst, chemistry, tension that will have you screaming, and spice that keeps delivering, add this to your TBR immediately.

So incredibly grateful for this opportunity for my first ARC read, thank you so much Alyson Dawn, I can’t wait to see what you have in store next! 📚💙💙

[bbieghoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review for Ruined*

"You are going to be whatever the f**k I say you are, sunshine"

Ruined is a dark romance, please read trigger warnings!

Silas is the brooding owner of the s*x club, Ruined. Every patron of Ruined must wear one of three masks...one for voyeurs, one for doms and one for volunteers.
To celebrate another year of the club, Silas is hosting a masquerade event and needs a photographer to cover the event.
Unfortunately for him, his brother has already taken care of it and hired none other than quirky and colourful Ember. Her bratty attitude and bright attire immediately gets on Silas' nerves, especially when she ignores the strict rules of his club. She is under his skin and he is desperate to put her in her place...

This was such an addictive read for me. The tension between the two main characters is stifling from the get-go, and whilst the spice in this book is plentiful, this does not take away from the main storyline, which is tense in itself! Ember seems to always end up in less than favourable situations, and Silas is always ready to claw her straight back out of them. Their relationship is full of sparks but also has a gentleness under the surface that just really makes these two perfect for each other.

5 stars for me! And an author I will definitely be reading more from.
(Plus I need to hear more about Greyson...;))

Thank you to Alyson Dawn for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I am forever grateful <3

[Crystal Doss Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced reader copy...

Ruined by Alyson Dawn is a captivating dark romance that pulls readers into a world of mystery, obsession, and undeniable chemistry. The story follows Ember, a strong-willed photographer who finds herself drawn into the dangerous world of Silas, a masked man who exudes power and control. What begins as a clash of personalities quickly develops into a complex relationship filled with tension, secrets, and emotional.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its character development. Ember is independent, witty, and refuses to be intimidated, making her an engaging heroine. Silas is equally compelling, balancing confidence and vulnerability in a way that makes him impossible to ignore. Their banter and evolving relationship keep the story moving at a perfect pace.

The dark romance elements are well-executed, creating an atmosphere of suspense while maintaining an emotional connection between the characters. Alyson Dawn's writing is immersive, and the storyline flows naturally, making it difficult to put the book down. The combination of romance, mystery, and intrigue keeps readers invested from beginning to end.

Overall, Ruined is a must-read for fans of dark romance who enjoy enemies-to-lovers dynamics, forced proximity, strong character chemistry, and a touch of danger. It delivers both emotional intensity and engaging storytelling, leaving readers eager for the next installment in the series.

[Cece Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you so much Alyson Dawn for allowing me to ARC read your amazing novel.

Omg, I am obsessed with this book.
Absolutely loved it! Many occasions of feet kicking!

Ember, the FMC, is a lovable character with a strong will and fabulous at driving men wild without trying.

Silas, the MMC, is dark, brooding and controlling. He runs an exclusive nightclub hosting surprises inside. He and his two brothers (Kyrin is my fav!) have dark pasts that have moulded them into the men they are today.

When Ember is hired as a photographer for the club, Silas is raging. She wears a bright yellow dress making her stand out and he doubts her abilities. What he doesn't know is that she is strong, talented and stubborn!

He falls first and is obsessed! What will happen, will she fall too or run him off.

Key tropes are:
Masks
Enemies to Lovers
Stalker romance
Obsession
Touch her & die
Forced Proximity
Taboo club
Voyeurism

Spice level 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Favourite quotes:
"I mean, who would pay for a membership like that? However, the second section was where those questions faded as my eyes halted on the word masks."

"Beautiful chaos cloaked in different forms of stimulation."


"I want everything. History. Records. Real name, if that isn't it. Bank accounts. Web presence. Social. Family. Anything you can find."

"Mine."

"Even then, she had ruined me completely."

Review left voluntarily.

[Emily (emilysdarkcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruined by Alyson Dawn

Please make sure you check your trigger warnings and content warnings before diving into this

Ember works in a bookstore and lives with her best friend and her twin brother. She loves photography and she gets a call from someone saying they would love her to take pictures for an event coming up at a club they have.

What starts as showing up at the club to take pictures turns into something more.....

Silas runs the club Ruined and it is a masked club for members only who want to explore their fantasies. As soon as he sees his eyes on that yellow dress he knows that he wants to ruin her. But, once she finished the job he couldn't stop thinking about her and that yellow dress. He didn't know what it was but he couldn't get her out of his head.

The way this book had me hooked from the moment I started it. I literally couldn't put it down! Any chance I got I was picking up my kindle again so that I could keep reading. I don't want to give anything away but there were some things that happened and I was on the edge of my seat while reading because I couldn't believe it.

The way that Silas was completely OBSESSED with Ember was EVERYTHING! He took her from her house because of something that happened but the way it turned into him needing her was just something completely different. He couldn't be away from her because he felt like something was off if she wasn't next to him.

[Jenny Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading Ruined by Alyson Dawn and honestly… this book had me feeling confused in the best possible way.

From the beginning, I loved the tension between Silas and Ember. They absolutely were not fans of each other, but watching Silas slowly become completely obsessed with her? Addicting. The entire dynamic with the cameras and him always having access to her had me constantly questioning myself, was I supposed to be terrified… or a little turned on? Because somehow it was both. 😮‍💨

What I enjoyed most was how layered the characters felt. Ember goes through so much emotionally, and seeing her slowly thrive with Silas instead of breaking apart made me love their relationship even more. Beneath all the darkness, obsession, and tension, there was still this deep sense of being wanted and treasured.

And that ending?! I genuinely did not see it coming. I kept trying to figure out where the story was heading and was still surprised in the best way. I’m honestly so glad it ended the way it did because Ember finally found not only someone who truly valued her, but also a family she could belong to.

If you enjoy dark romance with obsession, tension, morally gray characters, and the kind of story that keeps you questioning your own feelings the entire time… Ruined is definitely worth the read

[Kendra Steward · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC COPY REVIEW**

This book was a quick fun read! I do think if you love Dark Romance with a confident and strong FMC/Morally Gray MMC this one is for you. Masked men, taboo, voyeurism, touch her and die vibes. I would definitely say check your trigger warnings. I was honestly hooked from the first page because it’s fast paced so it was immediately wild. The spice is this one was delicious! The tension between the FMC and MMC was one of my favorite parts of the book because it was always there until the FMC fully submits. The plot twist in this book was great, any book that was a twist will do it for me every single time. I feel like I also just resonated with our FMC Ember for multiple reasons, but mainly her background is literally my background story, I wasn’t triggered by any means but just read and and was like damn me too girl. I also just love her name so much(Elemental is my favorite Pixar film). I feel like it’s typically hard to picture myself in books but this one I did see apart of myself in Ember which is so cool for me because that rare for me. Im excited to read more books by this author. Please check this one out for a quick fast paced Dark Romance with great tension and spice with a delicious MMC.