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Retrograde: A Dark Dystopian Romance
Not yet published
Expected 17 Sep 26Will you do the right thing, or will you protect the people you love?
It’s the hardest choice in the world. One I was forced to make years ago.
I have always known I would face the consequences. There was never any escape.
And in this fractured world, consequences have a name. Aron Krasnik. The Necromancer.
The most notorious leader of a rebel group, as vicious as he is ruthless. He has no mercy for traitors.
He has finally come for me, and yet I find myself craving the warped justice that he brings.
Because I was his hope once.
It is only right that he should now be my reckoning.
Retrograde is the first book in a series of interconnected standalone novels. It is a dark romance. As such, it features mature content, intense scenes, and themes that some readers may find disturbing. Content considerations can be found on the author's margosmythe.com
It’s the hardest choice in the world. One I was forced to make years ago.
I have always known I would face the consequences. There was never any escape.
And in this fractured world, consequences have a name. Aron Krasnik. The Necromancer.
The most notorious leader of a rebel group, as vicious as he is ruthless. He has no mercy for traitors.
He has finally come for me, and yet I find myself craving the warped justice that he brings.
Because I was his hope once.
It is only right that he should now be my reckoning.
Retrograde is the first book in a series of interconnected standalone novels. It is a dark romance. As such, it features mature content, intense scenes, and themes that some readers may find disturbing. Content considerations can be found on the author's margosmythe.com
- GenresDark RomanceDystopia
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 17, 2026
About the author
Margo Smythe
4 books113 followersMargo is a software engineer by day and a writer of spicy ruin by night. Her stories feature morally grey characters, high stakes and haunting choices, and seldom come without a dose of emotional damage.
When Margo is not lost in books, hers or others’, she is travelling, gaming, or hiking. She currently lives in Prague but tends to move wherever curiosity pulls her.
When Margo is not lost in books, hers or others’, she is travelling, gaming, or hiking. She currently lives in Prague but tends to move wherever curiosity pulls her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 23, 2026
Thank you Margo Smythe for the opportunity to receive and read Retrograde eARC!
Riley is a photographer, she captures sides of the war - propaganda, some might say. A decision she had to make that marks her as a traitor to the rebellion. A group called Retrograde.
Their leader, Aron, the Necromancer has one thing on his mind. To make her suffer. He has one rule, no mercy for traitors. And lucky for him, the biggest traitor is in a cage waiting for him. Riley.
Both are stubborn, passionate for their causes. They fight for survival, it’s what they had to adapt to do growing. Aron is merciless, emotionless, guarded and cold. Riley is strategic, strong willed, resilient, clever and guarded. The two of them start off with that hot and cold, captor and captive it makes sense. But slowly Aron is realizing he has a weak spot and Riley will do anything to survive.
The tension between them is as hot as the war that’s taking place around them.
“Because now you’re my heaven as well as my hell.”
Between fighting their feelings for each other the war that’s taking place rages on. The realization of the backstabbing and double crossing causes doubt on who they can trust. Doubt on who’s on the right side of the war. The only thing they can confirm is the need to survive. Survive the war and each other.
Riley is a photographer, she captures sides of the war - propaganda, some might say. A decision she had to make that marks her as a traitor to the rebellion. A group called Retrograde.
Their leader, Aron, the Necromancer has one thing on his mind. To make her suffer. He has one rule, no mercy for traitors. And lucky for him, the biggest traitor is in a cage waiting for him. Riley.
Both are stubborn, passionate for their causes. They fight for survival, it’s what they had to adapt to do growing. Aron is merciless, emotionless, guarded and cold. Riley is strategic, strong willed, resilient, clever and guarded. The two of them start off with that hot and cold, captor and captive it makes sense. But slowly Aron is realizing he has a weak spot and Riley will do anything to survive.
The tension between them is as hot as the war that’s taking place around them.
“Because now you’re my heaven as well as my hell.”
Between fighting their feelings for each other the war that’s taking place rages on. The realization of the backstabbing and double crossing causes doubt on who they can trust. Doubt on who’s on the right side of the war. The only thing they can confirm is the need to survive. Survive the war and each other.
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August 21, 2026I will come back to this rating and review
Review of advance copy received from Author
I thought I was prepared for Retrograde.
I wasn’t.
And frankly, after being part of the hype machine for this book, I’m slightly offended that Margo actually delivered exactly what she promised. 😂
Because now I’m sitting here trying to pretend I’m a functioning adult while my brain is somewhere in a nuclear fallout zone with Aron Krasnik.
And honestly… Aron is the sort of man who makes you question every life choice that led you to finding fictional psychopaths attractive.
Because this man’s idea of justice is… well… warped would be putting it mildly. But that’s the thing about Aron. He isn’t erratic. Everything he does makes horrifying sense to him.
And then there’s Riley.
She isn’t simply the traitor.
There is so much more to her story, and Margo slowly peels back those layers, giving you little pieces of her past until you start to understand why she made the choices she did.
And I loved that.
Because this wasn’t just a case of girl gets captured by terrifying rebel leader. There is history here. There are choices. Consequences. Betrayal. And two people who have far more going on beneath the surface than either of them wants to admit.
And then there is THAT ENDING.
No spoilers.
Absolutely NO spoilers.
But Margo… WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKERY.
I am still processing it.
I am also, apparently, as discombobulated as the dystopian world after a nuclear bomb was dropped. ☢️😂
And because apparently nuclear fallout wasn’t enough trauma for one woman…
THE SPICE.
Oh, the spice.
Because after the world has basically gone to hell, apparently all you really need is a pierced cock, a rebel leader and a man finally deciding he’s going to fight for you. 👀🔥
And let me tell you…
I was not complaining.
I went into this book knowing the tropes. I knew the vibes. I had been screaming about this book for weeks.
But knowing what was coming did absolutely NOTHING to prepare me for actually reading it.
I laughed.
I raged.
I questioned my life choices.
I got emotionally invested.
I got very, VERY warm. 🥵
And then Margo went and dropped that ending on me.
Rude.
The hype was worth it.
The wait was worth it.
And Retrograde was absolutely everything we have been telling you it was going to be.
Margo… you bloody delivered.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a dystopian world to recover from and a fictional psychopath to get out of my head.
5 ⭐️ and one extremely discombobulated Novellaworm. 🖤☢️
I wasn’t.
And frankly, after being part of the hype machine for this book, I’m slightly offended that Margo actually delivered exactly what she promised. 😂
Because now I’m sitting here trying to pretend I’m a functioning adult while my brain is somewhere in a nuclear fallout zone with Aron Krasnik.
And honestly… Aron is the sort of man who makes you question every life choice that led you to finding fictional psychopaths attractive.
Because this man’s idea of justice is… well… warped would be putting it mildly. But that’s the thing about Aron. He isn’t erratic. Everything he does makes horrifying sense to him.
And then there’s Riley.
She isn’t simply the traitor.
There is so much more to her story, and Margo slowly peels back those layers, giving you little pieces of her past until you start to understand why she made the choices she did.
And I loved that.
Because this wasn’t just a case of girl gets captured by terrifying rebel leader. There is history here. There are choices. Consequences. Betrayal. And two people who have far more going on beneath the surface than either of them wants to admit.
And then there is THAT ENDING.
No spoilers.
Absolutely NO spoilers.
But Margo… WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKERY.
I am still processing it.
I am also, apparently, as discombobulated as the dystopian world after a nuclear bomb was dropped. ☢️😂
And because apparently nuclear fallout wasn’t enough trauma for one woman…
THE SPICE.
Oh, the spice.
Because after the world has basically gone to hell, apparently all you really need is a pierced cock, a rebel leader and a man finally deciding he’s going to fight for you. 👀🔥
And let me tell you…
I was not complaining.
I went into this book knowing the tropes. I knew the vibes. I had been screaming about this book for weeks.
But knowing what was coming did absolutely NOTHING to prepare me for actually reading it.
I laughed.
I raged.
I questioned my life choices.
I got emotionally invested.
I got very, VERY warm. 🥵
And then Margo went and dropped that ending on me.
Rude.
The hype was worth it.
The wait was worth it.
And Retrograde was absolutely everything we have been telling you it was going to be.
Margo… you bloody delivered.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a dystopian world to recover from and a fictional psychopath to get out of my head.
5 ⭐️ and one extremely discombobulated Novellaworm. 🖤☢️
Review of advance copy received from Author
YALL. BUCKLE UP AND GET COZY. THIS IS A “READ IN ONE SITTING” BOOK.
I feel like saying I devoured this is an understatement. I couldn’t get enough of it. I need more. So, so very much more.
First of all, the world building is absolutely top notch. Margo truly knows how to describe such a world that you can see it develop while reading. Something that I absolutely love about her writing.
AND THE CHARACTERS. I don’t know how she does it, but I always become obsessed with them. Riley is without a doubt, a strong woman and refuses to give up without a fight. The little snippets of her past, showing her rage and frustration, you can understand why she became who she is. What lead her to that point. But you can’t help but revel in the fact that she is a badass—regardless of being a traitor—she will take matters into her own hands. Without so much of a blink. Some of her snarky comebacks though had me cackling. Absolutely loved her.
Aron—The Necromancer—he was without fail, chaotic, psychotic, vicious, and dangerously unhinged. His tableau’s—his art—was that of a very “creative” mind. However, his reasonings for creating them, were valid. Even Riley saw it that way too—which should have been a red flag for both of them. I have to give credit where it’s due though—because he did get very…inventive.. with his extracurriculars. And boy do we love a man that takes pride in his work. Just maybe—don’t disrespect him. You might lose a few body parts—here and there, perhaps.
HOWEVER—Aron and Riley—🥵 Holy motherfucking hell. Keep a fan handy when you read this one, because it’ll get warm—hella fast. My god. Those two together. 🔥Let’s just say, I learned some things, that I never thought I’d think about. And I ain’t mad about it. You’ll be blushing for days and also questioning a bit of your sanity too.
Beyond loving those two characters—the world you end up learning about, the other characters along the way, the story throughout—what a phenomenal journey. I was pulled in straight from the start and it just kept getting better and better. Page after page, I couldn’t help my emotions going from giddy, to anger, to hurt, to “HOLY HELL THAT WAS HOT” and “OH MY THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY” to pure and utter happiness with the ending. I absolutely cannot wait to get more from this world.
Another masterpiece created from Queen Margo herself. Absolutely INCREDIBLE.
I feel like saying I devoured this is an understatement. I couldn’t get enough of it. I need more. So, so very much more.
First of all, the world building is absolutely top notch. Margo truly knows how to describe such a world that you can see it develop while reading. Something that I absolutely love about her writing.
AND THE CHARACTERS. I don’t know how she does it, but I always become obsessed with them. Riley is without a doubt, a strong woman and refuses to give up without a fight. The little snippets of her past, showing her rage and frustration, you can understand why she became who she is. What lead her to that point. But you can’t help but revel in the fact that she is a badass—regardless of being a traitor—she will take matters into her own hands. Without so much of a blink. Some of her snarky comebacks though had me cackling. Absolutely loved her.
Aron—The Necromancer—he was without fail, chaotic, psychotic, vicious, and dangerously unhinged. His tableau’s—his art—was that of a very “creative” mind. However, his reasonings for creating them, were valid. Even Riley saw it that way too—which should have been a red flag for both of them. I have to give credit where it’s due though—because he did get very…inventive.. with his extracurriculars. And boy do we love a man that takes pride in his work. Just maybe—don’t disrespect him. You might lose a few body parts—here and there, perhaps.
HOWEVER—Aron and Riley—🥵 Holy motherfucking hell. Keep a fan handy when you read this one, because it’ll get warm—hella fast. My god. Those two together. 🔥Let’s just say, I learned some things, that I never thought I’d think about. And I ain’t mad about it. You’ll be blushing for days and also questioning a bit of your sanity too.
Beyond loving those two characters—the world you end up learning about, the other characters along the way, the story throughout—what a phenomenal journey. I was pulled in straight from the start and it just kept getting better and better. Page after page, I couldn’t help my emotions going from giddy, to anger, to hurt, to “HOLY HELL THAT WAS HOT” and “OH MY THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY” to pure and utter happiness with the ending. I absolutely cannot wait to get more from this world.
Another masterpiece created from Queen Margo herself. Absolutely INCREDIBLE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fun, dark dystopian read. And by fun, I mean the kind where you know you're absolutely not living in a happy or healthy world, but you're still completely invested in watching everything unfold. Especially at the beginning, the relationship is... definitely not what I would call healthy, so go in knowing this is a dark romance in every sense of the word.
The story follows Riley, a woman who made a choice years ago that came with consequences she knew she'd eventually have to face. Now, in a fractured world, those consequences have a name: Aron Krasnik, better known as the Necromancer. He's the ruthless leader of a rebel faction, and he's come for Riley. What follows is a story of vengeance, survival, secrets, and two people with a complicated history trying to figure out what they are to each other now.
I really enjoyed Riley as a character. She's strong, stubborn, and absolutely willing to fight for herself, but she also carries the weight of her past and the choices that brought her here. Aron is... well, he's the Necromancer. He's ruthless, violent, morally questionable, and definitely not someone I'd want hunting me down. But there's more to him than the terrifying reputation, and I enjoyed getting to see the pieces underneath all that darkness.
Their relationship is messy, complicated, and dark, but it kept me engaged. I liked watching their dynamic shift as more of their history and motivations came to light. Neither of them is particularly healthy, but their flaws and baggage fit the world they're living in, and I found myself invested in seeing where all that tension would ultimately lead.
I also found myself really interested in the dystopian world surrounding them. The romance is definitely the focus, but the fractured society, different factions, and fallout from whatever happened to create this world added another layer that I really enjoyed.
☕ Final Verdict
A dark, engaging dystopian romance with complicated characters, vengeance, secrets, and a seriously messy relationship. Riley and Aron kept me invested from beginning to end, and the combination of dark romance and dystopian survival made for a really entertaining read. If you enjoy morally grey characters, high-stakes romance, and a world that has gone very, very wrong, definitely add this one to your list.
The story follows Riley, a woman who made a choice years ago that came with consequences she knew she'd eventually have to face. Now, in a fractured world, those consequences have a name: Aron Krasnik, better known as the Necromancer. He's the ruthless leader of a rebel faction, and he's come for Riley. What follows is a story of vengeance, survival, secrets, and two people with a complicated history trying to figure out what they are to each other now.
I really enjoyed Riley as a character. She's strong, stubborn, and absolutely willing to fight for herself, but she also carries the weight of her past and the choices that brought her here. Aron is... well, he's the Necromancer. He's ruthless, violent, morally questionable, and definitely not someone I'd want hunting me down. But there's more to him than the terrifying reputation, and I enjoyed getting to see the pieces underneath all that darkness.
Their relationship is messy, complicated, and dark, but it kept me engaged. I liked watching their dynamic shift as more of their history and motivations came to light. Neither of them is particularly healthy, but their flaws and baggage fit the world they're living in, and I found myself invested in seeing where all that tension would ultimately lead.
I also found myself really interested in the dystopian world surrounding them. The romance is definitely the focus, but the fractured society, different factions, and fallout from whatever happened to create this world added another layer that I really enjoyed.
☕ Final Verdict
A dark, engaging dystopian romance with complicated characters, vengeance, secrets, and a seriously messy relationship. Riley and Aron kept me invested from beginning to end, and the combination of dark romance and dystopian survival made for a really entertaining read. If you enjoy morally grey characters, high-stakes romance, and a world that has gone very, very wrong, definitely add this one to your list.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Chosen as a ARC reader & received eARC from author
✨eARC REVIEW✨
𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 by Margo Smythe 🖤
If *Mad Max: Fury Road* and *365 Days* had a feral, morally bankrupt baby… it would be *Retrograde*.
Apparently, my latest red flag is a skull-masked rebel leader known as the Necromancer. Nobody speak to me while I process that. 😂
Aron isn’t morally grey. Morality saw him approaching, packed its bags and fled across the Radiation Rift. He is brutal, possessive, completely unhinged—and so intensely obsessed with Riley that I couldn’t decide whether to fear him or add him to my fictional-men problem.
Probably both.
“You love it when I use you like a thing that belongs to me.”
— Aron
Riley is no helpless captive, though. She is sharp, courageous and stubborn enough to stare directly into the darkness—and occasionally sass it until it laughs. Their power struggle had me completely hooked because, no matter who appeared to be in control, Riley always found a way beneath Aron’s armour.
“Right now, you look like something that belongs to me.”
— Riley
The world was gritty, violent and disturbingly believable. The romance was toxic, obsessive and absolutely not a lesson in healthy communication. Was I seated for every feral second? Unfortunately for my morals, yes.
Yet beneath the spice and savagery was a surprisingly emotional story about guilt, survival and whether someone who has made himself a monster can ever find his way back.
“Sometimes I think I deserve everything you’ve done to me.”
— Riley
“Sometimes I worry that you don’t.”
— Aron
Dark, graphic, morally confronting—and an easy five stars from me. Please check every content warning before entering the Necromancer’s territory. He isn’t coming to hold your hand… unless it’s to restrain it. 🖤
Thank you, Margo Smythe, for trusting me with an eARC of this brilliantly crafted, deliciously dark story. The haunting dystopian world, morally confronting themes and feral chemistry between Riley and Aron made Retrograde impossible to put down. Your ability to uncover genuine emotion beneath all that brutality and obsession was incredible.
All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Add this one to your list. 🖤
✨eARC REVIEW✨
𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 by Margo Smythe 🖤
If *Mad Max: Fury Road* and *365 Days* had a feral, morally bankrupt baby… it would be *Retrograde*.
Apparently, my latest red flag is a skull-masked rebel leader known as the Necromancer. Nobody speak to me while I process that. 😂
Aron isn’t morally grey. Morality saw him approaching, packed its bags and fled across the Radiation Rift. He is brutal, possessive, completely unhinged—and so intensely obsessed with Riley that I couldn’t decide whether to fear him or add him to my fictional-men problem.
Probably both.
“You love it when I use you like a thing that belongs to me.”
— Aron
Riley is no helpless captive, though. She is sharp, courageous and stubborn enough to stare directly into the darkness—and occasionally sass it until it laughs. Their power struggle had me completely hooked because, no matter who appeared to be in control, Riley always found a way beneath Aron’s armour.
“Right now, you look like something that belongs to me.”
— Riley
The world was gritty, violent and disturbingly believable. The romance was toxic, obsessive and absolutely not a lesson in healthy communication. Was I seated for every feral second? Unfortunately for my morals, yes.
Yet beneath the spice and savagery was a surprisingly emotional story about guilt, survival and whether someone who has made himself a monster can ever find his way back.
“Sometimes I think I deserve everything you’ve done to me.”
— Riley
“Sometimes I worry that you don’t.”
— Aron
Dark, graphic, morally confronting—and an easy five stars from me. Please check every content warning before entering the Necromancer’s territory. He isn’t coming to hold your hand… unless it’s to restrain it. 🖤
Thank you, Margo Smythe, for trusting me with an eARC of this brilliantly crafted, deliciously dark story. The haunting dystopian world, morally confronting themes and feral chemistry between Riley and Aron made Retrograde impossible to put down. Your ability to uncover genuine emotion beneath all that brutality and obsession was incredible.
All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Add this one to your list. 🖤
August 23, 2026
Review of advance copy received from author
I rated this 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice !! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️!!
I’d say the spice level is very high but please check your TW’s before reading as some topics aren’t for everybody. 🌶️
I had the best time reading this and time just escaped me. I finished it in a day! 🤭 very, very unlike me.
This steamy, broken nuclear world that’s been created surrounded by war, death and poverty is the first instalment in this series and I devoured it! 🫦
The plot focuses around two main characters. Our FMC who is a war photographer, made a deal years ago prior to protect her family. She gets captured by this rebel group called “Retrograde” 💀
I loved Riley’s strength in this, everything she endured at the hands of many and still she’s this strong and fierce lead in this book.
Entering our MMC Aron Krasnik, now in my opinion he is a brutal psychopath but I loved this character. I don’t know what that says about me? 🤭🤣
Soon as he enters, everything just goes silent. Everyone is terrified of him, in this world he is known as The Necromancer 💀
This vicious leader of “Retrograde group” In this part of the world. Aron is under the impression that Riley is known as a traitor, in his mind she has done something so unforgivable that he treats her as such.
“I am traitors reckoning. And you Hotshot, are a f*cking traitor.”- The Necromancer 💀
The tension between these Two. I was on the edge of my sofa and I had to pause and stop. Some of the scenes.. IYKYK 🤭🤫
“Gentle‘s off the table. You let me out, I’ll make you scream, and cry and beg me to stop, all of which I’ll ignore. If I start f*I king you. I won’t stop until I ruin you.”- Aron
The explosive chemistry between these two bloomed so beautifully.. and there is a HEA’.
Favourite Quotes.. 💜💭
“Here’s the thing about anger: it always makes me crave Screams.”-
“I f*cking own you Riley. You’re mine. I’m never letting go.”
-The Necromancer 💀-
“Because now you’re my heaven as well as my hell.”-Riley 📸
🩶Enemies to Lovers
🖤Capter | Captive
🩶Dystopian World
🖤Rebel Leader & Traitor
🩶Obsessive Vengeful MMC
🖤A nuclear fall out zone as a border ☢️
🩶Burn the World for Her
🖤Who did this to you?
I rated this 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice !! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️!!
I’d say the spice level is very high but please check your TW’s before reading as some topics aren’t for everybody. 🌶️
I had the best time reading this and time just escaped me. I finished it in a day! 🤭 very, very unlike me.
This steamy, broken nuclear world that’s been created surrounded by war, death and poverty is the first instalment in this series and I devoured it! 🫦
The plot focuses around two main characters. Our FMC who is a war photographer, made a deal years ago prior to protect her family. She gets captured by this rebel group called “Retrograde” 💀
I loved Riley’s strength in this, everything she endured at the hands of many and still she’s this strong and fierce lead in this book.
Entering our MMC Aron Krasnik, now in my opinion he is a brutal psychopath but I loved this character. I don’t know what that says about me? 🤭🤣
Soon as he enters, everything just goes silent. Everyone is terrified of him, in this world he is known as The Necromancer 💀
This vicious leader of “Retrograde group” In this part of the world. Aron is under the impression that Riley is known as a traitor, in his mind she has done something so unforgivable that he treats her as such.
“I am traitors reckoning. And you Hotshot, are a f*cking traitor.”- The Necromancer 💀
The tension between these Two. I was on the edge of my sofa and I had to pause and stop. Some of the scenes.. IYKYK 🤭🤫
“Gentle‘s off the table. You let me out, I’ll make you scream, and cry and beg me to stop, all of which I’ll ignore. If I start f*I king you. I won’t stop until I ruin you.”- Aron
The explosive chemistry between these two bloomed so beautifully.. and there is a HEA’.
Favourite Quotes.. 💜💭
“Here’s the thing about anger: it always makes me crave Screams.”-
“I f*cking own you Riley. You’re mine. I’m never letting go.”
-The Necromancer 💀-
“Because now you’re my heaven as well as my hell.”-Riley 📸
🩶Enemies to Lovers
🖤Capter | Captive
🩶Dystopian World
🖤Rebel Leader & Traitor
🩶Obsessive Vengeful MMC
🖤A nuclear fall out zone as a border ☢️
🩶Burn the World for Her
🖤Who did this to you?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars ⭐️ I received this book as an ARC and let me tell you !!!
At first I couldn’t stand Aron even though I knew he had this reputation for being “the necromancer”& unmerciful, I was still taken back by all the harsh things he’d say or do! He definitely won me over when he let his layers peel back and started to let the human inside of him show! He was so creative with his “art” and I feel like nearly everything he did,he did with intention.
I liked Riley she was so honest and took nearly every opportunity to push back and stun Aron whether that be with her honesty or her intelligence and even her passion for photography & Him being utterly obsessed with her for all that she is, was perfect. I loved her bravery and how strong she was despite everything she’s gone through. I loved that she was head strong rather than being “gifted” in combat to show her strength like most FMC in dystopian books. She’s fierce in her own way. I also loved her friendship with Corrado! My guy !!
The betrayal in this book was unreal some I called early in the book, others I really couldn’t wrap my head around…. Retrograde ?!???!!
I liked the fact that you could FEEL when the characters were scared, panicked etc you could truly feel the emotions of these characters the descriptions were so good.
Now I didn’t rate it 5 stars because I felt like the pay off toward the end could have been MORE after all the build up! Like I wish we seen the true moment before the “final” piece! Plus I still have so many questions but I’m sure they will be answered later on 👀👀
I’ll be rereading this one for sure !
Needless to say ! I throughly enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good dystopian DARK Romance !! The playlist is fire as well I listened to it while I was reading :) I love motionless in white!
Make sure to read the trigger warnings before diving into this book !!!!!
At first I couldn’t stand Aron even though I knew he had this reputation for being “the necromancer”& unmerciful, I was still taken back by all the harsh things he’d say or do! He definitely won me over when he let his layers peel back and started to let the human inside of him show! He was so creative with his “art” and I feel like nearly everything he did,he did with intention.
I liked Riley she was so honest and took nearly every opportunity to push back and stun Aron whether that be with her honesty or her intelligence and even her passion for photography & Him being utterly obsessed with her for all that she is, was perfect. I loved her bravery and how strong she was despite everything she’s gone through. I loved that she was head strong rather than being “gifted” in combat to show her strength like most FMC in dystopian books. She’s fierce in her own way. I also loved her friendship with Corrado! My guy !!
The betrayal in this book was unreal some I called early in the book, others I really couldn’t wrap my head around…. Retrograde ?!???!!
I liked the fact that you could FEEL when the characters were scared, panicked etc you could truly feel the emotions of these characters the descriptions were so good.
Now I didn’t rate it 5 stars because I felt like the pay off toward the end could have been MORE after all the build up! Like I wish we seen the true moment before the “final” piece! Plus I still have so many questions but I’m sure they will be answered later on 👀👀
I’ll be rereading this one for sure !
Needless to say ! I throughly enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good dystopian DARK Romance !! The playlist is fire as well I listened to it while I was reading :) I love motionless in white!
Make sure to read the trigger warnings before diving into this book !!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review 🖤
Oh Margo, you beautiful soul. I'm so thankful for this ARC. Your timing was absolutely impeccable. 😂
I'd just finished another ARC and was about ready to crash after surviving a long day at work on 2.5 hours of sleep. Then I noticed Retrograde sitting in my inbox... and I'm completely unashamed to say I freaking screamed. I don't think I've ever woken up quicker in my life. 🤣 Suddenly I was wide fucking awake.
I thought, fuck it, I'll just dip my toes in. A few chapters...
And now here I am, having finished the entire thing in one sitting. 💀
Gods, this was such a brilliant read. 🖤
Retrograde absolutely delivered on all the hype, and honestly? It deserves even more.
I love Margo's writing. The world she created felt gritty and brutal, but also so damn realistic that it was incredibly easy to become completely immersed in it. I was in an absolute chokehold from beginning to end... quite literally, at one point, with a belt around my neck. 👉🏼👈🏼😂
The characters had so much depth, and both of our MCs have been through so much. Riley was an absolute badass and I loved her character. And I'm pretty damn sure the dark romance girlies are going to go feral for a certain possessive, completely unhinged artist. 👀🖤
There were so many twists and turns that the story constantly kept me guessing, and this book dragged me through a ridiculous amount of emotions. Anger, anxiety, heartbreak, pure happiness... I went through it. And the spice? So. Damn. Hot. 🔥
I also loved the multi POV. It added so much to an already genuinely intriguing story and gave us different pieces of the bigger picture as everything unfolded.
Safe to say, Retrograde had me hooked from the moment I opened it and apparently possessed me strongly enough to temporarily cure sleep deprivation.I cannot wait for the next book. 😂🖤
Thank you so much, Margo, for trusting me with an ARC 🖤🥹
Oh Margo, you beautiful soul. I'm so thankful for this ARC. Your timing was absolutely impeccable. 😂
I'd just finished another ARC and was about ready to crash after surviving a long day at work on 2.5 hours of sleep. Then I noticed Retrograde sitting in my inbox... and I'm completely unashamed to say I freaking screamed. I don't think I've ever woken up quicker in my life. 🤣 Suddenly I was wide fucking awake.
I thought, fuck it, I'll just dip my toes in. A few chapters...
And now here I am, having finished the entire thing in one sitting. 💀
Gods, this was such a brilliant read. 🖤
Retrograde absolutely delivered on all the hype, and honestly? It deserves even more.
I love Margo's writing. The world she created felt gritty and brutal, but also so damn realistic that it was incredibly easy to become completely immersed in it. I was in an absolute chokehold from beginning to end... quite literally, at one point, with a belt around my neck. 👉🏼👈🏼😂
The characters had so much depth, and both of our MCs have been through so much. Riley was an absolute badass and I loved her character. And I'm pretty damn sure the dark romance girlies are going to go feral for a certain possessive, completely unhinged artist. 👀🖤
There were so many twists and turns that the story constantly kept me guessing, and this book dragged me through a ridiculous amount of emotions. Anger, anxiety, heartbreak, pure happiness... I went through it. And the spice? So. Damn. Hot. 🔥
I also loved the multi POV. It added so much to an already genuinely intriguing story and gave us different pieces of the bigger picture as everything unfolded.
Safe to say, Retrograde had me hooked from the moment I opened it and apparently possessed me strongly enough to temporarily cure sleep deprivation.I cannot wait for the next book. 😂🖤
Thank you so much, Margo, for trusting me with an ARC 🖤🥹
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advanced copy received from Author.
Well… this book was a RIDE. 🥵🖤
Aron and Riley are the kind of couple that makes you question your morals, your sanity, and possibly your definition of romance. 😂
This is a dark dystopian romance set in a brutal, radiation-ravaged world after devastating bombings, and honestly? The atmosphere was DARK. Add a ruthless, unhinged MMC in a skull mask, a captive FMC, obsession, danger, and just the right amount of what the hell am I reading?! and you have a recipe for chaos.
Aron is terrifying. Ruthless. Unhinged. A little psychotic. And absolutely NOT the kind of man you want anywhere near you… unless you're Riley. 😏
There is definitely a complicated captor/captive dynamic here, with some serious Stockholm-syndrome vibes, and their relationship is messy, intense, and emotionally charged.
Aron’s brutality ultimately pushes Riley away, and watching him realize what he has lost and then fight, bleed, and sacrifice to get her back, was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Because underneath all that brutality is a man who becomes completely obsessed with getting her back.
And that ending?! 🥹
After everything these two went through, getting that soft, precious little glimpse of them felt like someone finally turned the lights on after hours of darkness. It was unexpectedly sweet and honestly made my heart melt.
BUT THEN RILEY HEALS… AND GIRL WANTS HER MAN BACK IN HIS SKULL MASK AND HIS RUTHLESS ERA. 😂🖤
And honestly?
I respect it.
The spice is VERY spicy and VERY dirty. 🌶️🌶️🌶️
And yes… we love to see it. 😂
This book gave me brutality, obsession, captivity, survival, heartbreak, redemption, dystopian chaos, and a romance that is absolutely NOT healthy by normal standards, but somehow still had me rooting for these two crazy people.
A solid 4 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the author for trusting me with an ARC. 🖤
Well… this book was a RIDE. 🥵🖤
Aron and Riley are the kind of couple that makes you question your morals, your sanity, and possibly your definition of romance. 😂
This is a dark dystopian romance set in a brutal, radiation-ravaged world after devastating bombings, and honestly? The atmosphere was DARK. Add a ruthless, unhinged MMC in a skull mask, a captive FMC, obsession, danger, and just the right amount of what the hell am I reading?! and you have a recipe for chaos.
Aron is terrifying. Ruthless. Unhinged. A little psychotic. And absolutely NOT the kind of man you want anywhere near you… unless you're Riley. 😏
There is definitely a complicated captor/captive dynamic here, with some serious Stockholm-syndrome vibes, and their relationship is messy, intense, and emotionally charged.
Aron’s brutality ultimately pushes Riley away, and watching him realize what he has lost and then fight, bleed, and sacrifice to get her back, was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Because underneath all that brutality is a man who becomes completely obsessed with getting her back.
And that ending?! 🥹
After everything these two went through, getting that soft, precious little glimpse of them felt like someone finally turned the lights on after hours of darkness. It was unexpectedly sweet and honestly made my heart melt.
BUT THEN RILEY HEALS… AND GIRL WANTS HER MAN BACK IN HIS SKULL MASK AND HIS RUTHLESS ERA. 😂🖤
And honestly?
I respect it.
The spice is VERY spicy and VERY dirty. 🌶️🌶️🌶️
And yes… we love to see it. 😂
This book gave me brutality, obsession, captivity, survival, heartbreak, redemption, dystopian chaos, and a romance that is absolutely NOT healthy by normal standards, but somehow still had me rooting for these two crazy people.
A solid 4 stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the author for trusting me with an ARC. 🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
RETROGRADE BY MARGO SMYTHE | ARC REVIEW
Okayyyy this book took me on a fucking JOURNEY. 😂
Aron can be a complete asshole and absolutely infuriating at times, BUT this man is also such a sweetheart when he wants to be. Watching his walls slowly come down and seeing the softer side of him come out had me like 🥹 because underneath all that bullshit, HE HAS A HEART.
And Riley?! I fucking LOVED her. She’s sassy, has an attitude, says exactly what she’s thinking and does not give a fuck. I loved that she could give Aron just as much attitude as he gave her because girl was NOT backing down. 😂
Their relationship was such a rollercoaster. One minute I was questioning everything, the next I was ready to fight Aron, and then he’d do or say something that had me melting again. The contrast between how intense and scary he can be and how soft he can be with Riley was probably one of my favourite things about them.
There were also SO many moments where I was sitting there trying to figure out what the hell was going on and making up my own theories, only to question everything five chapters later. 😂 I was confused, intrigued, suspicious and completely invested.
And when Aron finally started letting those walls down and actually expressing how he felt about Riley??? FUCK. 😭 Some of the things this man said had me screaming.
I loved Riley. I loved watching Aron’s character development. I loved their chemistry. I loved the emotional side of their relationship. And honestly, I just loved watching these two figure each other out.
I think there will be another book and I really hope Aron and Riley just stay in their little zoo house away from the chaos but knowing Aron who knows lol.
I fucking loved every minute of this book. 🖤
RETROGRADE BY MARGO SMYTHE | ARC REVIEW
Okayyyy this book took me on a fucking JOURNEY. 😂
Aron can be a complete asshole and absolutely infuriating at times, BUT this man is also such a sweetheart when he wants to be. Watching his walls slowly come down and seeing the softer side of him come out had me like 🥹 because underneath all that bullshit, HE HAS A HEART.
And Riley?! I fucking LOVED her. She’s sassy, has an attitude, says exactly what she’s thinking and does not give a fuck. I loved that she could give Aron just as much attitude as he gave her because girl was NOT backing down. 😂
Their relationship was such a rollercoaster. One minute I was questioning everything, the next I was ready to fight Aron, and then he’d do or say something that had me melting again. The contrast between how intense and scary he can be and how soft he can be with Riley was probably one of my favourite things about them.
There were also SO many moments where I was sitting there trying to figure out what the hell was going on and making up my own theories, only to question everything five chapters later. 😂 I was confused, intrigued, suspicious and completely invested.
And when Aron finally started letting those walls down and actually expressing how he felt about Riley??? FUCK. 😭 Some of the things this man said had me screaming.
I loved Riley. I loved watching Aron’s character development. I loved their chemistry. I loved the emotional side of their relationship. And honestly, I just loved watching these two figure each other out.
I think there will be another book and I really hope Aron and Riley just stay in their little zoo house away from the chaos but knowing Aron who knows lol.
I fucking loved every minute of this book. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤 RETROGRADE by Margo Smythe 🖤
ALC review. Thank you so much Margo!
Okay… this book really said “let’s take romance, throw it into a broken dystopian world, add some revenge, obsession and a morally questionable man… and see what happens.” 👀
I honestly loved how dark and emotionally charged this was. The story was so well written by Margo you immersed yourselves into this dark and dangerous world!
The story pulled me in with that constant feeling that something was about to go very, very wrong. The relationship between the Riley and Aron is messy, complicated and completely addictive.
I loved Riley. Such a strong FMC. She has fought through what would have destroyed most people and come out a fighter!
Aron, aka The Necromancer, is absolutely that kind of MMC. Ruthless, vicious, intimidating and carrying enough emotional baggage to fill several suitcases.
Yet underneath all that darkness, there’s a history and vulnerability that made him impossible to ignore and kept you engrossed in the story.
What really worked for me was the moral conflict running through the story. There aren’t simple good guys and bad guys, the choices each character makes have consequences.
It made me constantly question who I trusted and whether anyone was actually innocent.
The world-building gave the romance something extra too. It felt bleak, fractured and dangerous, which fitted the darker elements of the story perfectly.
If you like dark romance, extremely morally grey characters, revenge, obsession, dystopian worlds, high stakes and a seriously ruthless MMC, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR. Loved it 🖤
🖤 Dark, twisted and absolutely addictive 🖤
ALC review. Thank you so much Margo!
Okay… this book really said “let’s take romance, throw it into a broken dystopian world, add some revenge, obsession and a morally questionable man… and see what happens.” 👀
I honestly loved how dark and emotionally charged this was. The story was so well written by Margo you immersed yourselves into this dark and dangerous world!
The story pulled me in with that constant feeling that something was about to go very, very wrong. The relationship between the Riley and Aron is messy, complicated and completely addictive.
I loved Riley. Such a strong FMC. She has fought through what would have destroyed most people and come out a fighter!
Aron, aka The Necromancer, is absolutely that kind of MMC. Ruthless, vicious, intimidating and carrying enough emotional baggage to fill several suitcases.
Yet underneath all that darkness, there’s a history and vulnerability that made him impossible to ignore and kept you engrossed in the story.
What really worked for me was the moral conflict running through the story. There aren’t simple good guys and bad guys, the choices each character makes have consequences.
It made me constantly question who I trusted and whether anyone was actually innocent.
The world-building gave the romance something extra too. It felt bleak, fractured and dangerous, which fitted the darker elements of the story perfectly.
If you like dark romance, extremely morally grey characters, revenge, obsession, dystopian worlds, high stakes and a seriously ruthless MMC, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR. Loved it 🖤
🖤 Dark, twisted and absolutely addictive 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
~ ARC REVIEW ~
Okayyyy, Retrograde was DARK. 🖤
Dystopian romance, revenge, obsession, morally grey characters and a man who is absolutely not winning any awards for good behaviour? Apparently that’s all I needed to know. 😂
This book had such a dark, tense feeling hanging over it the whole time. Like you just know something is going to go horribly wrong, you just don’t know when or how. I was hooked.
I absolutely loved Riley. She’s been through absolute hell but she’s strong, stubborn and refuses to just roll over and accept the hand she’s been dealt. I love an FMC who can actually hold her own, especially against a character like Aron.
And ARON. 🫠 The Necromancer. Ruthless, intimidating, obsessive and very, very morally grey. The man is basically one giant red flag carrying another red flag… so naturally I needed to know everything about him.
What I really loved though was that there’s so much more going on underneath all of that darkness. Aron has history and vulnerability that slowly starts coming through, and Riley and Aron’s relationship is messy and complicated in the best way.
There’s also this constant question of who is actually right. Nobody is completely innocent, everyone has their own motives and every choice seems to come with consequences. I changed my mind about people more than once.
The dystopian setting made everything feel even more intense. The world is brutal, dangerous and completely fucked, which honestly suited the romance perfectly. 😂
Dark romance + dystopian world + revenge + obsession + morally grey MMC = YES PLEASE.
Absolutely loved this one. 🖤
Thank you Margo Smythe for the ARC
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
~ ARC REVIEW ~
Okayyyy, Retrograde was DARK. 🖤
Dystopian romance, revenge, obsession, morally grey characters and a man who is absolutely not winning any awards for good behaviour? Apparently that’s all I needed to know. 😂
This book had such a dark, tense feeling hanging over it the whole time. Like you just know something is going to go horribly wrong, you just don’t know when or how. I was hooked.
I absolutely loved Riley. She’s been through absolute hell but she’s strong, stubborn and refuses to just roll over and accept the hand she’s been dealt. I love an FMC who can actually hold her own, especially against a character like Aron.
And ARON. 🫠 The Necromancer. Ruthless, intimidating, obsessive and very, very morally grey. The man is basically one giant red flag carrying another red flag… so naturally I needed to know everything about him.
What I really loved though was that there’s so much more going on underneath all of that darkness. Aron has history and vulnerability that slowly starts coming through, and Riley and Aron’s relationship is messy and complicated in the best way.
There’s also this constant question of who is actually right. Nobody is completely innocent, everyone has their own motives and every choice seems to come with consequences. I changed my mind about people more than once.
The dystopian setting made everything feel even more intense. The world is brutal, dangerous and completely fucked, which honestly suited the romance perfectly. 😂
Dark romance + dystopian world + revenge + obsession + morally grey MMC = YES PLEASE.
Absolutely loved this one. 🖤
Thank you Margo Smythe for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Author
@margo.smythe.author has done it again! One of my most anticipated early reads of 2026 and Margo did not dissapoint. To say I am excited for this series of interconnected standalones would be an understatement.
New favorite trope - Touch her and ☠️... slowly... graphically... piece by piece. 😈
In true enemies to lovers fashion, we have a sexy, desirable, pierced MMC who is at war with his developing feelings vs fulfilling his mission. He becomes entangled with our fierce, strong FMC that he is set to kill.
Riley, the traitor, is a total badass and I just love her character. Aron, the Necromancer... where do we even start with this man. 🥵 One chapter, I wanted to slap him senseless or as Margo put it "All you've got to do is grab him by his c0ck like it's a steering rod and guide him to a place where common sense still exists."
The world building is epic and these characters, even the side characters, have so much passion and intrigue that you can't help but become invested in them. I experienced a complete range of emotions while reading this, from utter despair to giddy happiness and anger. Making this one read that was impossible to put down.
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy dark, high spice, romance in a dystopian world where he is determined to kill her. But who will actually die?
As with any content, please check your own triggers prior to consuming.
#Retrograde #darkromance #Dystopian #enemiestolovers #comingsoon
New favorite trope - Touch her and ☠️... slowly... graphically... piece by piece. 😈
In true enemies to lovers fashion, we have a sexy, desirable, pierced MMC who is at war with his developing feelings vs fulfilling his mission. He becomes entangled with our fierce, strong FMC that he is set to kill.
Riley, the traitor, is a total badass and I just love her character. Aron, the Necromancer... where do we even start with this man. 🥵 One chapter, I wanted to slap him senseless or as Margo put it "All you've got to do is grab him by his c0ck like it's a steering rod and guide him to a place where common sense still exists."
The world building is epic and these characters, even the side characters, have so much passion and intrigue that you can't help but become invested in them. I experienced a complete range of emotions while reading this, from utter despair to giddy happiness and anger. Making this one read that was impossible to put down.
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy dark, high spice, romance in a dystopian world where he is determined to kill her. But who will actually die?
As with any content, please check your own triggers prior to consuming.
#Retrograde #darkromance #Dystopian #enemiestolovers #comingsoon
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy hell this book was fantastic and I'm now in love with a fictional psychopath 😅
This is a dark dystopian enemies to lovers (and I mean dark!)
Aron Krasnik "The Necromancer" is unhinged, a psychopath, vicious and hot as hell. His idea of punishing 'traitors' is certainly different. But to him, it makes sense. The world as it once was is gone. And a lot has made him into the man he is today.
Riley is strong, not easily broken, a bad ass and a traitor! You can't help but love her. Especially as you read the snippets of her past.
Aron wants to break her! But hes learnt in order to break her, it can't be through his usual methods. No, for Riley he needs to think outside the box. He needs to make her fall for him, without falling for her in return.
The world building in this book was amazing, it transports you into the story. The character development arc was incredible, this book easily had me hooked from start to finish. You will definitely be finding yourself needing plenty of cold showers whilst reading this book 😉🥵
I do recommend reading the trigger warnings before going in. I also recommend this book to any dark romance lover.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. I cannot wait for the next one. I have definitely found a new author whose books I need to devour
This is a dark dystopian enemies to lovers (and I mean dark!)
Aron Krasnik "The Necromancer" is unhinged, a psychopath, vicious and hot as hell. His idea of punishing 'traitors' is certainly different. But to him, it makes sense. The world as it once was is gone. And a lot has made him into the man he is today.
Riley is strong, not easily broken, a bad ass and a traitor! You can't help but love her. Especially as you read the snippets of her past.
Aron wants to break her! But hes learnt in order to break her, it can't be through his usual methods. No, for Riley he needs to think outside the box. He needs to make her fall for him, without falling for her in return.
The world building in this book was amazing, it transports you into the story. The character development arc was incredible, this book easily had me hooked from start to finish. You will definitely be finding yourself needing plenty of cold showers whilst reading this book 😉🥵
I do recommend reading the trigger warnings before going in. I also recommend this book to any dark romance lover.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. I cannot wait for the next one. I have definitely found a new author whose books I need to devour
Review of advance copy received from Author
Because now you’re my heaven as well as my hell.”
Listen now, the way this book played with my emotions like a puppet istg
Finished it in one day, how good it was.
Firstly, my new beautiful book boyfriend Aron - he was so unpredictable, that even if I predicted his next move, he still was able to surprise me. Towards the end of the book I wanted to smack him in the head so much for how stupid he was, I cannot. At one point I actually started to doubt if they will get the happy ending and if he really loves her or is just playing with he emotions
Riley - I would have folded the same way, amen. This girl went through so much, and Aron was like “let me also pour salt in her wounds” ayayaya
Attila - OH HOW MAD I AM AT YOU FFS, at first I thought this was such a cool person, funny, the only person not scared of Aaron AND THEN THIS BITCH DECIDES TO FUCK UP. Anyways
Corrado - ngl expected him to betray Riley, when he kidnapped her but then was kindly surprised when he was just a genuine friend to her
Fully expected that this will have a second book and they won’t have a happy ending. Glad they did cause I don’t think I would be able to go again through these emotions were Aron says he hates her and then cuddles her after sex
Listen now, the way this book played with my emotions like a puppet istg
Finished it in one day, how good it was.
Firstly, my new beautiful book boyfriend Aron - he was so unpredictable, that even if I predicted his next move, he still was able to surprise me. Towards the end of the book I wanted to smack him in the head so much for how stupid he was, I cannot. At one point I actually started to doubt if they will get the happy ending and if he really loves her or is just playing with he emotions
Riley - I would have folded the same way, amen. This girl went through so much, and Aron was like “let me also pour salt in her wounds” ayayaya
Attila - OH HOW MAD I AM AT YOU FFS, at first I thought this was such a cool person, funny, the only person not scared of Aaron AND THEN THIS BITCH DECIDES TO FUCK UP. Anyways
Corrado - ngl expected him to betray Riley, when he kidnapped her but then was kindly surprised when he was just a genuine friend to her
Fully expected that this will have a second book and they won’t have a happy ending. Glad they did cause I don’t think I would be able to go again through these emotions were Aron says he hates her and then cuddles her after sex
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my first book from Margo Smythe and let's just say I found another author to utilize my stalking skills on.
Retrograde isn't just a book. It's a world, it rages, it breathes and it bleeds. My kindle was the conduit while Retrograde siphoned every emotion and my soul right out of my body. This is not a let's just read a couple chapters book, you better plan on reading it in one sitting, so go ahead and cancel plans now before you hurt people's feelings.
Riley is known for her photography her muse being the destruction itself. She is the FMC with depth, a fierceness that knows no bounds and loyalty runs through her veins that's thicker than blood.
Aron Krasnik is the Necromancer. Beautifully erratic with rationality to his actions that make you end up agreeing with his unhinged logic. A true psychopath and absolutely everything that I love in my fictional men. He is the epitome of touch her and die, but layer by layer, building a masterpiece and telling his story.
Check your TWs, the Necromancer doesn't hold hand, doesn't embrace you in a hug but he does take you on a dystopian ride of epic proportions of propaganda, spice and other things that are not so nice.
Thank you Margo for this copy and these are my honest opinions.
Retrograde isn't just a book. It's a world, it rages, it breathes and it bleeds. My kindle was the conduit while Retrograde siphoned every emotion and my soul right out of my body. This is not a let's just read a couple chapters book, you better plan on reading it in one sitting, so go ahead and cancel plans now before you hurt people's feelings.
Riley is known for her photography her muse being the destruction itself. She is the FMC with depth, a fierceness that knows no bounds and loyalty runs through her veins that's thicker than blood.
Aron Krasnik is the Necromancer. Beautifully erratic with rationality to his actions that make you end up agreeing with his unhinged logic. A true psychopath and absolutely everything that I love in my fictional men. He is the epitome of touch her and die, but layer by layer, building a masterpiece and telling his story.
Check your TWs, the Necromancer doesn't hold hand, doesn't embrace you in a hug but he does take you on a dystopian ride of epic proportions of propaganda, spice and other things that are not so nice.
Thank you Margo for this copy and these are my honest opinions.
August 24, 2026
This one took me a while to get into. I’d say it was around the halfway point before I really started feeling into it.
The dynamic between Riley and Aron is intense, but very much a hate-hate situation, especially from his side. Aron is completely unhinged and definitely leans into psychopath territory, and the book does contain some very dark and brutal scenes.
By the end, he realises he has feelings for Riley, but I struggled a little with how quickly his whole demeanour seemed to change once that clicked into place. It felt quite sudden compared to how he’d acted for most of the book.
I also finished with quite a few unanswered questions. Some of the flashbacks felt relevant, but others seemed a bit out of place and actually made the story harder to follow at times. I can understand that some of them may be setting things up for another book, but personally, they didn’t always feel like they fit naturally into this one.
This was an ARC read, so I did push myself through to the end. I’m glad I finished it, but I’m not completely sure I would have if I wasn’t reading it as an ARC.
There were definitely parts I enjoyed, especially once the story picked up, but overall this was a mixed read for me.
The dynamic between Riley and Aron is intense, but very much a hate-hate situation, especially from his side. Aron is completely unhinged and definitely leans into psychopath territory, and the book does contain some very dark and brutal scenes.
By the end, he realises he has feelings for Riley, but I struggled a little with how quickly his whole demeanour seemed to change once that clicked into place. It felt quite sudden compared to how he’d acted for most of the book.
I also finished with quite a few unanswered questions. Some of the flashbacks felt relevant, but others seemed a bit out of place and actually made the story harder to follow at times. I can understand that some of them may be setting things up for another book, but personally, they didn’t always feel like they fit naturally into this one.
This was an ARC read, so I did push myself through to the end. I’m glad I finished it, but I’m not completely sure I would have if I wasn’t reading it as an ARC.
There were definitely parts I enjoyed, especially once the story picked up, but overall this was a mixed read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC read.
This is a true enemies to lovers dark romance. Please do not forget to read the trigger warnings!
Aron is the Necromancer, the leader of the Retrograde, and he lives in a world where things are black and white. You are either right or wrong. Riley is a photographer who is documenting the awful images of the war that is being waged in their dystopian society. There are 3 leaders that “take care” of the different populations and then there is Synechord who dropped nukes in between the lands to cause the Riftlands. According to Aron, Riley is a traitor and has joined the Continuum who is oppressing him and trying to take his lands. The Necromancer kills traitors because once they turn on someone they will always be a traitor in his eyes.
But….. after capturing Riley he is having trouble concentrating on fighting. Does Riley know more than Aron about the Continuum and the rebellion? The more time he spends torturing her and treating her like his pet the more he realizes he may not hate her as much as he thinks.
This book was good! I love a dystopian romance and this was no exception. There are no crazy twists and turns, because all the next steps seem to fall into place but the story was good and it was well written.
This is a true enemies to lovers dark romance. Please do not forget to read the trigger warnings!
Aron is the Necromancer, the leader of the Retrograde, and he lives in a world where things are black and white. You are either right or wrong. Riley is a photographer who is documenting the awful images of the war that is being waged in their dystopian society. There are 3 leaders that “take care” of the different populations and then there is Synechord who dropped nukes in between the lands to cause the Riftlands. According to Aron, Riley is a traitor and has joined the Continuum who is oppressing him and trying to take his lands. The Necromancer kills traitors because once they turn on someone they will always be a traitor in his eyes.
But….. after capturing Riley he is having trouble concentrating on fighting. Does Riley know more than Aron about the Continuum and the rebellion? The more time he spends torturing her and treating her like his pet the more he realizes he may not hate her as much as he thinks.
This book was good! I love a dystopian romance and this was no exception. There are no crazy twists and turns, because all the next steps seem to fall into place but the story was good and it was well written.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I came across this book randomly on Instagram and the synopsis immediately caught my attention. I applied for the arc and was excited when I received it. I had high hopes going in, especially with the captor x captive trope, post nuclear war setting, and an absolutely unhinged MMC.
Riley, our FMC, is captured by the rebel group Retrograde, led by Aron, our MMC, who has lost the plot a bit and wants to hurt Riley for being a traitor. From the jump, I could tell Aron was unhinged, and honestly… I was here for it. The story is very centered around Riley and Aron, with additional POVs giving us little bits and pieces of the world and the ongoing war.
I really liked the concept. It was dark, unique, and an easy read, but unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with the characters. I felt like there wasn't enough depth to really pull me in. After the halfway mark, I was starting to lose interest, and some parts felt repetitive.
I really wanted to love this one, but I just couldn't fully connect with the characters or the story. I think the concept had a lot of potential, but it just wasn't the right read for me.
Riley, our FMC, is captured by the rebel group Retrograde, led by Aron, our MMC, who has lost the plot a bit and wants to hurt Riley for being a traitor. From the jump, I could tell Aron was unhinged, and honestly… I was here for it. The story is very centered around Riley and Aron, with additional POVs giving us little bits and pieces of the world and the ongoing war.
I really liked the concept. It was dark, unique, and an easy read, but unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with the characters. I felt like there wasn't enough depth to really pull me in. After the halfway mark, I was starting to lose interest, and some parts felt repetitive.
I really wanted to love this one, but I just couldn't fully connect with the characters or the story. I think the concept had a lot of potential, but it just wasn't the right read for me.
August 26, 2026
5 ⭐️
*I received this book as an ARC from the author*
I loved this! This was my first book by Margo Smythe and I’m definitely interested in checking out her others!
This was very on brand for everything I love, it was dark, tense and sexy in a way that felt dangerous.
Aron was my exact type of MMC, we love an unhinged (truly unhinged, the man is doing all kinds of ✨arts and crafts✨) Dommy man in this house! 🥵 The build up between him and Riley was perfect and really scratched the enemies to lovers itch. This is also true enemies to lovers, not just a quick “they don’t like each other”- the fact they’re enemies is a focal point of Aron’s feelings about Riley.
The spice in this was great, it had a strong D/S vibe which I wasn’t expecting and was so happy to see! The scenes were intense in the best way.
I struggled a bit with understanding the world lore and setup but even with that said, I really enjoyed the story and was shocked by several of the plot twists!
This was a great read that really leaned into the darkness, I can definitely see this becoming a top Dark Romance pick!
*I received this book as an ARC from the author*
I loved this! This was my first book by Margo Smythe and I’m definitely interested in checking out her others!
This was very on brand for everything I love, it was dark, tense and sexy in a way that felt dangerous.
Aron was my exact type of MMC, we love an unhinged (truly unhinged, the man is doing all kinds of ✨arts and crafts✨) Dommy man in this house! 🥵 The build up between him and Riley was perfect and really scratched the enemies to lovers itch. This is also true enemies to lovers, not just a quick “they don’t like each other”- the fact they’re enemies is a focal point of Aron’s feelings about Riley.
The spice in this was great, it had a strong D/S vibe which I wasn’t expecting and was so happy to see! The scenes were intense in the best way.
I struggled a bit with understanding the world lore and setup but even with that said, I really enjoyed the story and was shocked by several of the plot twists!
This was a great read that really leaned into the darkness, I can definitely see this becoming a top Dark Romance pick!
Review of advance copy
I started and would have finished in one sitting if life didn’t intervene 😱
Margo has done it again with this one, she drew me into Riley and Aron’s story without a care how it would settle in my head. He’s one dark MC that’s for sure, his treatment of Riley is abhorrent from the start and without listening to her. She on the other hand believes that she deserves all he throws at her and I can’t lie she takes it all like a champ! Let me tell you there are times I just wanted to throw my kindle in frustration at them both 🤭 Margo leads us through the struggles within this dystopian story, the reason they both do what they do and who is not on their side. Be prepared to be pulled into their world. Her writing never ceases to amaze me, you can tell that her head just goes into the narrative and brings it forth into typeface to give us readers a story we won’t forget.
Captivity | Violence | Degradation | Sp@nking | Revenge | Possessiveness | Non Con | R@pe and much more you will just have to read it and determine for yourself.
Margo has done it again with this one, she drew me into Riley and Aron’s story without a care how it would settle in my head. He’s one dark MC that’s for sure, his treatment of Riley is abhorrent from the start and without listening to her. She on the other hand believes that she deserves all he throws at her and I can’t lie she takes it all like a champ! Let me tell you there are times I just wanted to throw my kindle in frustration at them both 🤭 Margo leads us through the struggles within this dystopian story, the reason they both do what they do and who is not on their side. Be prepared to be pulled into their world. Her writing never ceases to amaze me, you can tell that her head just goes into the narrative and brings it forth into typeface to give us readers a story we won’t forget.
Captivity | Violence | Degradation | Sp@nking | Revenge | Possessiveness | Non Con | R@pe and much more you will just have to read it and determine for yourself.
Review of advance copy
Firstly thank you for allowing me to be part of the ARC team for this book!
Secondly thank you for an incredible book that is truly like nothing I’ve ever read before!
The interlinking stories and histories between characters are fascinating and heartbreaking. The things that both Riley and Aron have experienced from such young ages are just truly devastating! But the adaptations made make them feel like more than just characters in a book.
The imagery of his tableau’s and his creativity with maiming and murdering was as shocking as it was breathtaking. But his constant care towards her and her thoughts and feelings pull at the heartstrings.
The descriptions of her assaults were done in such a sensitive way but so real as well- major well done!
This took me a grand total of 2 days to read, more likely to be mere hours spread across the days. Unreal.
Overall I’m excited to see what else comes from this series (judging by book 1 written on the cover) and would honestly recommend this book so highly!
Secondly thank you for an incredible book that is truly like nothing I’ve ever read before!
The interlinking stories and histories between characters are fascinating and heartbreaking. The things that both Riley and Aron have experienced from such young ages are just truly devastating! But the adaptations made make them feel like more than just characters in a book.
The imagery of his tableau’s and his creativity with maiming and murdering was as shocking as it was breathtaking. But his constant care towards her and her thoughts and feelings pull at the heartstrings.
The descriptions of her assaults were done in such a sensitive way but so real as well- major well done!
This took me a grand total of 2 days to read, more likely to be mere hours spread across the days. Unreal.
Overall I’m excited to see what else comes from this series (judging by book 1 written on the cover) and would honestly recommend this book so highly!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
//𝙰𝚛𝚌 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠//
‼️Will try to avoid spoilers‼️
This has well and truly been the month of amazing ARC reads.
My most anticipated read of the year arrived in my mailbox and then next day I jumped right in. This book took me less then 24 hours to devour, I COULD NOT put it down.
We are thrown straight into the action from page one, no world building or fluffy beginnings for this one. But they aren't required. Margo has an amazing way of building that world as she goes that you dont need to stray from what is happening in the story.
There is blood, gore, traitors and a very dysfunctional romance. When traitor and rebel leader become each others reason to survive you are there for every minute.
The spice scenes are, chefs kiss, panty wetting, goodness.
"𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒. 𝐵𝑢𝑡." 𝐼 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑏 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑, 𝑢𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝐼 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑚 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑤 𝑔𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒. "𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒."
This is hands down a my favourite read of the year! Now hurry up and get the next book out, I am too impatient and NEED more.
I couldnt be more proud to support this Author and be part of her Street Team!! Thank you Margo for all your hard work and being the most incredible person.
⚠️ Please check all triggers as i like my books dark ⚠️
#arcread #arcreader #arcreadersofinstagram #dystopianromance #MargoSmythe
‼️Will try to avoid spoilers‼️
This has well and truly been the month of amazing ARC reads.
My most anticipated read of the year arrived in my mailbox and then next day I jumped right in. This book took me less then 24 hours to devour, I COULD NOT put it down.
We are thrown straight into the action from page one, no world building or fluffy beginnings for this one. But they aren't required. Margo has an amazing way of building that world as she goes that you dont need to stray from what is happening in the story.
There is blood, gore, traitors and a very dysfunctional romance. When traitor and rebel leader become each others reason to survive you are there for every minute.
The spice scenes are, chefs kiss, panty wetting, goodness.
"𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒. 𝐵𝑢𝑡." 𝐼 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑏 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑, 𝑢𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝐼 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑚 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑤 𝑔𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒. "𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒."
This is hands down a my favourite read of the year! Now hurry up and get the next book out, I am too impatient and NEED more.
I couldnt be more proud to support this Author and be part of her Street Team!! Thank you Margo for all your hard work and being the most incredible person.
⚠️ Please check all triggers as i like my books dark ⚠️
#arcread #arcreader #arcreadersofinstagram #dystopianromance #MargoSmythe
August 22, 2026
Retrograde by Margo Smythe
ARC Provided By Margo Smythe
Release Date: 09|17|2026
Genre: Dark Dystopian Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Type: Book 1
"Because now you're my heaven as well as my hell."
Man I’m so glad I got this arc. This was so damn good. I don’t read many dystopian books but this was really good. The world building and character development was top notch. I absolutely loved these characters. Aron is obsessed and mean af but Riley gives it right back to him. Seeing him fight his feelings towards her was entertaining. The plot is definitely plotting and stayed strong the entire time. The writing was so good it makes the words turn into a visual. Definitely recommend you adding this to your tbr.
Thank you so much to Author Margo Smythe for the ARC! All thoughts in this review are my own.
ARC Provided By Margo Smythe
Release Date: 09|17|2026
Genre: Dark Dystopian Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Type: Book 1
"Because now you're my heaven as well as my hell."
Man I’m so glad I got this arc. This was so damn good. I don’t read many dystopian books but this was really good. The world building and character development was top notch. I absolutely loved these characters. Aron is obsessed and mean af but Riley gives it right back to him. Seeing him fight his feelings towards her was entertaining. The plot is definitely plotting and stayed strong the entire time. The writing was so good it makes the words turn into a visual. Definitely recommend you adding this to your tbr.
Thank you so much to Author Margo Smythe for the ARC! All thoughts in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I couldn't put it down.
The story is set in a dystopian world and is packed with action. There is never a dull moment, and the tension never lets up.
Riley is a war photographer: empathetic, talented, and sassy. She refuses to blindly obey Aron, which makes their relationship full of tension. Both Riley and Aron have difficult and painful pasts and what lies between them is far from simple. Aron, The Necromancer, is a scary man, an artist, a weapon. He isn't just the leader of Retrograde... he is Retrograde.
He is completely obsessed with Riley, yet refuses to admit to himself what he truly feels for her. I loved seeing him finally making peace with his feelings and realizing that sometimes it's worth breaking the rules he has imposed on himself.
The spice? 10/10.
I also really liked how the story handled difficult and heavy themes, as well as the protagonist's trauma
The story is set in a dystopian world and is packed with action. There is never a dull moment, and the tension never lets up.
Riley is a war photographer: empathetic, talented, and sassy. She refuses to blindly obey Aron, which makes their relationship full of tension. Both Riley and Aron have difficult and painful pasts and what lies between them is far from simple. Aron, The Necromancer, is a scary man, an artist, a weapon. He isn't just the leader of Retrograde... he is Retrograde.
He is completely obsessed with Riley, yet refuses to admit to himself what he truly feels for her. I loved seeing him finally making peace with his feelings and realizing that sometimes it's worth breaking the rules he has imposed on himself.
The spice? 10/10.
I also really liked how the story handled difficult and heavy themes, as well as the protagonist's trauma
Review of advance copy received from Author
“𝔄 𝔰𝔞𝔩𝔳𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 ℑ 𝔫𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔞𝔰𝔨𝔢𝔡 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔫𝔢𝔢𝔡𝔢𝔡 𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔞𝔪𝔢. 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔰𝔞𝔴 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔞𝔳𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔫 𝔟𝔢𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔰𝔨, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱, 𝔥𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔩𝔬𝔫𝔤𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔫𝔬𝔴.”
OMG! I wish I could get retrograde amnesia so k could reread this for the first time all over again!
I literally devoured this. I wasn’t sure what to think from chapter 1 and 2. But quickly started to vibe. I fell in love with the characters and their backstories. The depth and overall attitudes from both the FMC and the MMC. The FMC is an absolute badass. Her strength and endurance is unmatched and she gave me everything f I could want.
And of course who doesn’t love a rebel leader in a mask who has it bad for the FMC 🥵
I’ll eat that up Everytime.
The dystopian vibes. The world building. Oh I need more. I need other characters stories. I hope there will be more because I’m obsessed!
5 well
Earned STARS ⭐️
OMG! I wish I could get retrograde amnesia so k could reread this for the first time all over again!
I literally devoured this. I wasn’t sure what to think from chapter 1 and 2. But quickly started to vibe. I fell in love with the characters and their backstories. The depth and overall attitudes from both the FMC and the MMC. The FMC is an absolute badass. Her strength and endurance is unmatched and she gave me everything f I could want.
And of course who doesn’t love a rebel leader in a mask who has it bad for the FMC 🥵
I’ll eat that up Everytime.
The dystopian vibes. The world building. Oh I need more. I need other characters stories. I hope there will be more because I’m obsessed!
5 well
Earned STARS ⭐️
August 24, 2026
I absolutely loved this read. The dystopian atmosphere pulled me in right away and there was something about the world and the way everything felt so broken and dangerous that I could not put this book down.
But the characters are what really got me. Their choices, their past, the guilt, the love and everything they are forced to face made this story so emotional. Aron Krasnik is such a dark, ruthless character, but there is so much more underneath that made me completely fascinated by him.
The whole idea of having to choose between doing the right thing and protecting the people you love really hit me. There are consequences to every choice, and watching those consequences unfold was absolutely addictive!
But the characters are what really got me. Their choices, their past, the guilt, the love and everything they are forced to face made this story so emotional. Aron Krasnik is such a dark, ruthless character, but there is so much more underneath that made me completely fascinated by him.
The whole idea of having to choose between doing the right thing and protecting the people you love really hit me. There are consequences to every choice, and watching those consequences unfold was absolutely addictive!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Aron Krasnik, also known as the Necromancer, is
a notorious rebel leader who has lost all hope and shows no mercy to traitors. However, his world takes an unexpected turn when he captures Riley, an amazing photographer who happens to be a fan of his work. Initially seeing her as the worst kind of traitor, he soon discovers that she slowly rekindles his lost hope and emotions.
The blurb of this book totally reeled me in, and as a dark romance fanatic, I was so ready for it! While there were definitely some likable moments, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters, which ultimately made me lose interest in the story. I'm sure others will adore it though, and I'm still so grateful for the
ARC opportunity!
a notorious rebel leader who has lost all hope and shows no mercy to traitors. However, his world takes an unexpected turn when he captures Riley, an amazing photographer who happens to be a fan of his work. Initially seeing her as the worst kind of traitor, he soon discovers that she slowly rekindles his lost hope and emotions.
The blurb of this book totally reeled me in, and as a dark romance fanatic, I was so ready for it! While there were definitely some likable moments, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters, which ultimately made me lose interest in the story. I'm sure others will adore it though, and I'm still so grateful for the
ARC opportunity!
August 26, 2026
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read the ARC of this work.
I. Was. Not. Prepared.
Let me tell you, I knew what I was in for and I was still woefully unprepared for this.
The world is in shambles from a nuclear disaster and after the fallout the powers that be are rebuilding in their image. The corruption in the area is brimming and the resistance is shrinking and not everything is what it seems.
The trauma in this is palpable and honestly I don’t tend to listen to this advice myself but read your trigger warnings! This was really well done and had an even blend of being plot driven and character driven. The character arcs are wild and so good.
Honestly I want to say more but I think my brain is broken and still processing haha.
I. Was. Not. Prepared.
Let me tell you, I knew what I was in for and I was still woefully unprepared for this.
The world is in shambles from a nuclear disaster and after the fallout the powers that be are rebuilding in their image. The corruption in the area is brimming and the resistance is shrinking and not everything is what it seems.
The trauma in this is palpable and honestly I don’t tend to listen to this advice myself but read your trigger warnings! This was really well done and had an even blend of being plot driven and character driven. The character arcs are wild and so good.
Honestly I want to say more but I think my brain is broken and still processing haha.
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