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Where The Poppies Bloom: A Morally Grey Romantic Fantasy
Not yet published
Expected 8 Jan 27Haven Vesper has always been certain of two the insurgency is Naxa’s greatest threat, and there is no situation that cannot benefit from a little sarcasm. As the Umbral—the empire’s most revered assassin—she has never questioned her purpose. Until Naxa turns on her.
Now a fugitive of the empire she once served, she soon realizes the insurgency might have just what she needs to reclaim her former Nael Junde Majhoul.
Her redemption for his capture.
To save herself, Haven must hunt down the most wanted criminal in the empire and drag him back to the capital, alive…or dead. But Majhoul is no ordinary outlaw. His sole purpose is the empire’s destruction, and the Umbral could be a mighty prize for his cause–if he can get his hands on her.
She was forged for loyalty. He was born for ruin.
As she gains a deeper understanding of the insurgents’ network, the line between hero and villain begins to blur. Lies and truth weave themselves into a knot she can no longer untie, leaving her questioning the only world she has ever known and her own place in it.
But if she wants to survive the jaws of both Majhoul and the empire, she must decide what she is willing to fight for…and what she is willing to destroy.
When faith shatters, will even the sharpest blade turn?
---
An adult romantic fantasy for readers who love enemies-to-lovers slow burn, morally grey characters, and worlds where the truth is the most dangerous weapon of all.
---
- Enemies to lovers, very slow burn
- Morally grey assassin X most wanted criminal
- Forced proximity & reluctant allies
- Kn!fe to throat tension
- Sarcastic banter & sharp wit
- Dark, immersive world building
- Magic, curses & dangerous creatures
Now a fugitive of the empire she once served, she soon realizes the insurgency might have just what she needs to reclaim her former Nael Junde Majhoul.
Her redemption for his capture.
To save herself, Haven must hunt down the most wanted criminal in the empire and drag him back to the capital, alive…or dead. But Majhoul is no ordinary outlaw. His sole purpose is the empire’s destruction, and the Umbral could be a mighty prize for his cause–if he can get his hands on her.
She was forged for loyalty. He was born for ruin.
As she gains a deeper understanding of the insurgents’ network, the line between hero and villain begins to blur. Lies and truth weave themselves into a knot she can no longer untie, leaving her questioning the only world she has ever known and her own place in it.
But if she wants to survive the jaws of both Majhoul and the empire, she must decide what she is willing to fight for…and what she is willing to destroy.
When faith shatters, will even the sharpest blade turn?
---
An adult romantic fantasy for readers who love enemies-to-lovers slow burn, morally grey characters, and worlds where the truth is the most dangerous weapon of all.
---
- Enemies to lovers, very slow burn
- Morally grey assassin X most wanted criminal
- Forced proximity & reluctant allies
- Kn!fe to throat tension
- Sarcastic banter & sharp wit
- Dark, immersive world building
- Magic, curses & dangerous creatures
- GenresFantasy Romance
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 8, 2027
About the author
Allie Cole
7 books160 followersAllie Cole blends sharp wit and fierce heroines into stories that leave a mark. She believes writing is political and that the best books challenge, liberate, and transform. Born in France and now based in Spain with her husband after a decade in California, she grew up devouring books about rebellion, resilience, and love that refuses to break. When she's not writing, she's engaging with fellow book lovers online, sipping an iced-decaf lavender latte, or spending quiet evenings home.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are genuinely no words to express how I feel about this book
Prepare to have me shove it down EVERYONE’S throats
There are genuinely no words to express how I feel about this book
Prepare to have me shove it down EVERYONE’S throats
Review of advance copy received from Author
Edit: initially I gave this 3.5 stars. After sitting with it for 2 weeks this book has sat with me longer than I thought it would and I keep thinking about it, even as I move through other books. Moved it to solid 4 stars.
I carefully thought about how to rate this book throughout my reading journey and in the end I ended up quite happy and look forward to watching for the next book.
Around the 20% mark I started to get a little worried that I was going to have to stop reading. I really wanted to give it a fair chance so I pushed on, but something really needed to start happening. I found the first bit quite repetitive in the way it was trying to introduce Haven to me. And at times I was left guessing about what just happened.
I was rewarded by continuing, right after I had thought that things start moving. I think it's really well done with how the characters develop. I really cared about what was happening. At the end I was emotional about the choices but also I think they were the right ones to be made in order for complex thoughtful characters. I will be telling my reader friends about this one.
I carefully thought about how to rate this book throughout my reading journey and in the end I ended up quite happy and look forward to watching for the next book.
Around the 20% mark I started to get a little worried that I was going to have to stop reading. I really wanted to give it a fair chance so I pushed on, but something really needed to start happening. I found the first bit quite repetitive in the way it was trying to introduce Haven to me. And at times I was left guessing about what just happened.
I was rewarded by continuing, right after I had thought that things start moving. I think it's really well done with how the characters develop. I really cared about what was happening. At the end I was emotional about the choices but also I think they were the right ones to be made in order for complex thoughtful characters. I will be telling my reader friends about this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌺 Where the Poppies Bloom… 4.5⭐️
The slow burn is REAL, and I need book two immediately. The only problem? Book one isn’t even officially released yet. 😭
What I loved most about this story was its complex storyline and the very real human struggles woven throughout it.
Haven’s internal battle as she begins to question the lies she has been taught all her life was both frustrating and compelling. I found myself frustrated with the choices she continued to make, but the more I reflected on her journey, the more I understood what those choices represented: the human tendency to choose the easier path, or the one expected of us, rather than confront everything we have been taught to believe. It’s a choice many of us make without even realizing it.
Ophelia’s struggle felt just as real. She recognizes the injustice surrounding her and wants to do something about it, yet feels too insignificant to make a difference. So she chooses complacency, all while hating herself for it. Her conflict captures something deeply human: knowing something is wrong but questioning whether one person can truly change anything.
And Nael… my heart. 🥹
To me, he represents the difficult path. The choice to do what is right despite the injustices he and his people have endured. There is a particular kind of strength in choosing mercy when anger would be entirely understandable. To carry the weight of showing your enemies compassion while still feeling the rage of what has been done to you is no small thing.
Although this is a work of fiction, the questions it raises feel incredibly real and relevant to the world we live in today. It explores injustice, complicity, the beliefs we inherit, and the courage it takes to challenge them. It reminds us that choosing the right path isn’t always easy, especially when doing so means questioning everything we have ever known.
This is a story that left me thinking beyond its pages, and with a slow burn that has me desperate for the next book, I am absolutely invested in seeing where these characters go from here.
The slow burn is REAL, and I need book two immediately. The only problem? Book one isn’t even officially released yet. 😭
What I loved most about this story was its complex storyline and the very real human struggles woven throughout it.
Haven’s internal battle as she begins to question the lies she has been taught all her life was both frustrating and compelling. I found myself frustrated with the choices she continued to make, but the more I reflected on her journey, the more I understood what those choices represented: the human tendency to choose the easier path, or the one expected of us, rather than confront everything we have been taught to believe. It’s a choice many of us make without even realizing it.
Ophelia’s struggle felt just as real. She recognizes the injustice surrounding her and wants to do something about it, yet feels too insignificant to make a difference. So she chooses complacency, all while hating herself for it. Her conflict captures something deeply human: knowing something is wrong but questioning whether one person can truly change anything.
And Nael… my heart. 🥹
To me, he represents the difficult path. The choice to do what is right despite the injustices he and his people have endured. There is a particular kind of strength in choosing mercy when anger would be entirely understandable. To carry the weight of showing your enemies compassion while still feeling the rage of what has been done to you is no small thing.
Although this is a work of fiction, the questions it raises feel incredibly real and relevant to the world we live in today. It explores injustice, complicity, the beliefs we inherit, and the courage it takes to challenge them. It reminds us that choosing the right path isn’t always easy, especially when doing so means questioning everything we have ever known.
This is a story that left me thinking beyond its pages, and with a slow burn that has me desperate for the next book, I am absolutely invested in seeing where these characters go from here.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Noooooo
You know those books you get so engrossed in that you don’t realize you’re reading the last page? Only to try to read more and there’s an author’s note or something instead?
So you find yourself yelling NOOOOO and all the dogs bark? And you have to stop everything to write a review immediately?
Well, then you’re all caught up to my now.
What a BOOK! My goodness!
Two sisters, absolutely adore each other. One a pet to the father (seemingly) - good girl, dress up, behaving kind.
The other his enforcer.
Both have questions about who he is and what side of history they’re really on.
The enforcer ends up with a bounty on her head and makes friends in the oddest place. The sweet one is finding out secrets her own way.
They both just want to get back to one another.
And APPARENTLY there’s a SEQUEL which now I have to wait for!
It’s so so so good! I ate this in 24 wonderful hours and now I may read it again.
You know those books you get so engrossed in that you don’t realize you’re reading the last page? Only to try to read more and there’s an author’s note or something instead?
So you find yourself yelling NOOOOO and all the dogs bark? And you have to stop everything to write a review immediately?
Well, then you’re all caught up to my now.
What a BOOK! My goodness!
Two sisters, absolutely adore each other. One a pet to the father (seemingly) - good girl, dress up, behaving kind.
The other his enforcer.
Both have questions about who he is and what side of history they’re really on.
The enforcer ends up with a bounty on her head and makes friends in the oddest place. The sweet one is finding out secrets her own way.
They both just want to get back to one another.
And APPARENTLY there’s a SEQUEL which now I have to wait for!
It’s so so so good! I ate this in 24 wonderful hours and now I may read it again.
October 16, 2026
First off, I have to compliment Allie on her writing. I couldn’t believe this was written by an indie author. She wrote this book with so much depth and detail that I couldn’t help but be transported into this world. I really enjoyed the character development and how over time you can truly see the FMC question things, change her beliefs, question things again. It wasn’t just black and white and predictable.
There were some moments where I felt like a chapter would and scene would begin, then a memory moment or inner monologue of the character would start and would go on for a while so it sometimes would pull me out of where the characters were in the current scene. There was so much that occurred and developed through the first half of the book, then about 75% in the momentum really picked up and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.
I can’t wait to continue this series and I’m sure the next book will be just as good!!!
Thank you Allie, you are truly so talented!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Throughly enjoyed this book - however do note this leans very heavily into fantasy and doesn’t really have any romance! The book is a bit slow to start with however picks up around the 30% mark. I really enjoyed Ophelia’s point of view chapters and felt like they added a lot to the overall plot. It was really enjoyable seeing the two sisters on the opposite sides both coming to terms with their own truths. I also enjoyed that this book leant into a morally grey FMC.
I suspect this book has left a lot of breadcrumbs for the sequel (Ash????) and I can’t wait to read it when it comes out!
If you enjoyed throne of glass you will enjoy this book!
I suspect this book has left a lot of breadcrumbs for the sequel (Ash????) and I can’t wait to read it when it comes out!
If you enjoyed throne of glass you will enjoy this book!
Review of advance copy
ARC READER
This is definitely a book that I would recommend to people I know! I loved the characters and just the world altogether
This is definitely a book that I would recommend to people I know! I loved the characters and just the world altogether
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews