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Bonetide
"Don't let him in."
Widow's Bay meets Haunting Adeline in this standalone dark gothic horror romance from the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of Blood Orange, Grave Matter and Realm of Thieves.
When Iris Galloway inherits her great-aunt's cottage on a remote Scottish loch, the terms are live there one year, and it's hers.
She doesn't know about the disappearances yet, nor does she know about the handsome man who swims in the loch at night, who watches her cottage from the dark water, and who appears at her door very wet, very naked, and asking to come in.
Meanwhile, the locals warn her about a murderer on the loose, the police are in over their heads, and her aunt's letters say to keep the salt lines around the house and the doors locked after sundown.
And never, ever invite him inside.
But Iris has spent her whole life being careful.
And this wicked stranger is going to ruin her for it.
Bonetide is a dark gothic romance that’s tinged with horror. While this book starts off almost like a cozy gothic mystery, it does pivot later into darker territory. Which also gets a little weird. If you’re here for the cozy, know that it doesn’t stay cozy. If you’re here for the dark romance, know that it’s coming. Please see inside the book or author's website for the content warnings.
Widow's Bay meets Haunting Adeline in this standalone dark gothic horror romance from the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of Blood Orange, Grave Matter and Realm of Thieves.
When Iris Galloway inherits her great-aunt's cottage on a remote Scottish loch, the terms are live there one year, and it's hers.
She doesn't know about the disappearances yet, nor does she know about the handsome man who swims in the loch at night, who watches her cottage from the dark water, and who appears at her door very wet, very naked, and asking to come in.
Meanwhile, the locals warn her about a murderer on the loose, the police are in over their heads, and her aunt's letters say to keep the salt lines around the house and the doors locked after sundown.
And never, ever invite him inside.
But Iris has spent her whole life being careful.
And this wicked stranger is going to ruin her for it.
Bonetide is a dark gothic romance that’s tinged with horror. While this book starts off almost like a cozy gothic mystery, it does pivot later into darker territory. Which also gets a little weird. If you’re here for the cozy, know that it doesn’t stay cozy. If you’re here for the dark romance, know that it’s coming. Please see inside the book or author's website for the content warnings.
494 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2026
About the author
Karina Halle
113 books20.1k followersKarina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
September 23, 2026
it’s been a hot minute since i read an fmc with this little sense of self-preservation and a lack of critical reasoning skills. this heaux had me cackling with her antics throughout because she was a deeply unserious protagonist 🤣. AND she exclaims
jesus cripes!
all of that aside though, this thing turned out to be a page-turner.
the story follows iris, an at-home botanical illustrator and recent divorceé, who comes about inheriting her aunt (great-aunt?)’s cottage in small-town scotland. since she needs a new place to live following the implosion of her marriage and what with her dire lack of funds, she decides to lean in to the fresh start handed to her and move across the seas to take up the free accommodations. though, she will only inherit the actual title to the place if she stays for a year according to the conditions laid out in her aunt’s will. the cottage overlooks a loch, and there’s a castle and the mysterious man who lives in it just on the other side. some eerie stuff starts happening, along with…well…the handsome and enigmatic man lurking about naked or damp-looking (or both). and he happens to be watching her too 👀. iris gets sucked into something a little bigger than she understands about the role galloway women past (including her aunt) played on the loch — and the story goes from there.
expect salt on the windowsills and at entrances, a “don’t let him in” vibe, mysterious clues left behind by her aunt, disappearing women and a possible serial murderer on the loose, random horses, and the loch appearing to hold more secrets than you first realize and could not possibly guess at.
iris, as i said, was deeply unserious BUT i did find her fumbling about and inner monologues quite amusing at times. she was so goofy and she did NAWT care about anything other than getting on that man’s prized pogo stick, ignoring pertinent information in favour of “getting railed” (her words, not mine). she was self-aware at least, i’ll give her that 🤣. i was a little alarmed at the number of mentions of this stranger’s dick or “horse-cock” in the first couple chapters (the latter being quite funny when you figure out what’s going on deeper into the book)…i mean, he was frolicking around the loch in the nude at times, but the read was surprisingly very cozy and only mildly spooky in vibes at first. it gets a bit darker later on, but it wasn’t as dark overall as i was expecting it to be. the horror element wasn’t as scary as i was anticipating either, so that could be a good or a bad thing depending on what you want out of this (which i can’t seem to make my mind up about either).
the plot on the whole was pretty solid, even though the pacing wasn’t always. the mystery takes a back seat in the middle in favour of all the sex, but the plot (and trying to actually solve the mystery) does find itself again and has some surprising revelations that kept me entertained and invested there. the ending dragged a little though.
now, i’m just a girl and the smut was pretty hot EXCEPT! i wish alasdair (the mmc) would lay off the lass and aye and just allllllll that yapping! dare i say, a man CAN talk too much during sex. he was doing way too much and so while at times i thought he was hot, i got tired of him. i also love how we conveniently forgot that the fmc had fibromyalgia when she was being bent into a pretzel and slicked up with olive oil as lube, but it would come up when she had to walk across the way to his castle, which would then be when she would lament about all the aches and pains she has to live with 😂.
the romance itself is a bit insta lust / insta love — but it’s a dark romance so that’s par for the course, i suppose. it didn’t really bother me in this case, and they had decent chemistry. however, it did make the emotional piece towards the end a bit unbelievable to me, even though the writing made a fair(ish) attempt at trying to convey what they had as profound, what with how the story climaxes and wraps up. i just didn’t buy it.
i did like the setting and the writing had a nice descriptive quality to it that i enjoyed reading. the gothic and unsettling atmosphere was pretty good too and kept the intrigue fueled. the scottish folklore weaved into the plot had its draw as well, and i was NOT expecting what it all meant when things finally play out. it was all a little weird, but ya know…i wasn’t mad at it and devoured this in virtually two/three sittings. that’s gotta count for something 😅.
*note: in the blurb, there’s a mention of “haunting adeline” as a comparative, and while i have not read that myself, i know it to be quite polarizing as far as consent goes — and non-consent is explicitly mentioned in the trigger warnings of that story. this book (bonetide) has dubcon in the triggers but no non-con, and the dubcon in question comes more from the fact that the fmc doesn’t know certain things about the mmc when they start sleeping together (and he withholds information). her consent as to who/what she’s dealing with is dubious. she, however, enthusiastically seeks out and enjoys all the sexual conduct, so nothing ever felt forceful or rape-y, at least to me. do check your triggers though 🤍.
all of that aside though, this thing turned out to be a page-turner.
the story follows iris, an at-home botanical illustrator and recent divorceé, who comes about inheriting her aunt (great-aunt?)’s cottage in small-town scotland. since she needs a new place to live following the implosion of her marriage and what with her dire lack of funds, she decides to lean in to the fresh start handed to her and move across the seas to take up the free accommodations. though, she will only inherit the actual title to the place if she stays for a year according to the conditions laid out in her aunt’s will. the cottage overlooks a loch, and there’s a castle and the mysterious man who lives in it just on the other side. some eerie stuff starts happening, along with…well…the handsome and enigmatic man lurking about naked or damp-looking (or both). and he happens to be watching her too 👀. iris gets sucked into something a little bigger than she understands about the role galloway women past (including her aunt) played on the loch — and the story goes from there.
expect salt on the windowsills and at entrances, a “don’t let him in” vibe, mysterious clues left behind by her aunt, disappearing women and a possible serial murderer on the loose, random horses, and the loch appearing to hold more secrets than you first realize and could not possibly guess at.
iris, as i said, was deeply unserious BUT i did find her fumbling about and inner monologues quite amusing at times. she was so goofy and she did NAWT care about anything other than getting on that man’s prized pogo stick, ignoring pertinent information in favour of “getting railed” (her words, not mine). she was self-aware at least, i’ll give her that 🤣. i was a little alarmed at the number of mentions of this stranger’s dick or “horse-cock” in the first couple chapters (the latter being quite funny when you figure out what’s going on deeper into the book)…i mean, he was frolicking around the loch in the nude at times, but the read was surprisingly very cozy and only mildly spooky in vibes at first. it gets a bit darker later on, but it wasn’t as dark overall as i was expecting it to be. the horror element wasn’t as scary as i was anticipating either, so that could be a good or a bad thing depending on what you want out of this (which i can’t seem to make my mind up about either).
the plot on the whole was pretty solid, even though the pacing wasn’t always. the mystery takes a back seat in the middle in favour of all the sex, but the plot (and trying to actually solve the mystery) does find itself again and has some surprising revelations that kept me entertained and invested there. the ending dragged a little though.
now, i’m just a girl and the smut was pretty hot EXCEPT! i wish alasdair (the mmc) would lay off the lass and aye and just allllllll that yapping! dare i say, a man CAN talk too much during sex. he was doing way too much and so while at times i thought he was hot, i got tired of him. i also love how we conveniently forgot that the fmc had fibromyalgia when she was being bent into a pretzel and slicked up with olive oil as lube, but it would come up when she had to walk across the way to his castle, which would then be when she would lament about all the aches and pains she has to live with 😂.
the romance itself is a bit insta lust / insta love — but it’s a dark romance so that’s par for the course, i suppose. it didn’t really bother me in this case, and they had decent chemistry. however, it did make the emotional piece towards the end a bit unbelievable to me, even though the writing made a fair(ish) attempt at trying to convey what they had as profound, what with how the story climaxes and wraps up. i just didn’t buy it.
i did like the setting and the writing had a nice descriptive quality to it that i enjoyed reading. the gothic and unsettling atmosphere was pretty good too and kept the intrigue fueled. the scottish folklore weaved into the plot had its draw as well, and i was NOT expecting what it all meant when things finally play out. it was all a little weird, but ya know…i wasn’t mad at it and devoured this in virtually two/three sittings. that’s gotta count for something 😅.
*note: in the blurb, there’s a mention of “haunting adeline” as a comparative, and while i have not read that myself, i know it to be quite polarizing as far as consent goes — and non-consent is explicitly mentioned in the trigger warnings of that story. this book (bonetide) has dubcon in the triggers but no non-con, and the dubcon in question comes more from the fact that the fmc doesn’t know certain things about the mmc when they start sleeping together (and he withholds information). her consent as to who/what she’s dealing with is dubious. she, however, enthusiastically seeks out and enjoys all the sexual conduct, so nothing ever felt forceful or rape-y, at least to me. do check your triggers though 🤍.
2026-read
August 31, 2026Hmmmm I don’t know what to rate this one, like I didn’t hate it, but couldn’t shout from the rooftops that I loved it.
It was weird, parts of the story I loved
Other parts were what the hell am I bloody reading
But I can honestly say I’ve not read anything like it
I read it from front to back, so it’s not like I didn’t finish it
It’s a hard book to recommend. But if like me you love this author, then yes pick this one up and dive in..
I liked the feeling of a quaint little cottage handed down generations, the mystery of the loch, the castle and the man that resides in it, pulls you in, the females that go missing and all that’s left behind is a liver, like a peace offering to the universe. The superstition of salt on windowsills, door entrances, ‘do not let him in.’
Then throw in the man horse and yep my brain went fruity loop.
It was weird, parts of the story I loved
Other parts were what the hell am I bloody reading
But I can honestly say I’ve not read anything like it
I read it from front to back, so it’s not like I didn’t finish it
It’s a hard book to recommend. But if like me you love this author, then yes pick this one up and dive in..
I liked the feeling of a quaint little cottage handed down generations, the mystery of the loch, the castle and the man that resides in it, pulls you in, the females that go missing and all that’s left behind is a liver, like a peace offering to the universe. The superstition of salt on windowsills, door entrances, ‘do not let him in.’
Then throw in the man horse and yep my brain went fruity loop.
September 1, 2026
After finishing this book, or should I say after this book completely pulverized my brain and heart, I’m pretty sure Karina Hallie is a witch. I just can’t fathom how she is able to come up with these stories that are not only amazing, but are a total mind fuck. This book completely blew me away with not only how beautiful her writing is, but the story alone was bone-chilling. From the first page I was completely hooked and an absolute goner. I’m not going to go on and tell you about the story and the characters, because it’s honestly so much better going into this one completely blind and getting hit with the complete shock and horror of the story. This was easily a six star read for me, hell it was a sold ten for me.
This is a true gothic horror romance and if you are the squeamish type, I would maybe think twice before picking this one up. Even though there aren’t any gory scenes, it’s still pretty unsettling but I’m a weirdo and it just didn’t bother me. It honestly made me grip my Kindle tighter and made me want to read faster to find out what the hell was going on. The setting of the story was not only alluring but beautiful, or should I say “bonny.” The way Karina writes instantly transports you to the world she is writing about, and even though I have never been to Scotland, I felt like I was there because of her words. I’ve never wanted to visit another place so much in my life as I want to go to Scotland and have a man talk to me as deliciously filthy Alasdair did with his accent. I’m convinced if I heard the words “Aye, foxglove” or “Lass” and I would melt into a puddle of goo.
I never wanted this book to come to an end and I haven’t been able to pick up another book since I finished this two days ago. I’m honestly so tempted to read this again like tomorrow because the thought of moving on from this book and reading something else honestly makes me distraught. Looks like I’ll have to dive into yet another book of Karina’s and put myself through another amazing and tortuous read of hers because I love pain obviously.
“You’re a monster,” I whisper. I don’t mean to say it again. It just comes out, the thought slipping loose, said into the dark against the cold of his collarbone, to remind myself of what he truly is. He hears me. Of course he hears me. “Yessss,” he hisses against my hair. It goes through me. It isn’t a word, so much as the shape of one made by something whose mouth wasn’t built for the language. His hand at the back of my neck shifts, fingers sliding up into my hair, his breath at my temple. “How does it feel,” he begins, “to just get fucked by one?”
LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
This is a true gothic horror romance and if you are the squeamish type, I would maybe think twice before picking this one up. Even though there aren’t any gory scenes, it’s still pretty unsettling but I’m a weirdo and it just didn’t bother me. It honestly made me grip my Kindle tighter and made me want to read faster to find out what the hell was going on. The setting of the story was not only alluring but beautiful, or should I say “bonny.” The way Karina writes instantly transports you to the world she is writing about, and even though I have never been to Scotland, I felt like I was there because of her words. I’ve never wanted to visit another place so much in my life as I want to go to Scotland and have a man talk to me as deliciously filthy Alasdair did with his accent. I’m convinced if I heard the words “Aye, foxglove” or “Lass” and I would melt into a puddle of goo.
I never wanted this book to come to an end and I haven’t been able to pick up another book since I finished this two days ago. I’m honestly so tempted to read this again like tomorrow because the thought of moving on from this book and reading something else honestly makes me distraught. Looks like I’ll have to dive into yet another book of Karina’s and put myself through another amazing and tortuous read of hers because I love pain obviously.
“You’re a monster,” I whisper. I don’t mean to say it again. It just comes out, the thought slipping loose, said into the dark against the cold of his collarbone, to remind myself of what he truly is. He hears me. Of course he hears me. “Yessss,” he hisses against my hair. It goes through me. It isn’t a word, so much as the shape of one made by something whose mouth wasn’t built for the language. His hand at the back of my neck shifts, fingers sliding up into my hair, his breath at my temple. “How does it feel,” he begins, “to just get fucked by one?”
LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Currently Reading
August 26, 2026ALL GOTHICS ALL THE TIME BABY
August 29, 2026
3.5⭐️
So the FMC sees the MMC naked for the first time from 200 meters away, immediately decides he’s “incredibly well-endowed” because she can “see his dick from across the loch” and from that point on, completely loses the ability to act rationally.
So the FMC sees the MMC naked for the first time from 200 meters away, immediately decides he’s “incredibly well-endowed” because she can “see his dick from across the loch” and from that point on, completely loses the ability to act rationally.
Want to Read
September 1, 2026I love Karina Halle, she writes a million books and her plots always sound so interesting
August 14, 2026
Iris is so real. if I saw a mysterious Scottish man across the loch at a castle who likes standing naked on the shore I’d also be down bad. She’s just a girl so let her liveeeeee. I found her relatable because I also would ignore red flags for him.
Loved the Scotland setting and gothic folklore. It truly felt like I was right there on the loch with her. Their storyline had me very invested. You build up so many questions throughout the book and I wasn’t expecting the answers!
The spice was spicing. Karina Halle never disappoints me.
The mass market special edition of this book with the artwork is soooo beautiful. Definitely made it more of an immersive read to imagine the characters and setting🔥🔥🔥
Loved the Scotland setting and gothic folklore. It truly felt like I was right there on the loch with her. Their storyline had me very invested. You build up so many questions throughout the book and I wasn’t expecting the answers!
The spice was spicing. Karina Halle never disappoints me.
The mass market special edition of this book with the artwork is soooo beautiful. Definitely made it more of an immersive read to imagine the characters and setting🔥🔥🔥
August 29, 2026
This one spoke to my Horror-mance loving heart. It’s very gothic, very atmospheric and so good. This review has to be kinda vague because I don’t want to spoil anything. It’s a classic setup: woman inherits home from relative at the perfect time of her life. Iris is divorced and couch surfing when she inherits a cottage in Scotland. Once there she comes across her very hot and very mysterious neighbor. The problem is that her aunt left her some cryptic messages that make her side eye the hot neighbor, especially when she finds out there are women going missing in the area.
This has some amazing Scottish folklore throughout and starts off with a real cozy, gothic mystery vibe and at about the halfway point takes a dark turn that definitely leans more towards horror. Aside from the fantastic vibes, I really loved these characters and some of Iris’ inner monologue made me legit crack up. Of course, the mysterious neighbor is absolutely swoon worthy and mesmerizing. He’s a Scottish MMC, thems the rules.
I’m quite disturbed by his actions, yet fucking swooning at his attentiveness. Is the bar in hell?
Highly recommend for anyone that loves spooky, creepy romances. Or mysterious Scottish MMCs. You would be good either way.
MF Gothic Romance
Dark Cozy To Horror
Mysterious MMC
Murder Mystery
Scottish Folklore
Stalker..or Other?
He is Obsessed
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
This has some amazing Scottish folklore throughout and starts off with a real cozy, gothic mystery vibe and at about the halfway point takes a dark turn that definitely leans more towards horror. Aside from the fantastic vibes, I really loved these characters and some of Iris’ inner monologue made me legit crack up. Of course, the mysterious neighbor is absolutely swoon worthy and mesmerizing. He’s a Scottish MMC, thems the rules.
I’m quite disturbed by his actions, yet fucking swooning at his attentiveness. Is the bar in hell?
Highly recommend for anyone that loves spooky, creepy romances. Or mysterious Scottish MMCs. You would be good either way.
MF Gothic Romance
Dark Cozy To Horror
Mysterious MMC
Murder Mystery
Scottish Folklore
Stalker..or Other?
He is Obsessed
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
September 3, 2026
holy monsterforking moth balls 🤣
This was a breath of fresh air. A welcome distraction from reality. A cleverly composed, cozy horror romance that I could not put down. A bold story that feels as authentic as it is strange, and just so wonderfully weird. I had the best time!
Bonetide by Karina Halle is a gothic romance with a supernatural flare, set in the picturesque Scottish Highlands. When Iris Galloway inherits her late aunt's seaside cottage she takes it as the perfect opportunity to start over after an exhausting divorce. But there are salt wards across all the entrances and cryptic warnings from her late aunt that may or may not be about the hot neighbour ...
It's a seemingly innocuous gothic romance setup, right? Wrong.
This book is a bold journey that morphs from cozy to creepy and back again. It has a little bit of everything; funny inner dialogue, mystery, spice, sweetness and horror elements that venture into a realm that I've personally not encountered before. Karina Halle is not afraid to go where the muse moves her, and I love her for that. The scene in the loch ??? Somehow it was hilarious, scary and sexy all at the same time.
What to expect:
- dark cottagecore
- man obsessed
- is he a serial killer?
- neurodivergent rep
- chronic pain rep
- horror erotica
- forced proximity
- murder mystery
- Scottish folklore
Anyway, I have 161 highlights and I must, once again, thank Karina Halle for curing my reading slump. Her books go down so smooth. This was such a comforting read ... in a really, really weird way. Haha!
I would recommend this to all the weirdos and the horror romance girlies of the world, who might be looking for something totally unique that feels original and fun with a solid creep factor.
This was a breath of fresh air. A welcome distraction from reality. A cleverly composed, cozy horror romance that I could not put down. A bold story that feels as authentic as it is strange, and just so wonderfully weird. I had the best time!
Bonetide by Karina Halle is a gothic romance with a supernatural flare, set in the picturesque Scottish Highlands. When Iris Galloway inherits her late aunt's seaside cottage she takes it as the perfect opportunity to start over after an exhausting divorce. But there are salt wards across all the entrances and cryptic warnings from her late aunt that may or may not be about the hot neighbour ...
It's a seemingly innocuous gothic romance setup, right? Wrong.
This book is a bold journey that morphs from cozy to creepy and back again. It has a little bit of everything; funny inner dialogue, mystery, spice, sweetness and horror elements that venture into a realm that I've personally not encountered before. Karina Halle is not afraid to go where the muse moves her, and I love her for that. The scene in the loch ??? Somehow it was hilarious, scary and sexy all at the same time.
What to expect:
- dark cottagecore
- man obsessed
- is he a serial killer?
- neurodivergent rep
- chronic pain rep
- horror erotica
- forced proximity
- murder mystery
- Scottish folklore
Anyway, I have 161 highlights and I must, once again, thank Karina Halle for curing my reading slump. Her books go down so smooth. This was such a comforting read ... in a really, really weird way. Haha!
I would recommend this to all the weirdos and the horror romance girlies of the world, who might be looking for something totally unique that feels original and fun with a solid creep factor.
August 29, 2026
When Iris’s great-aunt Effie passes and bequeaths her remote, isolated cottage on the shores of Loch Torridon in Scotland, it comes with the stipulation that she take up residence there for a year to receive her inheritance. Fresh off the back of a divorce, Iris jumps at the chance to leave everything behind in Chicago for a fresh start across the pond. Tight-na-Mara is not only isolated it has its own witchy charm. There are also instructions left for Iris by her aunt to salt the windows regularly, to leave the Rowan tree alone and the most important one an obscure “Don't let him in”.
We had a tantalising mystery, missing girls, a sexy Scottish neighbour who resides in an actual ruined castle and who likes to swim naked in the loch. Lots of folklore and legend. Chronic illness rep that was done well. Some incredibly hot and very well-done spice. As for the actual pinnacle moment when all is revealed well it was fantastic and this went places I just wasn't expecting it to.
This author has become such an auto-buy for me especially her most recent releases. Anything strange weird or unusual I'm definitely your girl and this ticked all of those boxes and more. I loved everything about this the atmospheric ambience with this one was huge and totally managed to transport me directly into the story. I felt like I could actually picture the setting and I was bloody transfixed by everything here and whilst this starts with baby steps managing to lull me into a false sense of security as events ramped up this then manages to take a dark turn and boy did it deliver.
This is one I highly recommend and needs bumping up your TBR I actually wish I could erase it from my brain and read it all fresh for the first time all over again I enjoyed it that much. If I could give it more stars than five I would. This surpassed my expectations and they were pretty high anyway.
We had a tantalising mystery, missing girls, a sexy Scottish neighbour who resides in an actual ruined castle and who likes to swim naked in the loch. Lots of folklore and legend. Chronic illness rep that was done well. Some incredibly hot and very well-done spice. As for the actual pinnacle moment when all is revealed well it was fantastic and this went places I just wasn't expecting it to.
This author has become such an auto-buy for me especially her most recent releases. Anything strange weird or unusual I'm definitely your girl and this ticked all of those boxes and more. I loved everything about this the atmospheric ambience with this one was huge and totally managed to transport me directly into the story. I felt like I could actually picture the setting and I was bloody transfixed by everything here and whilst this starts with baby steps managing to lull me into a false sense of security as events ramped up this then manages to take a dark turn and boy did it deliver.
This is one I highly recommend and needs bumping up your TBR I actually wish I could erase it from my brain and read it all fresh for the first time all over again I enjoyed it that much. If I could give it more stars than five I would. This surpassed my expectations and they were pretty high anyway.
September 6, 2026
This one was hard to rate. It was definitely unique. If you enjoy Karina’s books I say yes add it to your TBR but if you haven’t yet read anything come back to this one. It went from mysterious and gothic straight to dark romance and by the time I finished it I had to ask myself if I even enjoyed it. I didn’t hate it.
September 19, 2026
2.5/5
Ugh this was so disappointing. I really was into the overall story but gosh was Iris ever NOT thinking at nearly any point in this book. I wanted to cry for how inane she was acting at every turn in the story. She was incredibly annoying to me, a shitty friend to Maddie, and just utterly dumb. I hated being in her head.
The romance is red flags galore and any attempt to justify why Iris ignores any just makes her stupider sounding. You think he's a serial killer and sleep with him GIRL!!!!! No wonder Maddie was annoyed with you because what was your decision making???? It's so surface level (great they has sex again) with no emotional core that I could find. Insta lust cannot carry a romance.
The plot is so loose. Everyone in town withholds information until 'the time is right' or whatever and then things are quickly resolved which is wild because everything could have wrapped up sooner if people had just been upfront with Iris.
Alsadair annoyed me to the ends of the earth. Fuck ass man if you ask me. How anyone could find him interesting enough to converse with, let alone fall in love with, is truly and utterly beyond me.
Also I beg authors to stop calling books Gothic because they're set in a spooky house. If you're not using themes and conventions of the genre I will be greatly disappointed, as I was here. Gothic vibes does not make it Gothic thank you.
Karine Halle is a talented author and I did truly adore Grave Matter so I'll just hope this was a fluke!
Ugh this was so disappointing. I really was into the overall story but gosh was Iris ever NOT thinking at nearly any point in this book. I wanted to cry for how inane she was acting at every turn in the story. She was incredibly annoying to me, a shitty friend to Maddie, and just utterly dumb. I hated being in her head.
The romance is red flags galore and any attempt to justify why Iris ignores any just makes her stupider sounding. You think he's a serial killer and sleep with him GIRL!!!!! No wonder Maddie was annoyed with you because what was your decision making???? It's so surface level (great they has sex again) with no emotional core that I could find. Insta lust cannot carry a romance.
The plot is so loose. Everyone in town withholds information until 'the time is right' or whatever and then things are quickly resolved which is wild because everything could have wrapped up sooner if people had just been upfront with Iris.
Alsadair annoyed me to the ends of the earth. Fuck ass man if you ask me. How anyone could find him interesting enough to converse with, let alone fall in love with, is truly and utterly beyond me.
Also I beg authors to stop calling books Gothic because they're set in a spooky house. If you're not using themes and conventions of the genre I will be greatly disappointed, as I was here. Gothic vibes does not make it Gothic thank you.
Karine Halle is a talented author and I did truly adore Grave Matter so I'll just hope this was a fluke!
September 4, 2026
2 stars for the sheer fact that I finished the book, solely to find out how TF this story was going to end. To know this has 4 stars is why I have trust issues.
To start, our intro to the romantic interest was Iris seeing him swimming naked across the loch, and noting how *sizeable* he was from afar. She then constantly feels watched and strange, our second (or third? idk i quickly lost count of the icky BS of this guy popping up in her window and being a peeping tom) intro was him w*nking it in the line of sight from her window, to which she responds by fi**gering herself? WHAT? I was in such disbelief, I simply had to keep reading to see just how the author was going to salvage this man's reputation and make him appealing. Oh...by TELLING US HE'S ACTUALLY A MAN HORSE THAT KILLS WOMEN. Iris continuously mentioned "I shouldn't be attracted but I am" then proceeding to sleep with him every other page. This is the plot. The ending was equally as anticlimactic.
And to reach in calling this book a "Gothic horror" must have simply been because (a) he lives in a castle (b) there's mention of bones (c) fog.
To start, our intro to the romantic interest was Iris seeing him swimming naked across the loch, and noting how *sizeable* he was from afar. She then constantly feels watched and strange, our second (or third? idk i quickly lost count of the icky BS of this guy popping up in her window and being a peeping tom) intro was him w*nking it in the line of sight from her window, to which she responds by fi**gering herself? WHAT? I was in such disbelief, I simply had to keep reading to see just how the author was going to salvage this man's reputation and make him appealing. Oh...by TELLING US HE'S ACTUALLY A MAN HORSE THAT KILLS WOMEN. Iris continuously mentioned "I shouldn't be attracted but I am" then proceeding to sleep with him every other page. This is the plot. The ending was equally as anticlimactic.
And to reach in calling this book a "Gothic horror" must have simply been because (a) he lives in a castle (b) there's mention of bones (c) fog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2026
RTC. I reluctantly finished it a while ago because I didn’t want it to be over, but I think it finished me, because I’ve literally been abed curled up mourning it. New favorite book. Mo ghràdh.😭🖤
September 10, 2026
After Iris‘s Aunt passes away and dealing with a fresh divorce, she finds that her aunt left her Scottish cottage to Iris under the stipulation that Iris lives there for a year and then she can keep it.
Iris views this as a fresh start and she’s eager to start her new life however as she’s getting settled, she notices a peculiar beautiful man swimming in the loch between her cottage and the supposed abandoned castle, he resides in.
Iris is drawn to this mystery man and yet terrified at the same time due to hearing the locals talk about missing women and her finding letters from her aunt Effie stating “don’t let him in” but Iris is left confounded unsure if that “him” is the man that swims in the loch. But regardless, she just can’t help but want to get to know him and uncover the mystery that is the man Alasdair.
This was definitely an interesting read the first 50%. I was not sure what was going which you’re not really supposed to it’s a mystery that you’re trying to uncover alongside the FMC. But then when the secrets are revealed things definitely got a little weird. Overall, I did enjoy this book. I liked the ending as well and how everything tied together it’s definitely a little bit different from other books. I’ve read. 3.5⭐️
Iris views this as a fresh start and she’s eager to start her new life however as she’s getting settled, she notices a peculiar beautiful man swimming in the loch between her cottage and the supposed abandoned castle, he resides in.
Iris is drawn to this mystery man and yet terrified at the same time due to hearing the locals talk about missing women and her finding letters from her aunt Effie stating “don’t let him in” but Iris is left confounded unsure if that “him” is the man that swims in the loch. But regardless, she just can’t help but want to get to know him and uncover the mystery that is the man Alasdair.
This was definitely an interesting read the first 50%. I was not sure what was going which you’re not really supposed to it’s a mystery that you’re trying to uncover alongside the FMC. But then when the secrets are revealed things definitely got a little weird. Overall, I did enjoy this book. I liked the ending as well and how everything tied together it’s definitely a little bit different from other books. I’ve read. 3.5⭐️
August 29, 2026
🪡dnf@ch1
The words "naked man" and "penïs" in the first 3 paras following the prologue of gothic setting book is insane work.
Truly, the pinnacle of atmospheric horror 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
also, tf was that prologue?
• "Now I let her see me."
(trust me you're not that special just dramatic)
• "I want her in a way that will terrify her"
(respectfully stfu and sit down)
The words "naked man" and "penïs" in the first 3 paras following the prologue of gothic setting book is insane work.
Truly, the pinnacle of atmospheric horror 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
also, tf was that prologue?
• "Now I let her see me."
(trust me you're not that special just dramatic)
• "I want her in a way that will terrify her"
(respectfully stfu and sit down)
September 6, 2026
The atmosphere in Bonetide was fantastic! But this book got a little too weird for me. Let me start with the good stuff. The isolated cottage setting, the mysterious loch and the naked swimmer (before we knew who he was) were perfect. It enhanced the gothic setting immensely and I felt like I was on the Scottish coast while reading. But then… the story took a bizarre turn of events that I wasn’t prepared for, and it honestly grossed me out a bit. You see, this sexy swimmer in the loch who catches our FMCs attention is actually . One would think this would be a turn off but of course, our FMC was able to look past a few red flags…
Now don’t get me wrong, this book is certainly unique and follows some really cool Scottish folklore. But it was just too far out there for ME when it comes to the romance.
Now don’t get me wrong, this book is certainly unique and follows some really cool Scottish folklore. But it was just too far out there for ME when it comes to the romance.
September 27, 2026
4.25⭐️ 4🌶️ i honestly have no idea how to review this without giving any spoilers, so i'lll just leave you with what i can say:
- this DOES have an HEA! it's not unconventional either, it is a true HEA!
- the ending is ever so slightly ambiguous... specifically; the epilogue makes you think that perhaps the story/mystery/folklore of it all could be continuing even though the two main characters might not be directly involved (i was still satisfied by the ending, but i know some readers might want to know that not everything is completely wrapped up with a bow)
- this is marketed as a slow burn, and in my opinion it is definitely not😂 now i'm not complaining about that! not one bit, just thought it was worth mentioning
- lastly, shit gets !weird! but surprisingly enough, it wasn't as horror-esque as i thought it would be. given the blurb and author's note, i thought that my stomach would be churning and/or i'd be cringing at how grotesque things would get... but i didn't! again, it's no walk in the park and there definitely is violence and ~some~ gore, but i'm a baby and i handled it all just fine. maybe i read too much dark romance bahahaha
this was the perfect book to get me into spooky season. it had the perfect balance between mystery, folklore/magical realism, spice, and gothic ambiance to have me excited for fall/Halloween!
- this DOES have an HEA! it's not unconventional either, it is a true HEA!
- the ending is ever so slightly ambiguous... specifically; the epilogue makes you think that perhaps the story/mystery/folklore of it all could be continuing even though the two main characters might not be directly involved (i was still satisfied by the ending, but i know some readers might want to know that not everything is completely wrapped up with a bow)
- this is marketed as a slow burn, and in my opinion it is definitely not😂 now i'm not complaining about that! not one bit, just thought it was worth mentioning
- lastly, shit gets !weird! but surprisingly enough, it wasn't as horror-esque as i thought it would be. given the blurb and author's note, i thought that my stomach would be churning and/or i'd be cringing at how grotesque things would get... but i didn't! again, it's no walk in the park and there definitely is violence and ~some~ gore, but i'm a baby and i handled it all just fine. maybe i read too much dark romance bahahaha
this was the perfect book to get me into spooky season. it had the perfect balance between mystery, folklore/magical realism, spice, and gothic ambiance to have me excited for fall/Halloween!
September 6, 2026
4.25⭐️
Karina Halle remains the queen of “what the fuck” writing because, respectfully, what the fuck was this? And wow did I enjoy it!!
Scottish lore is something I am unfamiliar with - aside from Queen Nessie, I know nothing about it nor the history of the folklore and tales - so this was a very welcomed and spooky read. The FMC, Iris, was equally annoying about her life choices as she was admirable (idk make it make sense), and the MMC (I won’t share his name here) is a riddle wrapped in a god-like mystery.
The story flows from the very first page and, whilst it does get far-fetched and a bit ridiculous, Halle the romantic genius keeps the plot going with her ability to mix tension, refreshing humour and a mystery that you really can’t figure out.
Karina Halle remains the queen of “what the fuck” writing because, respectfully, what the fuck was this? And wow did I enjoy it!!
Scottish lore is something I am unfamiliar with - aside from Queen Nessie, I know nothing about it nor the history of the folklore and tales - so this was a very welcomed and spooky read. The FMC, Iris, was equally annoying about her life choices as she was admirable (idk make it make sense), and the MMC (I won’t share his name here) is a riddle wrapped in a god-like mystery.
The story flows from the very first page and, whilst it does get far-fetched and a bit ridiculous, Halle the romantic genius keeps the plot going with her ability to mix tension, refreshing humour and a mystery that you really can’t figure out.
August 29, 2026
This book had no business being this good! 😍 I was hooked from the start. It was so melancholy and atmospheric. The stakes felt high. It was creepy at all the right times. I LOVED the mystery of it all, and the reveal of what was happening to the women of this little town. I feel like this surprise release was timed perfectly as well - it really got me in the mood for the fall. I feel sad and empty now that I've finished.
If you love a gothic romance on the darker side, definitely check this out. It's very spicy, very dark, and will make you want to live in a cottage in Scotland. I will be recommending this to everyone, I loved it so much!
If you love a gothic romance on the darker side, definitely check this out. It's very spicy, very dark, and will make you want to live in a cottage in Scotland. I will be recommending this to everyone, I loved it so much!
August 27, 2026
A gothic, horror romance for the spooky freaks out there and I’m a little freak because I loved this. This book is dark and fucked up but just the perfect amount where I couldn’t put it down. The tension, the yearning, the mystery, the spice all were 10/10. This book is not for everyone but a dark gothic romance set in Scotland felt like it was made for me.
August 27, 2026
I was really waiting for this book. But Iris was just no.... For me, the writing and pacing was odd
September 15, 2026
4.25⭐️ My first Karina Halle novel did not disappoint! This is exactly my vibe: dark, spooky, & gothic. Perfect for spooky season.
Don’t let the tranquil Scotland scenery fool you when Iris arrives to her great aunt’s cottage she inherited. It at first feels like the change she needs after her divorce to be so completely surrounded by nature and—her gorgeous neighbor across the loch who happens to always have his eye on her.
The more Iris gets to know the land, the more ominous and foreboding it feels. Are her eyes playing tricks on her? Is someone really chasing her in the woods? If someone is, is it the handsome neighbor?
This is a book I’d recommend going in blind (with the exception of checking the trigger warnings page). If my life depended on guessing the plot correctly I wouldn’t have been anywhere near close. I had no idea where this was going. That made it so fun.
The mystery kept me hooked and I binged this within two days. There were moments I was so scared for Iris and creeped out and scared by this story. Also some creepy moments that were also very hot? I didn’t question it. 😂
I am so excited to read more of Karina Halle’s work!
Don’t let the tranquil Scotland scenery fool you when Iris arrives to her great aunt’s cottage she inherited. It at first feels like the change she needs after her divorce to be so completely surrounded by nature and—her gorgeous neighbor across the loch who happens to always have his eye on her.
The more Iris gets to know the land, the more ominous and foreboding it feels. Are her eyes playing tricks on her? Is someone really chasing her in the woods? If someone is, is it the handsome neighbor?
This is a book I’d recommend going in blind (with the exception of checking the trigger warnings page). If my life depended on guessing the plot correctly I wouldn’t have been anywhere near close. I had no idea where this was going. That made it so fun.
The mystery kept me hooked and I binged this within two days. There were moments I was so scared for Iris and creeped out and scared by this story. Also some creepy moments that were also very hot? I didn’t question it. 😂
I am so excited to read more of Karina Halle’s work!
September 7, 2026
I typically love Karina Halle’s books. I’ve reread the Experiment in Terror series probably over ten times throughout the years so I know she can write scary and dark and haunting. I really wanted this to work for me, I was so excited for it, but things were just off.
The creepiest thing about this read was how hard and fast she got lured in by the H and maybe that was the point but from a romance standpoint I was bored. What doesn’t do it for me in fated mates romances didn’t work here either. It’s insta. It’s too much too soon when it comes to their sexual intimacy.
Typically I love a h who wants the H so bad that she’s willing to overlook all the red flags. There are major red flags here too. Your BFF is telling you not to, you got letters from your dead witchy aunt telling you to stay away, there are salt lines protecting you, he’s stalking you and creeps you out yet you want that big old dick so bad you look for any and all reason to excuse common sense and makes excuse after excuse to just go for it anyways. Sexual attraction with this type of h who doesn’t care to really fight it can really, really work. It was just too insta and too much sexual want too soon. I want it to be part romance and part sex. It felt like all sex here and it felt like
forced sexually desire at that because of the magical aspect.
I think it was the combo of all of that mixed with the fact that she seemed to have a really shitty marriage with a dude who wouldn’t even go down on her and who she stayed with despite having a dead bedroom. I struggled to connect to her. I want a h who is strong but weak for the H not one who has a history of just taking scraps and ignoring red flags. The way she was written made her giving into the attraction to the H feel like personality flaws and not kismet.
The creepiest thing about this read was how hard and fast she got lured in by the H and maybe that was the point but from a romance standpoint I was bored. What doesn’t do it for me in fated mates romances didn’t work here either. It’s insta. It’s too much too soon when it comes to their sexual intimacy.
Typically I love a h who wants the H so bad that she’s willing to overlook all the red flags. There are major red flags here too. Your BFF is telling you not to, you got letters from your dead witchy aunt telling you to stay away, there are salt lines protecting you, he’s stalking you and creeps you out yet you want that big old dick so bad you look for any and all reason to excuse common sense and makes excuse after excuse to just go for it anyways. Sexual attraction with this type of h who doesn’t care to really fight it can really, really work. It was just too insta and too much sexual want too soon. I want it to be part romance and part sex. It felt like all sex here and it felt like
forced sexually desire at that because of the magical aspect.
I think it was the combo of all of that mixed with the fact that she seemed to have a really shitty marriage with a dude who wouldn’t even go down on her and who she stayed with despite having a dead bedroom. I struggled to connect to her. I want a h who is strong but weak for the H not one who has a history of just taking scraps and ignoring red flags. The way she was written made her giving into the attraction to the H feel like personality flaws and not kismet.
September 15, 2026
An interesting read.. wasn’t expecting monster porn but here we are. Not sure how I felt about it
September 13, 2026
4.5 wow 🤩 I loved this
September 10, 2026
Obsessed
Karina gave us a Scottish Daddy who lives in a castle and is surrounded with secrets. We're not supposed to let him in but I'm leaving the whole door wide open for him. I was entranced with this story, it was like a dream tinged with a bit of a nightmare. I was at the edge of my seat with the mystery and at the same time swooning.
Karina gave us a Scottish Daddy who lives in a castle and is surrounded with secrets. We're not supposed to let him in but I'm leaving the whole door wide open for him. I was entranced with this story, it was like a dream tinged with a bit of a nightmare. I was at the edge of my seat with the mystery and at the same time swooning.
September 17, 2026
started off real strong then you find out he’s a horse
September 7, 2026
The opening line completely hooked me, and those first few chapters had me fully locked in. But after that initial stretch, the pacing really started to drag. Then, out of nowhere, the male lead turned into some kind of horse-man monster—and that's pretty much where it lost me. This book had so much potential, but between the sudden dragging plot and the horse-man turn, I found myself skimming through the entire second half. Great start of the book, but my interest plummeted about 25% of the way in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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