Devour: A Dark Secret Society Romance

The Ravens #1

by Dahlia Vale

I've killed every man who's touched her. They'll make me hunt her before I can have her.

AXL

I saw Saylor Reign Carter three years ago at a gala on her daddy's arm and decided she was mine. I wasn't supposed to want her. I kill who they tell me to kill. I don't get to touch a woman until the hunt.

Four years of loyalty to the Ravens, and the body count is the only love language I'm allowed.

My little heathen likes to test me. She lets other men touch her knowing I'll make them disappear. She hasn't figured out yet what it means to be mine.

In three weeks I'm carrying her out of those woods while they all watch. She's going to wear my marks and learn what years of wanting her made me.

She will kneel and serve her king like the good girl she's meant to be.

SAYLOR

I chose to be hunted over going to auction. I'd rather run than be sold.

He kills men right in front of me. I should be horrified, but I'm not.

Axl Kade Hollister thinks he's the most dangerous thing in my life.

He has no idea.

The nightmares started years ago. I don't know what they mean. I don't know why I feel like I'm pinned down only to wake up terrified and shaking in my own bed.

Men in my world believe everything is theirs for the taking, but I've never felt more powerful than serving one of the most dangerous of them all.

The nightmares are getting worse. And I don't think they're just dreams.

I've never been safe.


Tropes: Stalker MMC · Secret Society · Hunt / Claiming Ritual · OTT Possessive/Obsessive MMC · Celibate MMC · He Falls First · Touch Her and Die · Who Hurt You? · Dom/Sub Dynamics · Praise Kink · Morally Gray MCs · Forced Proximity · FMC Who Fights Back · Found Family / Brotherhood · Unalivers · Pierced and Tattooed MMC · "Little Heathen" / "My King"

DEVOUR is an explicit, high-spice dark romance that can be read as a standalone. Morally gray characters. Secret society rules and rituals. This is Book 1 in The Ravens series. Axl and Saylor's story is complete with a HEA and no cheating. Contains very dark and intense themes that may be triggering for some readers. (Content warnings available on author website.)

Heat Level: Explicit Tone: Dark, Possessive, Angsty Series Type: Book 1 Ending: HEA POV: Dual First Person, Present Tense Content Notes: SA, Graphic Violence, Dark Themes Comp Authors: Shantel Tessier, H.D. Carlton, Penelope Douglas

Genres: Dark Romance, Secret Society, Dark, Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Stalker

565 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2026

About the author

Dahlia Vale writes addictive, dark secret society romances in the world of The Ravens, where alpha-holes seduce, power corrupts, and love always comes with a price.

If you’re into obsession, dominance, betrayal, and just the right amount of emotional ruin… you’re in the right place.

Reviews

[Kursed Reads]

Axl Hollister is in the midst of completing the rituals required to become a full member of the Ravens, a secret society of the ruthless elite.

Three years earlier, he spotted Saylor Carter and decided that when the time came, she would be his Dove. He’d do whatever it took to make that happen, including eliminating the competition. Counting down every minute until he could claim her has been a lesson in restraint, but only because the rules require it. Now, with the Hunt looming, he decides it’s time to let his Little Heathen know exactly how things are going to work.

And that’s about all I’m saying. Because what happens next? Holy fuckballs, y’all. This was a whole damn thing I did not see coming.

I’ll be honest, I feel like so many books come with warning labels about their dark content that never actually deliver. Devour delivers. And then some. The trials, the society, the rules, the secrets, the corruption… the fuckery is real. There is a LOT happening here, and the further I got into the story, the more I realized I had absolutely no idea where this was going. And I loved that.

The story is disturbing, the world is intricate, and Axl is perfectly intense. My favorite type of MMC: one who doesn’t go soft. Don’t get me wrong, he loves Saylor deeply, and that is evident in everything he does. But he is also next-level unhinged, and I am absolutely here for it. He is relentless in his pursuit, gives zero fucks, and the red flags rain down like confetti. Every chapter in his head was a testament to just how protective, possessive, and obsessive he is.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, is going to stand between him and claiming, loving, and owning his woman.

And Saylor? This girl has been through some shit. Trauma she can’t even fully work through because it only comes to her in nightmares. But despite all of that, she is anything but fragile. She is strong, fearless, and capable. The perfect Queen for her King.

This story did not ask politely. The hammer was dropped from the first chapter. These characters, with all their baggage, barreled their way into my head and heart, leaving me rooted at the edge of my seat.

And there was no waiting around for the spice, either. They start simmering from chapter one until it’s a full-blown boil - and then a damn combustion - by The End.

Devour is one of those books where you think you’ve figured out what’s happening, only to have the story yank the rug out from under you again. The Ravens create an intricate world with insane rules and rituals, and the characters are multidimensional, each carrying their own trauma, emotions, and growth.

I suppose you’ll notice I’m saying a lot of words without saying a whole lot. This is one of those books you should probably jump into blind unless you’re concerned about triggers. It really is an experience, and I’d rather let you discover all the WTF moments for yourself than accidentally ruin them by saying too much.

My one chief complaint: Saylor is apparently sleeping with every guy she sees before the Hunt. And, IMO, with how obsessed Axl is, we could have achieved the same effect by having her flirt with them to get his reaction (i.e., unalive them).

That said, all of that behavior takes place before they’re actually together, so some readers will be able to overlook it. I know others will take issue. My rating tells you I was able to keep reading and enjoy the book.

While I don’t love a promiscuous MC, I do think, in this case, it speaks to how hard and how deeply Saylor falls for Axl by how drastically she changes. Her promiscuity also felt like an escape from trauma she couldn’t pinpoint or fully understand. So, while it wasn’t my favorite aspect of the story, I could understand what it was doing there.

Bottom line: This book was dark, intense, unhinged, and absolutely not what I expected. And somehow, that’s exactly what made it such a damn experience.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Action, Dark, Erotic, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult, Psychological Thriller

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🤭🥵🥺🤯😍
Darkness: 🖤🖤🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Pacing: 🏃‍♀️ {Moderate}
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Vibe: Gritty, Intense, Unhinged, WTF

✨ Tropes: Secret Society, Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Insta-Obsession,
 
💫 Microtropes: Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Celibate MMC, “Eyes on Me”, “Good Girl”, Hand Necklace, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, Masked MMC, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Little Heathen), Pierced 🐓, Reformed Player FMC, Sassy FMC, Size Difference, Tattooed MMC,

🔆 Character: Illegal Enterprises, Student

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Angel Wings, Biting/Marking, Bondage/Restraints, Brat, Breath Play, Crawl, Degradation, Dirty Talk, Discipline/Punishment, Domination, Edging, Finger Licking Good, Inanimate Object, 🔪 Play, Orgasm Denial, Panty Gag, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Power Exchange, Praise, Public Claiming, 🐱 Slapping, Rimming, STFUATTDLAGG, Spanking, Spitting, Toys as Teammates

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: Epilogue

🚩 Red Flags: Antihero, BC Tampering, Branding, Dominant MMC, Eliminates the Competition, MINE!, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, OTT Hero, Touch-Her-and-💀, Tracking/Spying, Unhinged MMC

⛔️ Safety Squad: Attempted Assault, Cheating (Not Really/Before Together), Drugged (Not by MMC), Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), Miscarriage, OW Drama (One Sided), Rape (Not Gratuitous or Prolonged, Not by MMC), Recreational Drug Use, Trafficking (Not of FMC), Unaliving, Unorthodox Ritualistic Ceremonies, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: College Campus - Boston, Massachusetts 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Devour is the first book in The Ravens series of interconnected standalones.

⚠️ Warning: This book is definitely NSFW or with a kiddo by your side. In fact, I would highly recommend you read this one after dark to avoid side eye or awkward conversations.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[RedFireLady Reads]

This is a very spicy dark romance with some pretty dark themes, be sure to check the trigger warnings, if needed.

3 ⭐️
4🌶

What's inside:
-Dark Romance
-Secret Society
-Claiming Rituals
-Posessive & Obsessive
-Tatted & Pierced MMC
-Dom/Sub Dynamics
-Touch Her and Die
-Praise Kink/Good Girl
-Found Family
-Forced Proximity

The MMC is very possessive and dominate, and part of a secret society
that involves a lot of killing. After being obsessed with thr FMC for a few years, he finally gets the chance to make her his during one of the society rituals. While he and his friends work to break up a trafficking ring, he has to do all her can to keep his girl safe in their dangerous world.

I love dark romance, the darker the better. This one just didn't quite hit for me. Its very spicy (which I usually love) but I just didnt really find myself attached to the characters or engaged in the story. It was OK to read once, but not something that I feel like I want to continue on with the series.

I didnt fee tge urge to DNF but did find myself skimming at certain points just because the story just didnt really have me locked into it. If you like super spicy dark romance it could vbe worth a shot, its not bad, just wasnt really hitting for me.

[Sim-fully Ever After]

4.5🌟 | 4🌶️

Some books are dangerously good at making you forget you have a life outside their pages.

The dark Ravens world, secret society, twisted rules, and constant secrets pulled me in quickly, and even when I thought I had things figured out, the story still found ways to surprise me. There was always another layer to uncover, and the suspense kept the romance from feeling like the only focus.

Axl and Saylor were everything I wanted from this kind of dark romance. Axl is obsessive, possessive, fiercely protective, and completely gone for her, while Saylor is strong, stubborn, and more than capable of pushing right back. Their chemistry was intense, and I had so much fun watching her test his limits while he tried to keep his restraint intact. I also loved the friendships around them, especially Saylor and Kynlee, and the brotherhood between Axl, Priest, Kase, and Crew. Those relationships added a lot of personality to an otherwise very dark world.

This gets seriously dark, so definitely check the extensive content warnings first. My one hesitation was Saylor’s promiscuity before she and Axl were together, though I could understand how it was connected to the trauma she was trying to escape. Beyond that, the obsession, suspense, spice, emotional depth, and found-family dynamics worked so well for me. It was twisted, intense, surprisingly emotional, and ridiculously easy to binge, with enough going on outside the romance to keep me fully invested.

I was completely invested by the end and I am excited for book 2!

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Dahlia Vale and The Author Agency for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Brittany Furnish]

****ARC READER REVIEW****

I would like to formally invoice Devour for the sleep, sanity, and rational thought it stole from me. This book doesn’t politely ask for your attention, it abducts it. One page becomes ten, ten becomes fifty, and suddenly you’re bargaining with yourself about whether dinner can wait until “just one more chapter.”

I opened this book with normal blood pressure. Now I can hear my heartbeat in my teeth.

Welcome to the Ravens: where power is inherited, loyalty is demanded, marriages are business deals, and survival depends on knowing exactly who owns whom. It’s dark, ruthless, corrupt and I ate it up like a starving Dove.

Axl?
This man is a Talon counting down the seconds until he can claim the woman he’s been obsessed with for YEARS. Protective doesn’t cover it. Possessive? Absolutely. Patient? Only because the rules force him to be. Every chapter inside his head feels like watching someone hold onto their last thread of restraint before it snaps and he’s not sorry. And we LOVE him for it.

Saylor?
She is not a fragile FMC. She refuses to shrink, refuses to be rescued, and challenges Axl every chance she gets. Together they’re combustible, addictive, and guaranteed to spike your blood pressure. I growled, laughed, and kicked my little feet the entire time.

And the spice?
Dahlia Vale rewards patience like a religion. It simmers from page one, tightens with every interaction, and finally explodes in a way that makes every agonizing moment worth it.

We get more of the Ravens world....Talons, Doves, all the delicious corruption and now I’m feral for the next book.

Next one, please. I’m starving.

[Melanboog]

I got my copy of Devour as an arc from the author, thank you for the opportunity to read your story Dahlia.
This book is extremely similar to Shantel Tessier’s L.O.R.D.S. Series. If you liked that series you most likely will really like any of the books written in this universe. I did feel like a lot of this book was predictable, but that could just be because I have read a lot of similar books. I knew by the dinner party what was happening and how it was going to play out. I felt as though the first 30-40% of the book was quite slow. But by about 70% it was much faster paced and I finished the book a lot faster after that point. This book has the usual cnc, sa, kidnapping etc that you’d expect from a book like this.
I didn’t love the piercing and tattooing. Not it as a whole, mostly the cringe of having intercourse directly after a piercing. As a piercing lover it made me kind of sick as so much could got wrong from that. Same thing kind of went with the tattooing. It’s an interesting premise to get a piercing every year you accomplish, but the disregard about healing times bothered me, I couldn’t really get over it. It was nice to see the Sinclairs taking talons under their wing and building more onto their family, trying to route out the corruption in the ravens. It will be interesting to see where this series goes and how the story continues to develop. I’ll definitely read the next one when it’s released.

[MN Book Lady]

I thought the LORDS series was depraved; then I read this book!

Axl knows he wants Saylor and has proven it over and over again. But being a Talon means he has to wait until his fifth year, and she becomes a Dove in order to have her. Saylor wants Axl but also isn't exactly sure about his high-handedness when it comes to her getting orgasms before the chase, and she becomes his for a year. The wait is worth it when they do get together, but it also seems to uncover nightmares that Saylor had been repressing. Axl also seems to be onto something bigger for The Ravens, and it seems to intersect with Saylor's family. So what happens when they uncover the truth about all of it, and it does lead back to them?

Saylor and Axl get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.

This book seemed like it was so much darker than the LORDS series and so much more depraved. There is a long list of triggers that go with this book, so please look at those first. I loved how much Axl loved Saylor and would do anything to make sure she was safe, even if it meant he got hurt. It did seem like he had the backing of those who had the majority of the power, and I have to wonder what he did to prove himself there to gain that trust. It would be interesting to know if there was any sort of pushback from any males in Saylor's family to their marriage, or if the Sinclairs made sure that no one could say anything against their marriage. It will be interesting to see how the other three men in this tight crew get their happy endings and what hoops they will have to jump through to get there.

I received an advance review copy from The Author Agency, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Book Ssirren]

I was grabbed, tied to my seat. Book shoved into my hands, and was told I wasn’t going anywhere until I was finished reading. I was not mad about that. This book was dark and intense. Kept me invested in this amazingly written story. I was obsessed. This was chaotic and deprived, and twisted. I was there for all of it. Absolutely loved this. The end came and I was mad. The book might have been finished, but I wasn’t.

[Sandy]

This book was exquisite! I don’t think I have found another dark romance to give me goosebumps— until this one !!

This is my first Dahlia book and I promise it will NOT be the last! I read this as slow as I could - because I did NOT WANT TO FINISH IT! This book was all types of twisted, dark, and suspenseful with insane twists and turns that left you shocked in many different ways!

Definitely read your trigger warnings.. there is a Long list !!! Do not go into it blind there’s so many things in this book and trust me as a girl who looks at trigger warnings as a candy list - I was eating them ALLL UP 🔥🔥

I need more…. I cnt wait to continue this series !

[addictedtodarkromance]

The Ravens are a secret society built on years of tradition, power and control. For the first 5 years within the society, you are a Talon; then, if you make it, you become a Raven.

Axl is 3 weeks away from his 5th year as a Talon and has had his sights on 'his girl,' Saylor, for years. She doesn't know it, but he's been taking any competition away from her by whatever means necessary. He's obsessed, to say the least and will burn down the world for her.

I loved how OTT Alx was with Saylor; no one could even look at her. And Saylor didn't want anyone else touching him as well. I could feel their intense connection, and the steamy scenes were on fire!

The story was intense and addictive; I couldn't put the book down. I didn't find it dragged and loved the characters. I was in suspense so many times, trying to figure out everything that was going on. I highly recommend this book!!
 
 
Overall: 4.25 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice/Heat Intensity: 5 out of 5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Main Characters: Axl & Saylor
Nickname: (Little) Heathon
Darkness: 5 out of 5 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Type of book: MF, Dual 1st Person POV
Reading Order: Standalone Novel
Title: The Ravens Series - Devour: Book 1
Epilogue: Yes - plus bonus sign-up
Ending Type: HEA
 
 
🩶OTT: Possessive, obsessive, dominant, fiercely loyal and protective MMC
🖤Eyes only for her
🩶Claiming Ritual
🖤Primal Chase
🩶Public Claiming
🖤Secret Society
🩶Burn the world for her
🖤No one can hurt her but me
🩶Touch her and ☠️
🖤Pain Kink
🩶I own you
🖤Forced piercing and branding ritual
🩶Ravens own the city and authorities
🖤No cheating or sharing
 
 
⚠️ This book has descriptive parts that may be offensive or triggering to some. Please check all the authors' TW/CW before reading! 18+
 
*I received an early copy of this book and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Angel Dreesen]

I was excited for this ARC read and it did not disappoint! If you loved The LORDS series (lots of similarities in this world) and Cat and Mouse series, you’ll LOVE this book. Those vibes, but with a fast burn and a morally dark gray MMC that I’m now obsessed with. The spice was some of the best I’ve read. The FMC is strong and owns herself, and I love that! The supporting characters also have amazing depth and I can’t wait to read their stories too someday.

[Melissa Evans]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Dahlia Vale has officially convinced me that I’ll read anything she writes.

If you’ve followed me for some time, you already know secret societies, morally black men, obsessive love, and enough red flags to decorate an entire city are basically my love language—and Devour fed every single one of those obsessions.

Dahlia Vale somehow managed to take everything I loved about the Raven’s world and make it even darker, more dangerous, and completely impossible to put down. The atmosphere is dripping with secrets, manipulation, power plays, and the kind of tension that had me questioning everyone’s motives … and honestly, that’s exactly how I like my dark romance.

The romance is deliciously toxic in all the best fictional ways. The obsession, possessiveness, and undeniable chemistry had me highlighting half the book. If your favorite book boyfriends are the ones who would happily burn the world down before letting someone touch “their” woman, you’re going to be just as feral for Axl as I am!!

This isn’t a sweet romance. It’s dark, messy, seductive, and unapologetically twisted. The emotional manipulation, constant suspense, and addictive pacing kept me saying “just one more chapter”!

For readers who love secret societies, morally black MMCs, “touch her and die” energy, obsessive devotion, and enough spice to fog your Kindle, Devour absolutely delivers.

[Briana]

4.5 ⭐️
4.5 🌶️

🌟ARC Read🌟


Okay, I saw this ARC and saw that if you liked the LORDS series, you’d like this one. So OF COURSE I had to have it. 😂 Secret societies are definitely one of my top tropes.

Then right at the beginning, we’re told this is NOT a slow burn and that the plot is plotting. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

And then this:

“It exists purely for your morally dark, alpha male, unhinged secret society, smut-loving pleasure.”

HELL YES. Sign me up. 🫡😂

Welcome to The Ravens.

I will say, some of the rules and setup of the society definitely reminded me of the LORDS series.

There are Ravens, who are the male members of the society, and Talons, who spend five years working toward becoming Ravens. During their fifth year, each Talon receives a Dove, one of the women within the society. She serves her Talon for a year, and afterward, their parents ultimately decide who they will marry.

Enter Axl and Saylor.

Axl comes out RIGHT OFF THE BAT telling us he’s killed five men for touching the woman he can’t have. 😆😆😆😆

Sir. We are barely getting started.

Saylor was born into this crazy secret society because of her family, and Axl has been obsessed with her for YEARS. He waited all that time until he could finally claim her as his Dove.

The problem? He isn’t supposed to marry her afterward.

Does Axl care?

Absolutely the fuck not. 😂

This man has waited years for Saylor, and he is doing everything he possibly can to make sure she becomes his permanently. The obsession and possessiveness were definitely hitting for me. 👏🏻

Apparently there is an entire series before this featuring the Sinclairs, whose family runs the society alongside the Council. Soooo now I need to go back and read The Sinclair Series because clearly I have homework. 😂

I did predict some of the twists and where certain parts of the story were going, but there were definitely other moments that shocked me. Overall, I really enjoyed myself with this one!

And PHEW. 🥵 This book was MUCH spicier than I expected. Heavy on the degradation and power imbalance.

Morally dark secret society? ✔️
Unhinged, obsessed MMC? ✔️
Possessive “she’s mine” energy? ✔️
Plot actually plotting? ✔️
Way more spice than I expected? ✔️✔️✔️

I cannot wait to see who is next because I am officially invested in these Ravens. 👀

Spicy Chapters 🔥
3
10
12
16
17
18
19
21
24
26
28
29
36
38
42
43
61
62
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2

[Renee]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This is the story of Axl and Saylor. Axl can never be called a man who isn't dedicated, wishy washy or not patient. He saw Saylor on the arm of her father and knew that this was the woman who would be his Dove when the time comes. He is also not willing to let anyone take his place in this time of waiting and eliminating the competition can't hurt, right? It's been three years since he saw her for the first time and he is patiently waiting for the day he can claim her. This man has to have some serious restraint. Because he has been patient and doing his job to the best of his ability. Now that times is getting closer to the Hunt, he himself decides it is time to let this Little Heathen know how things are going to work. The world he lives in is not easy and this story comes with all kinds of warnings that you need to heed. There are trials, a secret society, all the rules, secrets, and corruption are all real and you will find yourself tangled up in a mess and I feel like I can't tell you a thing more about the plot or I will give something away. I loved these two characters. Saylor has been through so much. She lives with more trauma than most people can stand. The only way she can work though any of it is though her nightmare that are getting more and more frequent. But she is not fragile or a shrinking violet. She is strong, fearless and capable of so very much. She is really one tough lady who needs an equally tough, even if he is slightly unhinged. Now run and get this dark romance. Your dark romance loving heart is going to love every second of this book.

[jazmin]

ARC REVIEW
For my Lords girlies, this book is for you!
AXL
After 5 years for being a Talon he is read to claim his dove during the hunt. This man made sure to let everyone know who his dove was and to stay away. Let me tell you he’s been doing that for the last 3 years and handling everyone that crossed her path.
SAYLOR
Strong independent queen! She is fearless, confident, and can handle her own in any situation. Her favorite thing to do is testing Axl when it comes to his possessiveness.
This book was very predictable but different. Axl and Saylor had always trusted each other from the beginning and their communication was on point. It’s rare to see that in books like this one. Axl made her feel safe when she had nightmares and talked her through things(not just in bed🥵). There were times where their relationship was tested and she questioned his intentions but he made sure to let her know he can be trusted. And let me tell you, I STAND 10 TOES DOWN FOR THIS MAN! Everything he did was FOR HER!
The spicy scenes had me giddy and kicking my feet🥵🔥
I loved the friend group dynamic and I can wait to learn more about Priest, Crew, Kase, and Kynlee.
All the parents are trash! They can all suck it and drop d3@d. The plot twisted and it was intense! There were times where I was sick to my stomach because what in the actual h3lllll!!!

[Shelle]

Devour is one heck of a read. Read the trigger warnings… they are real!
Dahlia Vale takes us into a world that is so far past WTF… The world of the Ravens… it is a seriously dark ruthless secret society. The MMC Axl, wow… he is a walking red-flag trigger warning inducing, next-level unhinged, obsessive character who honestly doesn’t give a rats bootie for much except the FMC Saylor. Saylor has her own set of issues and enjoys pushing Axl’s obsession of her to the limit and then a bit more. This book is spicy, deranged, and everything I enjoy in a novel and not irl!

[Renee collins]

Thank you to the author for letting me arc read this!

Dahlia has done it again with hot possessive men and I am for it! Axl is my new book boyfriend he can possess me anytime😁 I absolutely loved this story and I was hooked from the very beginning I didn’t want to even sleep it was this good! I would highly recommend this to everyone who loves possessive and protective men who do anything for their women.

[Bookish_Carisa]

I was hooked from the beginning! The chemistry and tension between Axl and Saylor was hot. Saylor is determined, not afraid to push back. I love that Axl is possessive, intense, confident. There were plenty of moments that had me saying “oh damn”. If you love your romance dark, messy, obsessive, and completely addictive, then you need to add this to your TBR. Dahlia knows exactly what she’s doing when she writes a book, she wants you invested in the characters, and making sure you’re hooked. The Dark Society has been my favorite part in all of this. Not to mention the spice was definitely spicy!!!!

[Jennifer Schroeder]

Wow... this is definitely a book to be DEVOURED!!
The plot!!
The TWISTS!!
REALISTIC SPICE 🌶🌶

[Sara]

4.5/5⭐️

[Books Spice N Everything Nice]

💟ARC in exchange of an honest review

Appreciation: 5⭐️
Spice: 5🌶️- high spice

📚Standalone (book 1 of The Ravens series)
✏️First person - Dual POV
🍆MF - Dark Romance

“I’ve k*lled five men for touching the woman I am not allowed to f*ck. And if I catch her with another one, I will make it six.” - Axl

These first sentences of the book set the pace for this thrilling and incredibly dark (in the best ways possible, of course) novel.

The first nice thing I saw when I opened it was the suggested playlist. I always listen to the playlist while reading, it keeps me focused and I like to feel the vibe from the author. And let me tell you this playlist had me save quite a few songs to my personal lists!

There are two pages, yep, two pages of Trigger Warnings at the end of the book, well detailed, that got me very excited to start reading. (Yeah, I’m that kind of crazy!)
Since I wasn’t familiar (yet) with Dahlia’s Ravens’ universe, I was happy to find an explanation of the main concepts just before I started reading the book. It got me situated right away and ready to dive into the story.

Dahlia doesn’t beat around the bush with her writing. It’s fast paced and the action starts right at chapter one. I instantly got a good idea of Axel and Saylor’s personalities and the complications they face. The world Dahlia created is totally unhinged and deviant, and I often found myself questioning the reasoning of the characters, but it’s part of what makes her writing so good.

Saylor is the FMC and she doesn't take shit from anyone. She made it through this f*cked up world by doing things for herself, what, when and how she wanted before she got roped into the system, and even after. She is strong and smart until the very end and doesn’t suddenly get all soft and mushy, the kind of FMC I love.

Axl, the MMC, is obsessive with everything that concerns Saylor. He’s rough, stubborn, single minded, but throughout the novel, we got to discover the softer more romantic (but still perverted) side of him and it really got to me.

Add to these two the side characters and I was in deep! The friendship between Saylor and Kynlee is one every girl wants with her bestie: two girls that will love, support and have each other’s back no matter what. The dynamics between Axl, Priest, Kase and Crew is powerful and endearing at the same time. And let’s say it, behind the tough exterior and the erratic behaviours that hide all the dark twisted things these guys have been through the past 4-5 years, are goofballs that deeply care for each other.

By the time I reached 65% in the book, I had to push life aside and keep reading until I reached the end. I couldn’t stand putting the book down and not knowing what would happen, as even though the book is heavy on the s*x scenes, it’s also packed with action and plot twists.

I really, really enjoyed everypage of this book. I can’t wait to see what will come next in this series. It is a standalone that ends with a HEA, but we already know it wasn’t the end of the bigger story.

Oh, and one last thing… I’m claiming Priest for myself! I’ll be his willing dove at the next ceremony. I’m ready to fight you all for it! 🤣

[Gwyn Gable]

                                       


This is one of those books that pulls you in, grabs hold, and leaves a permanent mark on your heart. The emotional roller coaster it takes you on is a wild ride, packed with  highs, lows, twists, and turns, grabbing hold of you, making it impossible to put down.


You know that meme of Cillian Murphy looking utterly unimpressed? Yeah, that was the exact expression on my face anytime someone had the audacity to interrupt me while I was fully immersed within this story.


​This book truly has it all. A secret society steeped in all the fucked-up depravity you’d expect from the genre. First, you have the Talons: men who spend years proving their worth to the Ravens just to earn a spot in their ranks. Then you have the Doves: women who volunteer to serve the Talons, their bodies becoming the property of whichever man captures them during the Hunt. Open only to those Talons who have proven their commitment to the Ravens, the Hunt culminates in the Dove being chased down, captured, then publicly claimed (it’s so hot. An exhibitionism wet dream).


​Now that you have the basics, let’s talk about Axl and Saylor. This couple is hot AF. Axl is a true obsessive, possessive, “touch her and die” MMC, while Saylor is the ultimate brat FMC who craves every bit of the depravity Axl throws her way. The dirty talk in this book is next level and had me feeling all hot and bothered (My husband thanks Dahlia Vale). As a self-identified brat, Saylor’s antics and the resulting punishments were some of my favorite parts of the book.


​The plot tackles extremely dark themes, highlighting a mission to try and eradicate the sex trade which has infested the Ravens. This took me on such a wild ride that I often felt like I was being thrown around by the Hulk, broken and irreparably changed. 


​There were other moments I wanted to throw my e-reader, or have words with the author (seriously Dahlia, why did you have to do Saylor like that?!). I ugly cried more than once, but I also felt utter delight when the antagonists finally got their comeuppance.


​Eventually, I was relegated to a specific room in the house because my outbursts were "distracting" (insert giant eye roll). 


My husband is definitely a saint for putting up with my unfiltered reactions. There was a moment when I paused, stared at him, and said, “If only we could hunt down our abusers, destroy them, and slowly torture them until they are deleted from existence.” He gave me a WTF look and said, “I love you, hun, but sometimes you're scary.”


​Another time, I was screaming at my Kindle: “Yes! Don't be a dumb bitch, go back!! Seriously, you're killing me!” only to look up and see my daughter laughing at me. “You know the tablet isn’t going to talk back to you, Mom,” she said. (Yeah, she definitely gets her inner brat from me).


​This romance is closer to the burnt side of dark. Its packed with all the depravity and fucked-up spice you could ask for. I suggest you have tissues on stand-by, because the emotional damage will leave its mark. I cannot recommend it enough!

[Jennifer Amaral]

I have officially discovered that “red flag” is apparently just another way of saying “fictional man I desperately need to know more about.” 😂🖤

Devour is DARK. Like, check-the-content-warnings-and-know-what-you’re-getting-into dark. And yet somehow, I was completely hooked.

Saylor is exactly the kind of FMC I love in dark romance. She isn't simply waiting around for someone to save her. She knows exactly what kind of world she's been born into, she knows what they expect from her, and she is absolutely determined to fight back. Her strength and stubbornness made her such a compelling character, especially when everything around her is designed to take away her choices.

And then there’s Axl Kade Hollister. 🖤🔥

Possessive? Absolutely. Obsessive? Without question. Morally gray? That man has practically built a house there. 😂

But what really got me was the contrast between Axl's reputation and the way he is with Saylor. He's terrifying to everyone else, yet when it comes to her, there's this intensity that goes far beyond simple possession. The “Little Heathen” nickname alone had me sold. 😏

The chemistry between these two is 🔥🔥🔥. The tension is constant, and the power dynamics definitely make this one for readers who enjoy their dark romance on the darker, higher-spice end of the spectrum. Their relationship has that push-and-pull quality where Saylor refuses to make things easy for him, and Axl is more than willing to meet that challenge.

I also really enjoyed the Ravens and their secret-society world. The rituals, rules, brotherhood, and whole hunt/claiming concept give the story an atmosphere that feels dangerous from the beginning. There’s this constant sense that there are bigger secrets hiding underneath everything, which kept me wanting to know what was really going on.

And that mystery surrounding Saylor's nightmares? 👀 I needed answers. The story does a good job giving the romance plenty of intensity while still leaving questions hanging in the background.

What surprised me most, though, was the emotional side. Beneath all the darkness, violence, obsession, and spice, there’s a story about trust, protection, choice, and finding someone who sees you as more than what other people have decided you're worth. That gave the romance more weight for me.

Dahlia Vale definitely doesn't shy away from the darker side of romance, and this is absolutely one where I'd recommend reading the content warnings first. But if you're a dark-romance reader who loves stalker MMCs, secret societies, obsessive possessive heroes, forced proximity, morally gray characters, touch-her-and-die energy, hunt/claiming rituals, FMCs who fight back, found family, and seriously high spice, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. 🖤🔥

Axl and Saylor's story may have started with a hunt, but what I ended up getting was a romance filled with obsession, danger, secrets, and a heroine who refuses to surrender who she is.

[Michelle Kehl]

Ok Besties- are you ready for your next Secret Society obsession?? If you loved the Lords, the Ravenhood, and the Ruthless crew, The Ravens are going to have you on the hook from the beginning. It’s a dark, spicy, and unhinged world, with morally ( charcoal ) gray characters, so check your triggers, skim the cheat sheet , grab a cold drink, and buckle up! You’re gonna love this ride. Our intro to the world of the Ravens starts with the Sinclair Series- so if you want a quick glimpse, grab those first…..
Saylor has grown up in the Ravens society, so she knows the score. She can be auctioned to the highest bidder, or she can be hunted and claimed by a Talon for a year. She has a really good idea of which Talon will claim her, so chooses the devil she knows. She has watched Axl stalk her for years; knowing he would kill anyone she’s with. It scares her as much as it excites her, and she knows he will do anything to win her in the hunt. Her mother is disappointed in her choice, her father is willing to let her choose ( it’s only a year ) and her brother is angry.
Axl is a soldier for the Ravens- a Talon- who has gained the trust of the head of the Talons, Dane Sinclair, and his family. He decided Saylor was his years ago, but Talon rules say he can’t have her- until now. Although his father has a different plan for him, Axl has watched her, killed for her, obsessed over her for years, and there is no way a he’s walking away from the hunt with anyone else The rules say you can claim your Dove by any means necessary, and he is willing to do just that.
Axl doesn’t just want to possess Saylor, he wants to protect her - from the Talons, from Tracey, from her nightmares. He wants to stay by her side always, but he still has a job to do. The Sinclairs have discovered that some very high ranking members of the Ravens might be involved in something bad, and Axl is one of a very small handful of Talons that they trust to uncover the truth. The deeper he gets into this investigation, the more convinced he is that his own father- and maybe Saylor’s too, can’t be trusted.
Saylor is strong- she’s had to be, but she has been having nightmares for years, and she is starting to feel like some of them might be memories, not just fears. As she starts to realize the devastating truth, she doesn’t know who she can trust. She can’t tell Axl because it would change how he feels about her, and once they figure out that she knows the truth, she’s in more danger than either of them know.

Axl and Saylor fall hard and fast, and their story has it all- love and friendship, found family, mystery and intrigue, and heat.. lots of heat! It kept me on the edge of my seat- I was angry, I was sobbing, I was scared, and I was kicking my feet. What a great kick off to this new series in the Ravens universe. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Suzi McWhinney]

I started reading Dahlia Vale, starting with The Sinclair's. Yep, they are all good too!!
Once you read this story you will know who I am talking about!
If you love anything that is really dark and depraved, contains explicit scenes with lots of BDSM Vibes then you are going to DEVOUR this book!!
I loved it from start to finish.
It is fast paced and there is plenty of action going on that keeps you vested.
I really needed Saylor and Axl to work out....but as all books with a good plot twist, I did have my doubts at times!
And what team am I on....well one minute it is Team Saylor. A feisty strong female brought up in the world of The Ravens. And then the next...team Axl. He just so desperately wanted Saylor to be with him and to trust him...he just had to work hard for it at times.
Saylor knew she had 2 choices. Go to Auction or Go in the Hunt. And there was no way she was being bought by some old "fuddy duddy" to spend the rest of her days with.
So off to the hunt she goes.
She knows Axl Hollister wants her. And she secretly prayed it is he who finds her in the woods.
He has killed for her. Well not so much as for her, but for himself. As anyone who speaks, looks or touches what is his, is D$*d!
So, yeh she knew he wanted her and she knew that he would catch her during the hunt.
The whole vibe for this book is Axl and Saylor getting spicy between the sheets! And whooowheee! The spice was top level hot. But after 4 years serving as a Talon and being celibate, you have to praise Axl for abstaining. Not just because he was forced to as a Talon, but because he had eyes on Saylor for 3 years, and he didn't want anyone else.
I love an author that can write decent s3x scenes and @DahliaVale does it so well.
So, besides Axl claiming his woman, every! single! day!, multiple! times! a day!, he does have a job as a Raven in waiting.
He works for Dane Sinclair and his sons, Fox, Thorne and Tate.
Whilst Axl, his BFF Priest and friends, Crew and Kase all work together to bring down a sex trafficking ring, there are other dark elements in play throughout the story.
Saylor and her nightmares! Axl needs to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Saylor's father, David and her brother, Justin have hidden secrets, but as with all secrets they do tend to come out in the end.
As I said, plenty of action afoot!
I fell in love with Axl. Yes he is a mean mother f*cker but treats his Queen how she wanted to be treated, in and out of the bedroom.
The Epilogues are brilliant and I especially loved the bonus content...A look into the future for the Hollister family!
The side characters add a lot to this story and am looking forward to who is next in line in The Ravens Book 2

[Miss S]

Devour was a dark, twisted, spicy and completely unhinged ride from start to finish. This definitely isn’t a book for everyone, so make sure you check the trigger warnings before going in, because things get pretty dark.

Axl and Saylor were easily the highlight of the book for me. Axl is the definition of an obsessive and possessive MMC, with serious touch her and die energy. He’s been waiting years for Saylor, and once he finally gets his chance, there’s absolutely no stopping him. What I really enjoyed, though, was seeing the softer side of Axl underneath all that darkness and dominance. His protectiveness towards Saylor, especially when it came to her nightmares, added another layer to his character and made him more than just the typical dark, possessive hero.

Saylor was also a great FMC. She’s strong, stubborn and independent, and I loved that she wasn’t afraid to stand up to Axl or challenge him. She didn’t suddenly lose her backbone once their relationship developed, which I really appreciated. Their dynamic was intense from the beginning, with plenty of bratty moments, possessiveness, praise and BDSM vibes. There was definitely no shortage of spice between these two!

The world of the Ravens is seriously messed up, but it definitely kept me interested. Between the secret society, the Talons and Doves, the Hunt, corruption and the mystery surrounding Saylor’s nightmares, there was much more going on than just the romance and spice. I did find some elements of the plot a little predictable, especially if you’ve read other books with similar themes, and the beginning felt slightly slow for me. Once I got further into the story, though, the pace really picked up and I found myself flying through the rest.

I also really enjoyed the friendships and found-family aspect of the story. Axl, Priest, Crew and Kase have such a great dynamic, and I really liked seeing their friendship develop throughout the book. Saylor and Kynlee’s friendship was another favourite of mine, and the supporting characters definitely left me curious about where the rest of the series will go.

Overall, Devour was a dark, spicy and entertaining introduction to the Ravens series. It has an obsessed and possessive MMC, a strong FMC who gives as good as she gets, plenty of action and intrigue, a seriously twisted world and a whole lot of spice.

Axl and Saylor certainly know how to keep things interesting, and despite a slower start and some predictable moments, I was invested in their story by the end. I’m definitely curious to see what happens next with the rest of the Ravens.

[Baz◇]

Dark romance, HEAVY on the dark and heavy on the spice.
First, thank you to The Author Agency and Dahlia Vale for the ARC!

Devour is a novel that starts intense and keeps building. We have Axl, who is a member of a very widescale criminal organization, and Saylor, who is a daughter in the organization who is about to be offered up for a year to whomever can hunt her down. This is a really interesting set up, and they do a decent job explaining the system that’s relevant to the Talons and Doves, if not the overall organization, early on. When the story starts, Axl is already dead-set on Saylor and she knows it, so don’t expect early stages of getting to know each other/building a relationship. That isn’t a bad thing, but I would have liked more of the backstory into what makes Axl so obsessed with her; we only get pieces of it through his narration.

While the relationship development wasn’t as engaging as it could have been, I did like Axl as a male lead a lot. His moral code, in spite of his general violence and rough personality, made him really likable to me; he lives in a difficult world and has rough edges because of it, but he also has things that he puts his foot down on even with his own peers. I also loved Saylor and her best friends’ relationship — it made them feel more real and gave Saylor more depth, which I feel sometimes lacks in this genre. Having important relationships outside of Axl makes her more well-rounded, and I appreciate that she has also flaws that make sense for her as a character.

I did feel like Devour was a bit too long - it could have been slimmed down in places, and there are more spicy scenes early on than plot, which I feel like could have been part of why it felt a little aimless - I kept wondering what the main plot conflict was going to be since the hunt and Saylor becoming Axl’s Dove is really more of an exposition piece. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t good, because Saylor and Axl are a pretty hot couple, but I would have liked to see more development of their relationship as people.

Plot wise, once we get into the more thriller elements with Axl and the case he’s on for Dane, I really enjoyed the tension and mystery of unraveling the conspiracy in the Ravens. It takes a while to get into it, but it was a really engaging situation and it kept me constantly worried about what was going on and when the characters were going to figure it out (especially the twists I predicted, which there were a few).

Overall a really fun and worthwhile dark romance!

[Twisted Bookworm]

I finished Devour with one immediate thought:

I NEED MORE.

Not because Axl and Saylor's story felt incomplete. It didn't. I need more because Dahlia Vail has created a world so vivid and immersive that I simply wasn't ready to leave it.

When it comes to secret-society romance, my benchmark is high. I need more than rituals, darkness and spice. I need hierarchy, suspense, intrigue, family, brotherhood, trauma, healing and characters outside the main couple who make me curious about the stories they carry.

Devour gave me all of that.

The world of the Ravens, Doves and Talons feels layered and established, with rules, traditions and relationships that make it feel bigger than Axl and Saylor's romance. There were characters on the sidelines who made me desperate to know what lies beneath their stories, and that is exactly what I want from an interconnected world.

Then we have Axl.

Obsessive. Possessive. Dominant. Protective. Morally questionable.

And apparently applying for a position on my Top Five Book Boyfriends list.

What made his relationship with Saylor particularly compelling, however, was the constant tension between possession and autonomy.

At its heart, I found Devour to be an exploration of choice.

Saylor's journey repeatedly asks what it means to have agency over your own body, future and decisions in a world structured around other people's expectations. Her development isn't simply about being protected by a powerful man. It's about discovering and recognizing her own power.

That made the darker elements of her relationship with Axl even more interesting to me.

There is a psychological distinction between having control taken from you and choosing when, where and with whom you surrender it. Dahlia explores that tension through their relationship without stripping either character of the darkness that makes them who they are.

And the spice?

A delicious 10/10.

But what ultimately sold me was the world-building.

Dahlia gave me suspense, darkness, obsession, trauma, healing, brotherhood, family and a larger world that continues moving beyond the central romance.

Axl and Saylor gave me a complete story.

Dahlia Vail gave me a world I want to return to.

And THAT is why I need more. I need books for Crew, Kase and Priest because I believe they have stories worth telling.

[Jasmin]

DEVOUR was DARK, DANGEROUS, and completely ADDICTIVE! 😩🔥🖤

This book was SO damn good! I was hooked from the beginning and could NOT put it down, and honestly… I AM OBSESSED. 👀🔥 The Ravens world is a secret society of the ruthless elite who play by their own rules? 👀🔥 YES PLEASE. This world is delicious, dangerous, corrupt, and filled with secrets, rituals, and chaos, and I was HERE FOR ALL OF IT.

And AXL AND SAYLOR!!! 🥵🖤

Axl is so fucking UNHINGED and I loved every second of it. He is possessive, protective, morally questionable, completely obsessed, and so damn devoted to Saylor. The way he will literally do whatever it takes to protect her—and unalive any guy who touches her?! YES. GIVE ME ALL OF IT. 😩🔥 He is absolutely terrifying, but when it comes to Saylor?! That obsession and devotion had me EATING THIS MAN UP. 😂🖤

And Saylor!!! 😩🔥 She was SO easy to root for. She is strong, brave, sassy, fierce, and just as unhinged as Axl, and I absolutely loved her. She doesn't just sit back and let everyone else make decisions for her—this girl FIGHTS BACK. 👏🔥 And those nightmares?! 👀😩 The secrets surrounding Saylor's past had me SO intrigued. I felt terrible for everything she had been through, and I was desperate to figure out what the hell was really going on. 👀

And their chemistry?!?! ELECTRIC. 🥵🔥 The banter, the obsession, the tension, the possessiveness, the spice… DELICIOUSLY OFF THE CHARTS! ❤️‍🔥

I LOVED watching Saylor and Axl together because these two are seriously made for each other. They're both a little crazy, both stubborn as hell, and somehow they just WORK. 😩🖤

And can we talk about Saylor's brother getting what he deserved?! 👀
GOOD. FUCKING. RIDDANCE. 👏🔥

This book definitely isn't for everyone, so PLEASE check the trigger/content warnings before diving in.

But if dark romance, morally gray characters, secret societies, possessive and obsessed men, dangerous rituals, forced proximity, and a badass FMC are your thing then YOU NEED DEVOUR ON YOUR TBR IMMEDIATELY!!! 😩🔥🖤

I am SO ready for more from The Ravens series and cannot wait to see what comes next!!!

Thank you to Dahlia Vale for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🖤

[Caitlynn Burnaman]

Devour is the perfect combination of pleasure, pain, and power. Axl's level of possessive obsession is deliciously sinful and perfect for readers looking to feed their dark romance addiction. I'm on my knees begging so prettily for more (and something tells me, I've been good enough to deserve it).

If you take a secret society of psychopathic killers obsessed with power and ruling the world and combine it with the insatiable pull of the women they plan to possess, add in some extremely spicy scenes with BDSM elements and pages of content warnings you've got yourself a series that leaves readers on the edge begging for more of the absurdly delicious torture. Even though the book was quite lengthy, I read this one quickly because the suspense was so thrilling. Dark romance readers who enjoyed the L.O.R.D.S. series by Shantel Tessier will enjoy being devoured by this one. Author Dahlia Vale includes a warning at the beginning of the book offering the chance to check the content warnings prior to reading or to go in blind. I chose to go in blind and the book lives up to its twisted, dark romance reputation.

When Axl falls, he falls hard and is completely besotted with Saylor. His only thought, for years, was to protect her, keep her, possess her. And when he has his chance, absolutely nothing - not imminent threats on his life (or hers) or the plans of any man will keep him from what's his. Saylor, while resistant at first, quickly figures out there are few people she can truly trust in life and Axl - somehow - is top on that list.

This book is both chilling and delicious - allowing you to explore the thrill of being obsessively chosen and protected. Devour sets the framework for a series-long hunt to end the poison of corruption. The true evils of the world often hide in plain sight and we'd be surprised at how easy it is to be sold out to the highest bidder. But the over-the-top love and obsession of a powerful man is unmatched. No family is safe, no person is untouchable - if the Ravens will it to be, it will be. (Now...how do I get me one of those? Asking for a friend)

Thank you to Author Dahlia Vale and The Author Agency for access to read and review this book!

[Nicole]

As a Talon, Axl has not been in control of his life for years, obeying orders and taking out targets for the Ravens, the elite secret society that controls most of the world. His only salvation is knowing that after this year’s challenge, he will finally be able to hunt for, and claim, the woman who caught his eye 3 years ago. While he hasn’t been allowed to touch her, it hasn’t stopped him from eliminating anyone else who tried, and she has been more than happy to taunt him in the meantime. As they approach the Hunt, he knows that no one will come between him and his prize, and once he gets her, he can’t wait to use her to fulfill his every fantasy.

Saylor always knew she would have no say in choosing her future husband, but this year she was given a choice, go to auction to be bought and married off, or be hunted and claimed by one of the Talons, to be used for a year before her marriage is arranged. As much as she’s pretended to hate Axl’s attention, she can’t deny that she wants him just as badly, and knowing he will catch her at all costs, she agrees to the Hunt. But life in the Talon mansion is darker than she imagined, and she can’t escape the nightmares that have plagued her for years.

I received an early copy of this book from @theauthor.agency and it blew me away! While initially I felt it had a similar vibe to another of my favourite series, the author completely set herself apart with this one. Bringing every dark and depraved fantasy to life in these pages, readers are sure to be sucked in right from the beginning, and the story will keep you wanting more. I had read a different book with a similar “reveal” recently, which probably helped me figure out what was happening sooner than most, but the way everything was executed was masterful. Axl is the epitome of the obsessed MMC and he isn’t afraid to show it, going to any length to claim and keep Saylor, and she falls just as deeply under his spell. While their relationship started unconventionally, they couldn’t be better matched, bringing out the best in each other, while loving each other through the worst. I will definitely be going back to read previous series from the author as I anxiously wait for book 2 to come out.