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Melancholia
I’ve always been uncomfortably close with death.
From losing my other half before either of us could drive, to my mother’s act of “mercy” that nearly took me to my own grave with her, death has never been something I could escape.
Now, I work at Kindred Pines Mortuary, surrounded by the dead while haunted by the ghosts I can’t bury.
Somehow, he knows death just as well as I do. Maybe better.
When I discover that a local suicide was actually murder, I never suspect the killer is close enough to know who cried wolf. Not until he makes me part of his game—and forces me to play by his rules.
The more he pushes me toward my own broken edges, the more I realize how perfectly they fit against his. His obsession with death awakens something dark in me. Something I know I shouldn’t want.
Something I may never recover from if I let it take root.
Maybe after all these years of holding death at arm’s length, it’s time to stop fighting.
To stop fighting him.
And let him stoke the flames of my brokenness instead of trying to fix what was never right in the first place.
Melancholia is a dark MF romance standalone. It does not end in a cliffhanger, and includes content such as psychological horror, self harm, mentioned child abuse, and lots of topics surrounding death and dying. For a full list of triggers, please look inside the book.
From losing my other half before either of us could drive, to my mother’s act of “mercy” that nearly took me to my own grave with her, death has never been something I could escape.
Now, I work at Kindred Pines Mortuary, surrounded by the dead while haunted by the ghosts I can’t bury.
Somehow, he knows death just as well as I do. Maybe better.
When I discover that a local suicide was actually murder, I never suspect the killer is close enough to know who cried wolf. Not until he makes me part of his game—and forces me to play by his rules.
The more he pushes me toward my own broken edges, the more I realize how perfectly they fit against his. His obsession with death awakens something dark in me. Something I know I shouldn’t want.
Something I may never recover from if I let it take root.
Maybe after all these years of holding death at arm’s length, it’s time to stop fighting.
To stop fighting him.
And let him stoke the flames of my brokenness instead of trying to fix what was never right in the first place.
Melancholia is a dark MF romance standalone. It does not end in a cliffhanger, and includes content such as psychological horror, self harm, mentioned child abuse, and lots of topics surrounding death and dying. For a full list of triggers, please look inside the book.
274 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2026
About the author
A.J. Merlin
40 books2,413 followersAJ Merlin would rather write epic love stories than live them. I mean, who wants to limit themselves to only falling in love once? She is obsessed with dark fantasy, true crime, and also dogs. From serial killers to voyeurs all the way down to the devil himself, AJ's specialty is in writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 12, 2026
“You’re my perfect little mortician. My gorgeous doll,” he purrs. “So beautifully broken for me, aren’t you, Nell?”
^ Page 243.
If AJ Merlin writes it, I'll read it. Unless it's got tropes I'm not fond of. Take this book, I found out it was release date so I thought I'd read it today.
This book didn't hit it. Not like her other books do. I'm not sure what happened or if something's up. But this book just didn't feel like I was reading one of their books.
And I know there's bound to be a few mistakes when writing (unless of course you overthink and have 5 planning docs). But after so many it's hard to ignore.
- Nell says she's 26 but then her birthday comes around and the cake says 26. Later she says she's dealt with her problems for 24 years.
- Her dad left when she was 8. Then he left after Elaina died (she was 12).
- Her mum died when she was 16 then later on her mum kills herself when she's 15.
I'm not sure if AJ Merlin changed her mind while writing or if there was something else going on. I was going to ignore this all together but after the first few, you can't ignore that.
Overall, I loved how Amir was for Nell. He loved her despite her flaws and didn't intend on fixing her as long as she was happy and confident with herself. Wasn't so sure on how their relationship developed as I did feel like one minute there was nothing, the next we're at 79% and they're having sex?
^ Page 243.
If AJ Merlin writes it, I'll read it. Unless it's got tropes I'm not fond of. Take this book, I found out it was release date so I thought I'd read it today.
This book didn't hit it. Not like her other books do. I'm not sure what happened or if something's up. But this book just didn't feel like I was reading one of their books.
And I know there's bound to be a few mistakes when writing (unless of course you overthink and have 5 planning docs). But after so many it's hard to ignore.
- Nell says she's 26 but then her birthday comes around and the cake says 26. Later she says she's dealt with her problems for 24 years.
- Her dad left when she was 8. Then he left after Elaina died (she was 12).
- Her mum died when she was 16 then later on her mum kills herself when she's 15.
I'm not sure if AJ Merlin changed her mind while writing or if there was something else going on. I was going to ignore this all together but after the first few, you can't ignore that.
Overall, I loved how Amir was for Nell. He loved her despite her flaws and didn't intend on fixing her as long as she was happy and confident with herself. Wasn't so sure on how their relationship developed as I did feel like one minute there was nothing, the next we're at 79% and they're having sex?
October 11, 2026
this one was kind of confusing? 🙃 at first, i thought it was a mystery murder romance, and then it felt like we completely skipped over the mystery and jumped straight into an insta-love situation. i loved the idea of a mortician who’s misunderstood and a dangerous, handsome, mysterious neighbor, but it really fell flat for me. 🙃🫠
September 14, 2026
3.5 stars
I love AJ and her books but I’ll admit this wasn’t one of my favorites from her. The premise was a great idea in theory. A mortician who sees ghosts working on a serial killers victim. While this did work to an extent, I felt like it was really skimmed over, like a lot of the details were missing. I noticed several inconsistencies throughout and some of the plot points just sorta faded away and were forgotten. There were some scenes in the first half of the book that could have probably been left out as it didn’t feel like it was progressing the story along. We never find out why Amir killed Andrew, what happened with the investigation, or much of Amir’s backstory. We learn about Nell and a bit of her backstory, but it also felt like it wasn’t very in depth, though much more in depth than Amir. Their romance was okay, though it felt like it went from 0 to 100 out of nowhere. There wasn’t much of a build up between them which was a shame because I did like both characters together as well as individually. I also liked the small town feel as well as the scenes inside the mortuary. I could easily picture them in my mind. The spice introduced me to dollification which I thought was very interesting and good. The ending felt a bit abrupt, like it was rushing to be finished. I think I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if it was a bit longer, so there was more room to grow the characters and the plot.
Overall it wasn’t a bad book, not at all, but it didn’t really feel like it was up to the same standards as AJ’s other books.
I love AJ and her books but I’ll admit this wasn’t one of my favorites from her. The premise was a great idea in theory. A mortician who sees ghosts working on a serial killers victim. While this did work to an extent, I felt like it was really skimmed over, like a lot of the details were missing. I noticed several inconsistencies throughout and some of the plot points just sorta faded away and were forgotten. There were some scenes in the first half of the book that could have probably been left out as it didn’t feel like it was progressing the story along. We never find out why Amir killed Andrew, what happened with the investigation, or much of Amir’s backstory. We learn about Nell and a bit of her backstory, but it also felt like it wasn’t very in depth, though much more in depth than Amir. Their romance was okay, though it felt like it went from 0 to 100 out of nowhere. There wasn’t much of a build up between them which was a shame because I did like both characters together as well as individually. I also liked the small town feel as well as the scenes inside the mortuary. I could easily picture them in my mind. The spice introduced me to dollification which I thought was very interesting and good. The ending felt a bit abrupt, like it was rushing to be finished. I think I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if it was a bit longer, so there was more room to grow the characters and the plot.
Overall it wasn’t a bad book, not at all, but it didn’t really feel like it was up to the same standards as AJ’s other books.
September 29, 2026
This book started off great and had a ton of potential but sadly it dragged toward the middle and there are several plot holes along the way.
September 18, 2026
Nell is a morticians assistant who discovers a body brought into the mortuary may have been a murder and not a suicide like the coroner previously thought. The police open up an investigation, causing the murderer to become interested in her. He forces her to play his games and spend time with him. He is scary and charming, and she finds him hard to resist. He accepts her for exactly who she is broken pieces and all. Nell has hallucinations of dead people. She calls them her ghosts, and she talks to them when they appear. Of course, a serial killer would be the one person not bothered by her speaking to the dead.
September 23, 2026
“I love you and your ghosts. And I intend to keep you all.” “Until we’re ghosts ourselves?” I whisper. “Until we are ghosts ourselves.”
I felt this book was moody and aesthetic but fell a little on plot.
I did enjoy the premise of this book and I did enjoy the characters. I wish there had been a little more going on. Because I had fun with the characters like Amir and his pet name 🥵
I loved the vibes and we all know I’m a sucker for anything involving a mortuary or a mortician in general…no further questions please 🫣😅
Overall it was a 3.5 for me. Rounding up. 😈
I felt this book was moody and aesthetic but fell a little on plot.
I did enjoy the premise of this book and I did enjoy the characters. I wish there had been a little more going on. Because I had fun with the characters like Amir and his pet name 🥵
I loved the vibes and we all know I’m a sucker for anything involving a mortuary or a mortician in general…no further questions please 🫣😅
Overall it was a 3.5 for me. Rounding up. 😈
September 15, 2026
Melancholia is dark romance with a mortuary twist, psychological chaos, murder, grief, and one dangerous man. Eleanor (Nell) is a mortuary assistant that examines a body that has been ruled a suicide when she notices some things that are off, but this attracts the killer, Amir. This is a slow burn read, but I recommend this if you enjoy dark and twisted romance, with morally grey MMCs and the broken but resilient FMCs they are obsessed with.
September 21, 2026
September 2026
Kindle edition
It was either this, Starve or retrying a book I dnf'd. Thought I'd give this one a go. I liked the names. Didn't like the dogs being used to attack and threaten. The info diving with Hestia was awkward. The games were sweet-ish. Finally a dead shitty mom, but one that still traumatizes. Definitely more slow and haunting than the usual hack and slash.
Kindle edition
It was either this, Starve or retrying a book I dnf'd. Thought I'd give this one a go. I liked the names. Didn't like the dogs being used to attack and threaten. The info diving with Hestia was awkward. The games were sweet-ish. Finally a dead shitty mom, but one that still traumatizes. Definitely more slow and haunting than the usual hack and slash.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2026
Great, but wish it was longer- I wish the MMC was more fully developed along with more about Hestia.
September 16, 2026
I really liked the story, but overall the book was just okay for me because I feel like some things were glossed over or just completely forgotten about. Like Andrew’s death and the investigation, what happened with that? We don;t find out why Amir killed him and after making Andrew’s death such a big part of the beginning of the story, I expected the investigation to actually go somewhere. Instead, it felt like it was just forgotten once Nell and Amir’s relationship took over.
And speaking of their relationship, that went from 0 to 100 in the span of what felt like DAYS. 😅 At first, they meet and kind of circle around each other, and then BOOM: they’re kissing and suddenly everything between them is super intense. I would have liked a little more buildup between them because I actually liked their dynamic and wanted to see that tension develop more.
I liked Nell, especially the darker and more unusual parts of her character, and I liked that Amir accepted those parts of her instead of trying to change her. I just wish the story had taken a little more time with both their relationship and the murder plot, because there were some really interesting ideas here that I wanted the book to explore more.
And speaking of their relationship, that went from 0 to 100 in the span of what felt like DAYS. 😅 At first, they meet and kind of circle around each other, and then BOOM: they’re kissing and suddenly everything between them is super intense. I would have liked a little more buildup between them because I actually liked their dynamic and wanted to see that tension develop more.
I liked Nell, especially the darker and more unusual parts of her character, and I liked that Amir accepted those parts of her instead of trying to change her. I just wish the story had taken a little more time with both their relationship and the murder plot, because there were some really interesting ideas here that I wanted the book to explore more.
September 17, 2026
I know this is something I say every time I read a new AJ book, but it is the truth. Somehow, they do get better and better every time.
With Melancholia I was hooked from the start. From the start. I think that says everything you need to know, but... let's continue.
This book is about a mortuary assistant that's haunted by ghosts. Well, it's more like "ghosts" and they definitely aren't what they appear to be. Not your regular Joe ghosts, you know? Wink, wink. Anyhow, of course a love story is brewing, dark, how else could it be? And well, there's that. The rest is for you to discover.
I love the games, the scavenger hunts, I love the unhingeness ( is this a word? no it's not, but it is now cuz I said so )... I loved it. But what I enjoyed the most about this one is that there is no trying to “fix” the characters. They’re messy, damaged, morally questionable. Instead, they are like: Oh, you’re messed up too? Perfect.
All in all, another banger from AJ, another 5 stars book for me. Go, team, go.
With Melancholia I was hooked from the start. From the start. I think that says everything you need to know, but... let's continue.
This book is about a mortuary assistant that's haunted by ghosts. Well, it's more like "ghosts" and they definitely aren't what they appear to be. Not your regular Joe ghosts, you know? Wink, wink. Anyhow, of course a love story is brewing, dark, how else could it be? And well, there's that. The rest is for you to discover.
I love the games, the scavenger hunts, I love the unhingeness ( is this a word? no it's not, but it is now cuz I said so )... I loved it. But what I enjoyed the most about this one is that there is no trying to “fix” the characters. They’re messy, damaged, morally questionable. Instead, they are like: Oh, you’re messed up too? Perfect.
All in all, another banger from AJ, another 5 stars book for me. Go, team, go.
October 8, 2026
Not one of my most favorites of the author's but it was a decent read. I loved the appeal and the overall plot.
September 12, 2026
3.5/5
*I received an ARC copy however that did not influence my opinions stated below.
OH! I demand a novella about Adele and Cecil finally admitting that they both like each other... like come on... just kiss already! We all know you like each other!!
*I received an ARC copy however that did not influence my opinions stated below.
OH! I demand a novella about Adele and Cecil finally admitting that they both like each other... like come on... just kiss already! We all know you like each other!!
October 10, 2026
Melancholia by AJ Merlin
Nell & Amir
I went into Melancholia expecting more of AJ Merlin’s usual horror-heavy darkness, but this one surprised me. It is still dark, still strange, and still very AJ Merlin, but the romance is slower, softer, and much more tender than I expected.
Nell is a junior mortician carrying around a lot of grief, guilt, and trauma. The story spends a lot of time inside her head, and I really liked the way her ghosts and hallucinations were handled. They are frightening at times, but they are also woven into the way Nell experiences the world rather than being treated as something that simply needs to disappear.
And despite all of that heaviness, Nell is genuinely funny.
Her gallows humor was one of my favorite parts of the book. Lines like:
“Don’t feed the incinerator after midnight.”
and
“I’m that kind of stereotypical sad girl.”
fit her perfectly. The humor never takes away from the darker parts of the story. It feels more like one of the ways she survives them.
Amir was also very different from what I expected. He is dangerous in his own way, but with Nell he is remarkably patient. Their relationship builds slowly, without him trying to force her into becoming easier, quieter, or more acceptable.
One of the lines that really stuck with me was:
“I love you and your ghosts. And I intend to keep you all.”
That, more than anything, summed up their relationship for me.
Amir doesn’t pretend Nell’s pain isn’t there. He doesn’t tell her that loving him will magically fix everything. He simply sees all of her and decides that none of it makes her less worthy of being loved.
Another moment I loved was when he tells her:
“And I will spend the rest of my life teaching you how you should be loved.”
For a book with so much grief and darkness in it, there is something unexpectedly hopeful about that.
Cecil also deserves mention because the friendship and chosen-family element added so much warmth to the story. Nell’s world is not only about romance. There are people around her who matter, even when she struggles to believe she matters to them in return.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was less horror-heavy than I expected and much more focused on grief, love, acceptance, and learning how to let someone stay.
Dark, funny, tender, and probably one of the more emotionally gentle AJ Merlin books I’ve read.
Nell & Amir
I went into Melancholia expecting more of AJ Merlin’s usual horror-heavy darkness, but this one surprised me. It is still dark, still strange, and still very AJ Merlin, but the romance is slower, softer, and much more tender than I expected.
Nell is a junior mortician carrying around a lot of grief, guilt, and trauma. The story spends a lot of time inside her head, and I really liked the way her ghosts and hallucinations were handled. They are frightening at times, but they are also woven into the way Nell experiences the world rather than being treated as something that simply needs to disappear.
And despite all of that heaviness, Nell is genuinely funny.
Her gallows humor was one of my favorite parts of the book. Lines like:
“Don’t feed the incinerator after midnight.”
and
“I’m that kind of stereotypical sad girl.”
fit her perfectly. The humor never takes away from the darker parts of the story. It feels more like one of the ways she survives them.
Amir was also very different from what I expected. He is dangerous in his own way, but with Nell he is remarkably patient. Their relationship builds slowly, without him trying to force her into becoming easier, quieter, or more acceptable.
One of the lines that really stuck with me was:
“I love you and your ghosts. And I intend to keep you all.”
That, more than anything, summed up their relationship for me.
Amir doesn’t pretend Nell’s pain isn’t there. He doesn’t tell her that loving him will magically fix everything. He simply sees all of her and decides that none of it makes her less worthy of being loved.
Another moment I loved was when he tells her:
“And I will spend the rest of my life teaching you how you should be loved.”
For a book with so much grief and darkness in it, there is something unexpectedly hopeful about that.
Cecil also deserves mention because the friendship and chosen-family element added so much warmth to the story. Nell’s world is not only about romance. There are people around her who matter, even when she struggles to believe she matters to them in return.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was less horror-heavy than I expected and much more focused on grief, love, acceptance, and learning how to let someone stay.
Dark, funny, tender, and probably one of the more emotionally gentle AJ Merlin books I’ve read.
September 19, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
💀 Serial Killer
💀 Dark Romance
💀 Slow Burn
💀 Ghosts?
My Thoughts
Nell pulled me in so fast with the way she talks to her “ghosts.” AJ Merlin is known for darker romance books, so I was ready to dive into this one as soon as I could (aka: when my puppy slept 😂).
I really enjoyed the games Amir kept playing with Nell and how she kept going along with them, even when she acted like she wasn't as interested as she really was. Their whole dynamic was just fun to read.
One of the things I loved most about Amir was how curious he was about Nell without ever trying to change her. Instead, he asked questions and wanted to understand her. He accepted her exactly as she was—ghosts and all. 💜
This just turned into one of those books where I didn't want to put it down. It was dark, a little twisted, and absolutely amazing.
And one of the last lines completely got me:
“I love you and your ghosts. And I intend to keep you all.” 💜
Summary
Nell works as a mortuary assistant, and when a body comes in that was believed to be a suicide, she notices things that don't add up. She reports what she finds, and it turns out she's looking at a murder.
That's when Amir enters the picture.
Amir is a serial killer—and Nell has just discovered one of his kills. Now he wants to know exactly what she told the police, but instead of simply getting his answer and disappearing, he becomes intrigued by her.
Soon, Amir starts pulling Nell into his games, and the more he plays, the more she realizes she might be enjoying them more than she wants to admit. From actual games to a much darker kind of cat-and-mouse, Amir keeps pushing her boundaries while becoming increasingly fascinated by the woman he's discovered.
And Nell isn't exactly running away.
The more time Amir spends with her, the more he sees the parts of Nell that others might want to change—and instead of trying to fix her, he accepts her exactly as she is.
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
💀 Serial Killer
💀 Dark Romance
💀 Slow Burn
💀 Ghosts?
My Thoughts
Nell pulled me in so fast with the way she talks to her “ghosts.” AJ Merlin is known for darker romance books, so I was ready to dive into this one as soon as I could (aka: when my puppy slept 😂).
I really enjoyed the games Amir kept playing with Nell and how she kept going along with them, even when she acted like she wasn't as interested as she really was. Their whole dynamic was just fun to read.
One of the things I loved most about Amir was how curious he was about Nell without ever trying to change her. Instead, he asked questions and wanted to understand her. He accepted her exactly as she was—ghosts and all. 💜
This just turned into one of those books where I didn't want to put it down. It was dark, a little twisted, and absolutely amazing.
And one of the last lines completely got me:
“I love you and your ghosts. And I intend to keep you all.” 💜
Summary
Nell works as a mortuary assistant, and when a body comes in that was believed to be a suicide, she notices things that don't add up. She reports what she finds, and it turns out she's looking at a murder.
That's when Amir enters the picture.
Amir is a serial killer—and Nell has just discovered one of his kills. Now he wants to know exactly what she told the police, but instead of simply getting his answer and disappearing, he becomes intrigued by her.
Soon, Amir starts pulling Nell into his games, and the more he plays, the more she realizes she might be enjoying them more than she wants to admit. From actual games to a much darker kind of cat-and-mouse, Amir keeps pushing her boundaries while becoming increasingly fascinated by the woman he's discovered.
And Nell isn't exactly running away.
The more time Amir spends with her, the more he sees the parts of Nell that others might want to change—and instead of trying to fix her, he accepts her exactly as she is.
September 16, 2026
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
AJ Merlin continues to hit the nail on the head for me with Melancholia. When I first read the premise for this novel, I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to enjoy it. However, once I started reading it, I was immediately hooked. A mortuary assistant who is haunted by “ghosts” that aren’t what they appear to be, and a deliciously dark love interest who has no desire to fix her? That’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed. The highlights of this one for me include (as always) the spice, as we got to experience a kink I haven’t read by Merlin before, a love interest who is incredibly patient and therefore all the more dangerous, and a delightfully sweet ending that didn’t, in my opinion, take away from the dark romance of it at all.
Nell (Which can I just say, love the name choice) was a fascinating character. She’s very self aware, and very fucked up. I loved learning about her history as the story unfolded, and found her personal and verbal quips to be hilarious. Amir (whose name I also love) is equally fascinating but in a different way. Boy, is that man a walking red flag in all of the ways, but damn do I love him. He is such a good companion for Nell and the way that he treats her from day one is *chefs kiss*.
Overall, definitely a 5 star read from me.
SPOILERS BELOW:
AJ Merlin continues to hit the nail on the head for me with Melancholia. When I first read the premise for this novel, I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to enjoy it. However, once I started reading it, I was immediately hooked. A mortuary assistant who is haunted by “ghosts” that aren’t what they appear to be, and a deliciously dark love interest who has no desire to fix her? That’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed. The highlights of this one for me include (as always) the spice, as we got to experience a kink I haven’t read by Merlin before, a love interest who is incredibly patient and therefore all the more dangerous, and a delightfully sweet ending that didn’t, in my opinion, take away from the dark romance of it at all.
Nell (Which can I just say, love the name choice) was a fascinating character. She’s very self aware, and very fucked up. I loved learning about her history as the story unfolded, and found her personal and verbal quips to be hilarious. Amir (whose name I also love) is equally fascinating but in a different way. Boy, is that man a walking red flag in all of the ways, but damn do I love him. He is such a good companion for Nell and the way that he treats her from day one is *chefs kiss*.
Overall, definitely a 5 star read from me.
SPOILERS BELOW:
September 23, 2026
Melancholia was in my opinion tame compared to the dark stuff this author usually does. Told from the FMC's POV only it follows a damaged, broken, probably mentally unstable mortician as she attempts to do her work helping the dearly departed. Of course, this FMC is in the typical style of this author, insecure, introverted, anti-social apart from her small group of acceptable people. She's also got her own quirk though I think I'll leave that out of this review for the reader to discover themselves.
Our MMC is Amir and he is very on trend with this author's usual MMC's, confident, obsessed in a unhealthy kind of way, a killer naturally, protective and loves playing dark, little games designed to get the FMC's attention, unwillingly to begin with and then against everything society and common sense would predict, gets less unwillingly as time moves on. Against everything the two end up being perfect for each other.
It wouldn't be an AJ Merlin book without a furry companion, this time in the from of two adorable, yet terrifying black german shepherds which is a common furry companion that I love been able to live out my fantasies of owning on through these reads.
I loved the plot and the characters but I do wish that we had found out more about Amir and his background. After the dark, and disturbing nature of her previous release this one had a small lack of death which is perfect for those who want to dip their toes into the kinds of writing and stories this author writes. I know for one that no matter how much death and darkness is involved I will always pick up and enjoy this authors books.
Our MMC is Amir and he is very on trend with this author's usual MMC's, confident, obsessed in a unhealthy kind of way, a killer naturally, protective and loves playing dark, little games designed to get the FMC's attention, unwillingly to begin with and then against everything society and common sense would predict, gets less unwillingly as time moves on. Against everything the two end up being perfect for each other.
It wouldn't be an AJ Merlin book without a furry companion, this time in the from of two adorable, yet terrifying black german shepherds which is a common furry companion that I love been able to live out my fantasies of owning on through these reads.
I loved the plot and the characters but I do wish that we had found out more about Amir and his background. After the dark, and disturbing nature of her previous release this one had a small lack of death which is perfect for those who want to dip their toes into the kinds of writing and stories this author writes. I know for one that no matter how much death and darkness is involved I will always pick up and enjoy this authors books.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Deliciously Twisted and Disturbing
Besties… What. In. The. World?! Melancholia is dark romance with a mortuary twist, psychological chaos, murder, grief, and one dangerously fascinating man who turns getting close to Nell into a series of twisted games. Nell being a mortuary assistant who sees “ghosts” immediately hooked me, but discovering why those hallucinations haunt her gave the story an emotional weight I wasn’t expecting.
Then there’s Amir. Sir is a walking red flag carrying MORE red flags, and somehow I kept wanting him on the page. The scavenger hunt involving a dead man’s missing ring? Completely unhinged. Their cemetery game? My Kindle and I needed a moment. Whew… and when the spice arrives, it is DARK, intense, and absolutely spicing!
What really got me was how the romance, Nell’s trauma, and her complicated relationship with death became tangled together. The ending with Elaina hit differently after everything Nell survived. Disturbing, emotional, strangely tender, and deliciously twisted. Please check those TWs, Besties. Seriously.
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 4/5
🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
Besties… What. In. The. World?! Melancholia is dark romance with a mortuary twist, psychological chaos, murder, grief, and one dangerously fascinating man who turns getting close to Nell into a series of twisted games. Nell being a mortuary assistant who sees “ghosts” immediately hooked me, but discovering why those hallucinations haunt her gave the story an emotional weight I wasn’t expecting.
Then there’s Amir. Sir is a walking red flag carrying MORE red flags, and somehow I kept wanting him on the page. The scavenger hunt involving a dead man’s missing ring? Completely unhinged. Their cemetery game? My Kindle and I needed a moment. Whew… and when the spice arrives, it is DARK, intense, and absolutely spicing!
What really got me was how the romance, Nell’s trauma, and her complicated relationship with death became tangled together. The ending with Elaina hit differently after everything Nell survived. Disturbing, emotional, strangely tender, and deliciously twisted. Please check those TWs, Besties. Seriously.
My Ratings: ⭐ 5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 4/5
🥀 My ratings and review are my own. For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
September 17, 2026
Admittedly not my favorite of AJ Merlins books. I am a huge fan of hers, and will read anything she puts out. This is very on brand for her, very spooky, serial killer MMC who is obsessed with our FMC. She is very unwell, has a lot of trauma, but somehow the two of them work. They are very cute together and make perfect sense. One thing I do like about her writing is that she never tries to redeem her characters, it's more about letting them be who they are, just finding their perfect match. Nobody is perfect, it's just finding the perfect someone for you. And I like that. I was a bit confused during this book, I could not quite figure out if the ghosts were in her mind or if she really had an ability to see them. It never really cleared up for me until the end. I was also confused by her personality a bit. Her motivations and why she does the things she does. I understand that she has a lot of trauma and that she is medicated and unwell. That totally tracks and I get that. But sometimes I could not figure out where we were going with the book. We did not see any real killer development with the MMC, and I would have like to see more of that. But otherwise, another solid read by AJ Merlin! 3.5 stars for me.
September 12, 2026
Melancholia
Melancholia follows Nell, who has spent practically her entire life surrounded by death, so her working in a mortuary seems pretty on point. But when she realizes a supposed suicide was actually murder, she catches the attention of someone who might understand her complicated relationship with death a little too well.
What I really enjoyed about this one is that it doesn’t try to “fix” its characters. They’re messy, damaged, morally questionable, and drawn to parts of each other that probably should have sent them running in the opposite direction. Instead, it’s basically: Oh, you’re messed up too? Perfect.
The mortuary setting, parks, graveyard, and coffee shop gave this story the ultimate spooky vibes. It was both tragic and strangely healing getting into Nell’s backstory, and I really enjoyed seeing all the pieces of her character come together.
I do wish we had gotten a little more of Amir’s backstory, but at the same time, maybe not knowing everything about him is part of what makes him so mysterious.
Dark, atmospheric, a little twisted, and full of beautifully messy characters. I really enjoyed this one!
Melancholia follows Nell, who has spent practically her entire life surrounded by death, so her working in a mortuary seems pretty on point. But when she realizes a supposed suicide was actually murder, she catches the attention of someone who might understand her complicated relationship with death a little too well.
What I really enjoyed about this one is that it doesn’t try to “fix” its characters. They’re messy, damaged, morally questionable, and drawn to parts of each other that probably should have sent them running in the opposite direction. Instead, it’s basically: Oh, you’re messed up too? Perfect.
The mortuary setting, parks, graveyard, and coffee shop gave this story the ultimate spooky vibes. It was both tragic and strangely healing getting into Nell’s backstory, and I really enjoyed seeing all the pieces of her character come together.
I do wish we had gotten a little more of Amir’s backstory, but at the same time, maybe not knowing everything about him is part of what makes him so mysterious.
Dark, atmospheric, a little twisted, and full of beautifully messy characters. I really enjoyed this one!
September 19, 2026
*I received an advance copy of this book, these thoughts and opinions are my own*
Rating:4.5
AJ Merlin is always a must read for me, she has such an amazing way of showing us that even the most "broken" characters still deserve to be loved for what they are. I will say that this book lacked a little something in comparison to her other books that I have read but I loved it non the less.
Melancholia follows Eleanor or better known as Nell, a mortuary assistant whose had a troubled life. She struggles with mental health, and she also "sees" dead people. who finds that what they originally thought was a suicide might have been something much grimmer, a murder. This is how she attracted the attention of her serial killer love interest. While Amier may be a killer, he still loves and supports Nell, sometimes the serial killer can be sweet too.
AJ does an amazing job building the world in Melancholia, you really feel like you are there in the morgue, the graveyard, the diner, etc. I do wish we could have gotten a little more of the story because towards the end it felt a little rushed. Otherwise, I absolutely loved it and definitely recommend!
Rating:4.5
AJ Merlin is always a must read for me, she has such an amazing way of showing us that even the most "broken" characters still deserve to be loved for what they are. I will say that this book lacked a little something in comparison to her other books that I have read but I loved it non the less.
Melancholia follows Eleanor or better known as Nell, a mortuary assistant whose had a troubled life. She struggles with mental health, and she also "sees" dead people. who finds that what they originally thought was a suicide might have been something much grimmer, a murder. This is how she attracted the attention of her serial killer love interest. While Amier may be a killer, he still loves and supports Nell, sometimes the serial killer can be sweet too.
AJ does an amazing job building the world in Melancholia, you really feel like you are there in the morgue, the graveyard, the diner, etc. I do wish we could have gotten a little more of the story because towards the end it felt a little rushed. Otherwise, I absolutely loved it and definitely recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2026
I’ve read and enjoyed most everything AJ Merlin has written, I was really looking forward to this one especially heading into spooky season. Unfortunately this just didn’t quite feel like an AJ Merlin book to me.
The first 25% had very little interaction with the MMC, the steam didn’t even start until 60%, & I found myself skimming the first 50%. One thing I can usually expect from Merlin is to feel unsettled but glued to the story, this one unfortunately didn’t do either.
I also didn’t find the little steam Melancholia did have to be all that steamy. Not sure what happened here, but it was just missing the heaping side of unhinged I know and love from Merlin. The FMC being scared & stuttering also got a little frustrating to read. Anyway, while this was sadly a miss for me I will continue to stalk Merlin’s GR 😂 for updates on the next one in the hopes it’ll bring more of the twisted goodness I’ve come to expect from them.
The first 25% had very little interaction with the MMC, the steam didn’t even start until 60%, & I found myself skimming the first 50%. One thing I can usually expect from Merlin is to feel unsettled but glued to the story, this one unfortunately didn’t do either.
I also didn’t find the little steam Melancholia did have to be all that steamy. Not sure what happened here, but it was just missing the heaping side of unhinged I know and love from Merlin. The FMC being scared & stuttering also got a little frustrating to read. Anyway, while this was sadly a miss for me I will continue to stalk Merlin’s GR 😂 for updates on the next one in the hopes it’ll bring more of the twisted goodness I’ve come to expect from them.
September 19, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
This was my lil treat for finishing my exams, and I'm so glad I waited so I could properly enjoy it hehe!! I go crazy for a serial killer mmc every single tiiiiime + a mortuary assistant who sees ghosts, ummm yess plssss!!
I freaking love the characters (as always!!). Nell is hilarious, and I lived for every second of her story haha. And amirrrrr eeeeeek, yes yes yes. A walking red flag he was, but idccc🤭 I really couldn't get enough of themmm; they just fit so perfectly together!! The tension between them was also so so good. I was giggling and kicking my feet lol. ofc the spice was chef's kiss ifykyk👀
I only docked a fewww little 1.5 stars because the romance was a little too fast for me. They had suchh good tension, I would've liked a bit more build between them!! I also would've loved a bit more of Amir's backstory and closure on the investigation, but that's probs just me wanting more of A.J's writing lol, I always want moooore!!
This was my lil treat for finishing my exams, and I'm so glad I waited so I could properly enjoy it hehe!! I go crazy for a serial killer mmc every single tiiiiime + a mortuary assistant who sees ghosts, ummm yess plssss!!
I freaking love the characters (as always!!). Nell is hilarious, and I lived for every second of her story haha. And amirrrrr eeeeeek, yes yes yes. A walking red flag he was, but idccc🤭 I really couldn't get enough of themmm; they just fit so perfectly together!! The tension between them was also so so good. I was giggling and kicking my feet lol. ofc the spice was chef's kiss ifykyk👀
I only docked a fewww little 1.5 stars because the romance was a little too fast for me. They had suchh good tension, I would've liked a bit more build between them!! I also would've loved a bit more of Amir's backstory and closure on the investigation, but that's probs just me wanting more of A.J's writing lol, I always want moooore!!
September 13, 2026
Nell keeps company with dead people. Think the Sixth Sense. "I see dead people." This is Nell. It can be both cool and a curse. Nell's boss, Cecil is out of town when the newest client shows up. What seems like a routine task ends up being anything but routine.
"Monsters don't exist until the sun goes down, right?"
Nell's, landlord, Hestia's relative has shown up in town. Amir is very dashing and has two loveable dogs. I like the balance between the story and the sparks involving Amir and Nell. It did not distract from the storyline.
"And I will spend the rest of my life teaching you how you should be loved."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from AJ. It brought me back to the other book Starve. The gothic vibe and different from the serial killer books. I am definitely onboard with this newest offering that the author is going down.
"Monsters don't exist until the sun goes down, right?"
Nell's, landlord, Hestia's relative has shown up in town. Amir is very dashing and has two loveable dogs. I like the balance between the story and the sparks involving Amir and Nell. It did not distract from the storyline.
"And I will spend the rest of my life teaching you how you should be loved."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from AJ. It brought me back to the other book Starve. The gothic vibe and different from the serial killer books. I am definitely onboard with this newest offering that the author is going down.
September 18, 2026
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ MF
✔️ No Cliffhanger
✔️ Psychological Horror
✔️ Self-harm
✔️ Mentioned Child Abuse
✔️ Topics of Death and Dying
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers
One thing about AJ Merlin books is that they never feel repetitive to me, which lets me immerse myself in the dark romance storyline and its originality. Melancholia wasn't at all what I expected from Amir and Nell's story. It took me a bit to get pulled into the storyline, but once I did, I did not want to put it down. I felt there was a good balance between the spice and the plot, which ended up feeling like a cozy, dark, twisted romance. How can a serial killer feel so sweet at times? I definitely fell for Amir’s character in the end, and appreciated Nell’s struggles with mental illness. I am giving Melancholia 4.5/5 stars.
✔️ MF
✔️ No Cliffhanger
✔️ Psychological Horror
✔️ Self-harm
✔️ Mentioned Child Abuse
✔️ Topics of Death and Dying
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers
One thing about AJ Merlin books is that they never feel repetitive to me, which lets me immerse myself in the dark romance storyline and its originality. Melancholia wasn't at all what I expected from Amir and Nell's story. It took me a bit to get pulled into the storyline, but once I did, I did not want to put it down. I felt there was a good balance between the spice and the plot, which ended up feeling like a cozy, dark, twisted romance. How can a serial killer feel so sweet at times? I definitely fell for Amir’s character in the end, and appreciated Nell’s struggles with mental illness. I am giving Melancholia 4.5/5 stars.
September 12, 2026
I got this as an arc and I had a blast reading it.
Eleanor (Nell) is a mortuary assistant that examines a body that has been ruled a suicide when she notices some things that are off she turns the body back over with her findings and in doing so she attracts the serial killer that killed him. His name is Amir and he makes a deal with her that involves her playing his games. One of my favorite parts of this book is how he handles her mental health battles and doesn't judge her he cares and supports her instead. The only thing that might bother some people is that it's a slower burn book i had no problems with it I enjoy a slow burn. But you shouldn't let that deter you because when the spice starts its hottt!!!
Eleanor (Nell) is a mortuary assistant that examines a body that has been ruled a suicide when she notices some things that are off she turns the body back over with her findings and in doing so she attracts the serial killer that killed him. His name is Amir and he makes a deal with her that involves her playing his games. One of my favorite parts of this book is how he handles her mental health battles and doesn't judge her he cares and supports her instead. The only thing that might bother some people is that it's a slower burn book i had no problems with it I enjoy a slow burn. But you shouldn't let that deter you because when the spice starts its hottt!!!
September 16, 2026
Melancholia by A.J Merlin caught me by surprise. I went in blind & even though it is different from most of her other books, it was still just as fantastic! Even from the beginning it starts with that eerie vibe. This book deals with a lot of abuse, grief, abandonment & mental depression & hallucinations. So check the trigger warnings. It is a beautiful story...Amir is locked onto Nell & refuses any other option where she isn't apart of his life. He is perfectly what she needs, she just doesn't know it yet. This read had me in tears toward the end. It also has just enough spice to make you swoon. Especially if you like a dominate MMC amd a FMC with a praise kink. Check out Melancholia, it won't disappoint!
September 17, 2026
3.5⭐️
I will say this one start a bit slow for me and took me a second to figure out what was going on. Once the story started to pick up however I was hooked. I will say this isn’t my favorite from this author (nothing beats the pleasure and prey series) but overall another great read.
I loved the premise of this book. It was dark, gothic, and a little haunting. I loved the playful dynamic between the two characters and how he never once made her feel bad or lesser than because of her mental illness and trauma. I do wish we got a little bit more of them as an established couple. I felt the end was a tad rushed.
Overall good bingeable read.
***USE CAUTION WHEN READING AS BOOK DOES COVER HEAVY TOPICs***
I will say this one start a bit slow for me and took me a second to figure out what was going on. Once the story started to pick up however I was hooked. I will say this isn’t my favorite from this author (nothing beats the pleasure and prey series) but overall another great read.
I loved the premise of this book. It was dark, gothic, and a little haunting. I loved the playful dynamic between the two characters and how he never once made her feel bad or lesser than because of her mental illness and trauma. I do wish we got a little bit more of them as an established couple. I felt the end was a tad rushed.
Overall good bingeable read.
***USE CAUTION WHEN READING AS BOOK DOES COVER HEAVY TOPICs***
September 17, 2026
This was an interesting story. Its both different and as expected from AJ. You will always find yourself rooting for the villain because AJ has yourelati g to them in some twisted way. She makes us see we all have some sort of awkwardness, dark or u usual side to sand we don't feel ashamed because her characters make us feel seen. This story is no different.
Who doesn't want to work with dead people? After being surrounded by darkness in some way, Nell who is still swimming in it finds herself the obsession of some of that darkness. Amir who is a serial killer who wants her for her.
Another great story by AJ. This is a MF thriller with lots of triggers, which is what we've come to love about AJ'S books. Go read it.
Who doesn't want to work with dead people? After being surrounded by darkness in some way, Nell who is still swimming in it finds herself the obsession of some of that darkness. Amir who is a serial killer who wants her for her.
Another great story by AJ. This is a MF thriller with lots of triggers, which is what we've come to love about AJ'S books. Go read it.
September 12, 2026
Wow this was some read! This would be like my fourth or maybe fifth book from this author that I have read and she/he still hasn’t disappoint me yet. But I just wish that we had at least a smell peek of the male pov. But even with that this author writing is so intense and awesome too. Nell sure hasn’t had an easy life and then she comes across Amir. At the beginning that made it a bit more difficult for what Nell discovered of Amir. But with their games and the time they spend together they definitely fell in love in this twisted dark world they live on. Their story was intense and awesome to read, it was something different than what I usually read.
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