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The Skull & Crossbone Romances #1.5
The Decline and Fall of Rowland Graves: A Devil's Luck Vignette
A tragic love story to haunt your dreams.
Just how does a man become a monster? No one is born evil. Are they?
The young Doctor Rowland Graves has everything he could want: a promising medical career, a pending professorship at Oxford. Most of all, he has the love of an angel, Elinor Barlow, There are days when he still can't believe his good fortune. But the night he plans to ask for Abraham Barlow’s blessing for a marriage to his daughter, matters are taken out of his hands. Elinor's father announces her engagement to another man.
Blindsided by fate, Rowland’s circumstances only get worse from there. More, he suspects he knows who’s behind it: Elinor’s conniving sister, Judith. The lovers put secret plans in place to elope on the night of Hallowtide, but the darkness begins to creep in as Rowland wants to tie up loose ends. Nothing and no one will come between him and Elinor, and he intends to make sure of it.
Described as "chilling", "darkly erotic", and "beautifully macabre", The Decline and Fall of Rowland Graves is a Gothic horror novella crafted to satisfy the morbid curiosity of fans of The Devil's Luck about the villainous surgeon's past. But don't worry! Rowland Graves stands on its own—you can enjoy all the lust and lurid details without feeling like you're missing part of the plot.
Note: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual activity and some violence, and does not have an HEA ending. Recommended for mature fans of the horror genre only.
Just how does a man become a monster? No one is born evil. Are they?
The young Doctor Rowland Graves has everything he could want: a promising medical career, a pending professorship at Oxford. Most of all, he has the love of an angel, Elinor Barlow, There are days when he still can't believe his good fortune. But the night he plans to ask for Abraham Barlow’s blessing for a marriage to his daughter, matters are taken out of his hands. Elinor's father announces her engagement to another man.
Blindsided by fate, Rowland’s circumstances only get worse from there. More, he suspects he knows who’s behind it: Elinor’s conniving sister, Judith. The lovers put secret plans in place to elope on the night of Hallowtide, but the darkness begins to creep in as Rowland wants to tie up loose ends. Nothing and no one will come between him and Elinor, and he intends to make sure of it.
Described as "chilling", "darkly erotic", and "beautifully macabre", The Decline and Fall of Rowland Graves is a Gothic horror novella crafted to satisfy the morbid curiosity of fans of The Devil's Luck about the villainous surgeon's past. But don't worry! Rowland Graves stands on its own—you can enjoy all the lust and lurid details without feeling like you're missing part of the plot.
Note: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual activity and some violence, and does not have an HEA ending. Recommended for mature fans of the horror genre only.
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2014
14 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Eris Adderly
21 books574 followersEris writes dark, escape-from-reality romance full of criminals and outcasts. Her stories are the stomping grounds for bada** heroines, untameable alphas, a spectrum of sexuality, and a serious disregard for convention. Expect the decadent and filthy, the crude and sublime, sometimes all at once. Pick a safeword and grab a towel before reading. She is a complete nerd and possible crazy cat lady. She will annoy you with puns.
Eris posts updates with information about her latest works in progress and more on her facebook page and on her website.
Eris posts updates with information about her latest works in progress and more on her facebook page and on her website.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 10, 2023
Oooh, this was dark, and disturbing, and I savored every page. Read it in one sitting. A great spooky season read that illustrates how a man with darkness in his soul, only kept at bay by his desperate, obsessive love for a sweet and good and beautiful woman, descends into madness and worse.
Blood didn’t disturb him. How could it? Who could make a career as a medical man and have trouble with the sight? If he were honest with himself, he found it beautiful, in its own wet, macabre fashion. It was the most vibrant colour a body could make.
A sweet, intense, powerful love that ends in unspeakable tragedy. There is no happily ever after here…quite the opposite.
I continue to be in awe of Eris Adderley’s talent. I loved her Skull & Crossbone pirate series, and also Gallows Pole. She is an author that deserves to be more widely read and I’m hoping someday she will write more historicals because I will read them all.
Blood didn’t disturb him. How could it? Who could make a career as a medical man and have trouble with the sight? If he were honest with himself, he found it beautiful, in its own wet, macabre fashion. It was the most vibrant colour a body could make.
A sweet, intense, powerful love that ends in unspeakable tragedy. There is no happily ever after here…quite the opposite.
I continue to be in awe of Eris Adderley’s talent. I loved her Skull & Crossbone pirate series, and also Gallows Pole. She is an author that deserves to be more widely read and I’m hoping someday she will write more historicals because I will read them all.
July 20, 2023
“Like Poe but dirty”.
Perfect description of this. You can read this as a stand alone but I would recommend you read the first book in the series to get a full idea of how nasty Rowland is. This was a great little dirty gothic/horror book, with a good twist. Great way to finish out spooky season.
Perfect description of this. You can read this as a stand alone but I would recommend you read the first book in the series to get a full idea of how nasty Rowland is. This was a great little dirty gothic/horror book, with a good twist. Great way to finish out spooky season.
September 27, 2017
I kind of knew I wasn't going to enjoy this but it sounded like it MIGHT have promise and several people shelved it as horror [which it definitely isn't] so I snagged it when it was free. I haven't read the actual 'first' book in this series but this is a prequel so I figure that's okay. Surprisingly enough the sex scenes were probably the best parts of the entire thing [something you are not going to hear me say often about M/F erotica], although you still have to deal with all the stuff about how she's a delicate tiny precious beautiful ~angel~ and he has all these ~dark urges~ that she's going to ~save him from~. Basically, this story does nothing to subvert any kind of gender roles. The actual plot itself is also really obvious, and I think I audibly groaned about halfway through the book when I figured out what the big 'twist' at the end was going to be. Maybe this works better as a tie-in to the regular series but I would definitely not recommend reading it on its own.
June 11, 2023
No HEA for Rowland Graves.
If you have already read The Devil's Luck then you already know exactly who Rowland Graves is. This book happens over 20 years before the events in The Devil's Luck.
Rowland Graves is on track to get everything he wants in life. A dream medical career and his true love Elinor Barlow. Her love keeps his dark thoughts at bay. Elinor's sister Judith keeps getting in the way of his plans though.
A dark read that will follow Roland's descent into madness and murder.
If you have already read The Devil's Luck then you already know exactly who Rowland Graves is. This book happens over 20 years before the events in The Devil's Luck.
Rowland Graves is on track to get everything he wants in life. A dream medical career and his true love Elinor Barlow. Her love keeps his dark thoughts at bay. Elinor's sister Judith keeps getting in the way of his plans though.
A dark read that will follow Roland's descent into madness and murder.
September 21, 2019
Mind Twisting
The Decline and Fall of Rowland Graves is the second story in Eris Adderly’s The Skull & Crossbones Romance series.
After reading the first story in this series, The Devil’sLuck, I immediately purchased this story, and will continue to read each and every one that Ms. Adderly adds!
This story of Rowland is heartbreakingly maniacal. It provides an understanding of the Doctor’s character, that twists your heart and has you questioning what is good and what is evil.
I love the way this author thinks!
The Decline and Fall of Rowland Graves is the second story in Eris Adderly’s The Skull & Crossbones Romance series.
After reading the first story in this series, The Devil’sLuck, I immediately purchased this story, and will continue to read each and every one that Ms. Adderly adds!
This story of Rowland is heartbreakingly maniacal. It provides an understanding of the Doctor’s character, that twists your heart and has you questioning what is good and what is evil.
I love the way this author thinks!
August 3, 2019
If you read The Devil’s Luck then you will love this story because it tell the story of how Rowland Grave became this way and if you haven’t then you can also read this story without any problems.
It shows Rowland going for the happiest man in love with his Angel to a hollow and possessed person filled with darkness. It is not a pretty story. but it does make a great read.
It shows Rowland going for the happiest man in love with his Angel to a hollow and possessed person filled with darkness. It is not a pretty story. but it does make a great read.
February 10, 2019
Horrific but great
No HEA but an interesting foray into a madman’s mind. Poor Elinor! You really do feel for Graves at the beginning of his descent into madness and evil. He is so disgusting in The Devil’s Luck. Very much a tragedy!
No HEA but an interesting foray into a madman’s mind. Poor Elinor! You really do feel for Graves at the beginning of his descent into madness and evil. He is so disgusting in The Devil’s Luck. Very much a tragedy!
September 27, 2019
Creepy Tale
Interesting background to Dr Graves: one almost feels sorry for him the way he's deprived of the love of his life . But then his shocking deterioration into madness ....
Interesting background to Dr Graves: one almost feels sorry for him the way he's deprived of the love of his life . But then his shocking deterioration into madness ....
June 9, 2020
This was a good quick read.
March 27, 2021
Hard to put down. Easy to hate Graves on The Devil’s Luck. Felt terrible for him in this story. Watching his sanity unravel. Loved his partner in crime.
December 10, 2022
Very dark and chilling!
Reading along and watching as Rowland slowing becomes a sadistic monster, I couldn't help feeling sorry for him and hating him all at the same time
Reading along and watching as Rowland slowing becomes a sadistic monster, I couldn't help feeling sorry for him and hating him all at the same time
January 19, 2023
I think Judith slayed. I respect the hustle.
May 10, 2024
2.5 stars
August 7, 2016
Very dark story
Haunting evil engrossing on what makes the dear doctor tick...let's try twisted and disturbed. This vignette gives such clues that it is a must read!!!
Haunting evil engrossing on what makes the dear doctor tick...let's try twisted and disturbed. This vignette gives such clues that it is a must read!!!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews