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Hell Theory #1
King Among the Dead
“It’s a love story. Love doesn’t require morality, does it?”
Rose Greer’s life of pain and terror changes the night Simon Becket finds her locked in a cabinet. Blood on his face, but a hand held out in offering – a hand she takes.
Beck is kind, and eccentric; rich, and generous, and soft-spoken. Beck is cultured, and patient. Beck is lonely, rattling around his crumbling townhouse with only his elderly upstairs tenant for company.
Beck is a killer.
And Rose thinks she might be, too.
With Beck, she’s discovering all her darker impulses – and her passions. And she’s learning that the Atmospheric Rift which altered the world years ago isn’t exactly an event from the past.
“King Among the Dead” is the first in a new supernatural/horror erotica series based loosely on the legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, set in the not-too-distant future. Featuring angels, demons, mythology, monsters, plenty of steam, and an eventual OT3. Dark, weird, and sexy, Hell Theory isn’t for the faint of heart.
Rose Greer’s life of pain and terror changes the night Simon Becket finds her locked in a cabinet. Blood on his face, but a hand held out in offering – a hand she takes.
Beck is kind, and eccentric; rich, and generous, and soft-spoken. Beck is cultured, and patient. Beck is lonely, rattling around his crumbling townhouse with only his elderly upstairs tenant for company.
Beck is a killer.
And Rose thinks she might be, too.
With Beck, she’s discovering all her darker impulses – and her passions. And she’s learning that the Atmospheric Rift which altered the world years ago isn’t exactly an event from the past.
“King Among the Dead” is the first in a new supernatural/horror erotica series based loosely on the legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, set in the not-too-distant future. Featuring angels, demons, mythology, monsters, plenty of steam, and an eventual OT3. Dark, weird, and sexy, Hell Theory isn’t for the faint of heart.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2020
43 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 15, 2021
These are rather short, so I think I’ll breeze through the whole series in no time.
Here’s what I know:
• Gilley’s amazing when it comes to thinking up outlandish, original plots,
• and worldbuilding,
• as well as writing mouthwatering heroes (and Beck deserves some extra points for getting his girl knives for her birthday 😍),
• and steamy, but not OTT, love scenes,
• but sadly, she does not excel at writing the best heroines!
Ah, Rose. I wanted to like her, but she has so many mary-sue traits… 😩 I hope her character will get more developed in the following books, but I won’t hold my breath.
The action near the end was totally kick-ass, and Beck’s big comeback was suitably ominous… 😈 I can’t wait to get to know more about Lance, who was briefly introduced here — the final hot ingredient of this OT3 that I can’t really imagine just yet, but I’m waiting for Gilley to work her magic…
Here’s what I know:
• Gilley’s amazing when it comes to thinking up outlandish, original plots,
• and worldbuilding,
• as well as writing mouthwatering heroes (and Beck deserves some extra points for getting his girl knives for her birthday 😍),
• and steamy, but not OTT, love scenes,
• but sadly, she does not excel at writing the best heroines!
Ah, Rose. I wanted to like her, but she has so many mary-sue traits… 😩 I hope her character will get more developed in the following books, but I won’t hold my breath.
The action near the end was totally kick-ass, and Beck’s big comeback was suitably ominous… 😈 I can’t wait to get to know more about Lance, who was briefly introduced here — the final hot ingredient of this OT3 that I can’t really imagine just yet, but I’m waiting for Gilley to work her magic…
June 20, 2020
I love that Lauren Gilley dropped a surprise release on her readers. I went into this one completely blind and was sucked in right away. I cannot wait to find out what happens next!
June 14, 2021
Color me intrigued!
June 9, 2020
“Sometimes white knights need saving, too.”
Surprise, surprise! Lauren Gilley has gifted her beloved readers with the unexpected release of the first installment in a brand new horror/supernatural series, Hell Theory, based on the legends of King Arthur and featuring mythological creatures.
I utterly enjoyed reading about Rose and Beck’s story in this first book. The author’s writing is so elegant, almost delicate, full of nuances and subtleties. There is violence, of course, but there is also a great deal of emotions such as softness, tenderness, and a certain modesty in these two characters that moved me a lot.
I cannot wait for book 2, Night in a Waste Land, to be released, it's going to be epic. Be ready!
"Later—days, weeks, years—she would look back on this moment; treasure it; carry it in her pocket and rub it like a talisman, until it was smooth and vague. One of the best moments, and one of the last, before everything went to hell. Literally."
Surprise, surprise! Lauren Gilley has gifted her beloved readers with the unexpected release of the first installment in a brand new horror/supernatural series, Hell Theory, based on the legends of King Arthur and featuring mythological creatures.
I utterly enjoyed reading about Rose and Beck’s story in this first book. The author’s writing is so elegant, almost delicate, full of nuances and subtleties. There is violence, of course, but there is also a great deal of emotions such as softness, tenderness, and a certain modesty in these two characters that moved me a lot.
I cannot wait for book 2, Night in a Waste Land, to be released, it's going to be epic. Be ready!
"Later—days, weeks, years—she would look back on this moment; treasure it; carry it in her pocket and rub it like a talisman, until it was smooth and vague. One of the best moments, and one of the last, before everything went to hell. Literally."
January 24, 2021
I enjoyed this, but I'm not reviewing until I've read the second bc frankly I'm not sure why it was divided.
June 9, 2020
Hummmm....strange yet intriguing. I wonder where this is all going to go. It’s hard to leave a review because it will give everything away. Rose is kick ass. I don’t know what Beck is. There are ties to King Arthur and heaven vs hell. Again strange yet interesting.
April 10, 2025
This book is for you if you like your anti-hero AND anti-heroine morally gray! I loved Beck and Rose. Rose was a badass—it was great to see her character growth throughout the story. This is a trilogy, and this book ended on a cliffy. Immediately diving into book 2: Night in a Waste Land!
June 8, 2020
Oh boy, where is this going??
July 29, 2022
Yeah, this one is bonkers. A dystopian King Arthur meets the Krays with an apocalyptic battle between heaven and Hell thrown in for good measure. The icing on the cake is a hero who is equal parts ethereal and vicious. It's A LOT. The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star for me is I needed a little more world building up front. But that cliffie definitely has me coming back for more . . .
#addicted
#addicted
June 8, 2020
What??
I was so excited to read this book, I didn't pay attention that it wasn't a stand alone. Now that I am sucked in, I hope it is not a long wait for the next book in the series. I loved it, Beck and Rose, perfect together.
I was so excited to read this book, I didn't pay attention that it wasn't a stand alone. Now that I am sucked in, I hope it is not a long wait for the next book in the series. I loved it, Beck and Rose, perfect together.
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September 7, 2020September 2020 -- not rated
I quit at about 50%. Just couldn't get into it. Ill try again sometime. I LOVE this author, but her latest series were just hard for me to get interested in for me. She has always pulled me in with her chapters stories, but not lately. You have to make me want to read another word, sentence and so forth. Not feel like I'm trudging through muck to do it.
Ill try again.
Happy Reading!
I quit at about 50%. Just couldn't get into it. Ill try again sometime. I LOVE this author, but her latest series were just hard for me to get interested in for me. She has always pulled me in with her chapters stories, but not lately. You have to make me want to read another word, sentence and so forth. Not feel like I'm trudging through muck to do it.
Ill try again.
Happy Reading!
July 23, 2020
gosh i love lauren gilley - her stories suck you in without you even knowing... i cannot wait for more Beck - he has horns!
August 12, 2025
LG could never disappoint
October 7, 2020
:::
Overall Rating :: 4 stars
Series :: Book one of the Hell Theory series.
POV :: All Rosie.
HEA ::
:::
Lauren Gilley could write a daily to-do list, and I'm clamor to read it. I guarantee, it would be lyrical. Beautiful. Descript. Seriously, everything she writes is magic. I mean, come on! She surprises her readers with a story about heaven and hell, and rifts, and conduits... she just builds the world so well, with characters that feel achingly real and kind and damaged. I want to know more. I want to know everything. I'm endlessly intrigued by Rosie and Beck, both as individuals and also together. They call to each other - their inner light and especially the darkness. And that ending! Gah! Yeah, cliffhangers aren't my favorite, but I know we won't be left hanging for long.
My only gripe, small as it is, still irks me a bit, despite my previous gushing. But this issue is small potatoes really - read on, my friends.
Overall Rating :: 4 stars
Series :: Book one of the Hell Theory series.
POV :: All Rosie.
HEA ::
:::
Lauren Gilley could write a daily to-do list, and I'm clamor to read it. I guarantee, it would be lyrical. Beautiful. Descript. Seriously, everything she writes is magic. I mean, come on! She surprises her readers with a story about heaven and hell, and rifts, and conduits... she just builds the world so well, with characters that feel achingly real and kind and damaged. I want to know more. I want to know everything. I'm endlessly intrigued by Rosie and Beck, both as individuals and also together. They call to each other - their inner light and especially the darkness. And that ending! Gah! Yeah, cliffhangers aren't my favorite, but I know we won't be left hanging for long.
My only gripe, small as it is, still irks me a bit, despite my previous gushing. But this issue is small potatoes really - read on, my friends.
June 11, 2020
Absolutely amazing
Wow this book is the first in a new series and let me tell you I'm gonna pull my hair out until book two is released . For me personally I love anything set in post apocalyptic world, futuristic , anything that's not the world of today. This book has it all romance and adventure and also a sense of mythology . I am a huge fan of Laurens and will read just about anything she writes but I have to say this book has me excited for what's next.
Wow this book is the first in a new series and let me tell you I'm gonna pull my hair out until book two is released . For me personally I love anything set in post apocalyptic world, futuristic , anything that's not the world of today. This book has it all romance and adventure and also a sense of mythology . I am a huge fan of Laurens and will read just about anything she writes but I have to say this book has me excited for what's next.
March 29, 2023
:( *disappointed noises*
Becket had all the traits I wish to see more in male leads of darker romance novels.
He's an unhinged yet efficient killer, but with the fmc he's a total caring and supportive gentleman. He's intelligent, sophisticated with a mysterious and dangerous edge to him.
In a sea of machismo filled "alpha" mls, who only have two states of being: 1.dominant jerks and 2. horndog, Beck's character was a breath of fresh air. He was pretty much my dream male lead.
I wish I could sing the same high praises for Rose's character, but, I felt the fmc lacked any strength of character. I felt she was severely underwritten, which is a great pity as she had a lot of potential given her background and hardships. Maybe it was due to her young age but she felt like a typical ya heroine, and I, personally, am not looking for that perspective in dark romance novels.
I wish the overall writing, world building and pacing were also executed better. Beck deserved better. Alas, I won't be continuing this, seeing how it's going to end in an OT3, and I'm already finding myself to be disliking the second male lead ( who seems to be exactly the type of ml that I tend to avoid, lol...author, why bait me with Beck when you plan on doing this to me, ugh...).
Alas, indeed. :(
Becket had all the traits I wish to see more in male leads of darker romance novels.
He's an unhinged yet efficient killer, but with the fmc he's a total caring and supportive gentleman. He's intelligent, sophisticated with a mysterious and dangerous edge to him.
In a sea of machismo filled "alpha" mls, who only have two states of being: 1.dominant jerks and 2. horndog, Beck's character was a breath of fresh air. He was pretty much my dream male lead.
I wish I could sing the same high praises for Rose's character, but, I felt the fmc lacked any strength of character. I felt she was severely underwritten, which is a great pity as she had a lot of potential given her background and hardships. Maybe it was due to her young age but she felt like a typical ya heroine, and I, personally, am not looking for that perspective in dark romance novels.
I wish the overall writing, world building and pacing were also executed better. Beck deserved better. Alas, I won't be continuing this, seeing how it's going to end in an OT3, and I'm already finding myself to be disliking the second male lead ( who seems to be exactly the type of ml that I tend to avoid, lol...author, why bait me with Beck when you plan on doing this to me, ugh...).
Alas, indeed. :(
June 21, 2021
My hopes and dreams of getting over a reading slump started and unfortunately failed with this story.
I got to chapter 17, decided to take a break from reading and since then each time I feel prompted to pick up the story, my whole body and consciousness rebels.
Why?
Because the book is a tease of a story. The largest tease being we are waiting for Rose and Beck to sleep together, for their relationship to progress past a cliff of her wanting him, him distancing himself. Well, I read past that part and up to the place I had reached, nothing has really changed.
Rose is a contradiction. On one hand she is mature for her age, in that she is not giving the responses that a 19 year old typically would, which I initially found refreshing, until later on in the story, where her responses to situations are psycho killer in the making monotone, doesn't change her expressions responses.
Then, I (un)fortunately read ahead, so I know by the end of this book, Beck is meant to be dead, but I don't think we will have reached the opening scene by the end of the book.
Anyway, I got tired of the story. DNF.
I got to chapter 17, decided to take a break from reading and since then each time I feel prompted to pick up the story, my whole body and consciousness rebels.
Why?
Because the book is a tease of a story. The largest tease being we are waiting for Rose and Beck to sleep together, for their relationship to progress past a cliff of her wanting him, him distancing himself. Well, I read past that part and up to the place I had reached, nothing has really changed.
Rose is a contradiction. On one hand she is mature for her age, in that she is not giving the responses that a 19 year old typically would, which I initially found refreshing, until later on in the story, where her responses to situations are psycho killer in the making monotone, doesn't change her expressions responses.
Then, I (un)fortunately read ahead, so I know by the end of this book, Beck is meant to be dead, but I don't think we will have reached the opening scene by the end of the book.
Anyway, I got tired of the story. DNF.
August 15, 2020
Incredible start to a new series
What an incredible and original start to a new series! I don't know where or how all these ideas stream through the same conscious mind of Lauren Gilley and out to such great works of literature . But I am so thankful they do! I cannot wait for the next one! Superbly done!
What an incredible and original start to a new series! I don't know where or how all these ideas stream through the same conscious mind of Lauren Gilley and out to such great works of literature . But I am so thankful they do! I cannot wait for the next one! Superbly done!
September 22, 2020
Another winner from Lauren Gilley
I like that Gilley challenges us as reader's by stepping up to write anew genre. This story is very exciting and makes one stop and think. As usual, a well developed plot, fascinating characters along with mysterious happenings keeps the reader wanting more.
I like that Gilley challenges us as reader's by stepping up to write anew genre. This story is very exciting and makes one stop and think. As usual, a well developed plot, fascinating characters along with mysterious happenings keeps the reader wanting more.
November 5, 2020
Every king needs his queen.
I had no idea what I was getting into with this book, if Lauren Gilley writes it I will read it. This new realm is absolutely mesmerizing. Could not stop once I started. Beck and Rosie blend so easily. Loved every second of it and the ending blew me away!! On to reading Mystic Wonderful!
I had no idea what I was getting into with this book, if Lauren Gilley writes it I will read it. This new realm is absolutely mesmerizing. Could not stop once I started. Beck and Rosie blend so easily. Loved every second of it and the ending blew me away!! On to reading Mystic Wonderful!
September 19, 2022
Final Note: 4.5/5☀️
- Story/Plot: 5/5🔍
- Writing: 5/5📝
- Steam: 4/5❤️🔥
Surprising and Amazing.
I really enjoyed Lauren Gilley’s style of writing : there is some poesy in it and it helps because generally I’m not so fond of gothic books. But this worked so much : I’m hooked with Beck and Rose ‘s story. And can’t wait to read the next !
- Story/Plot: 5/5🔍
- Writing: 5/5📝
- Steam: 4/5❤️🔥
Surprising and Amazing.
I really enjoyed Lauren Gilley’s style of writing : there is some poesy in it and it helps because generally I’m not so fond of gothic books. But this worked so much : I’m hooked with Beck and Rose ‘s story. And can’t wait to read the next !
June 6, 2025
The world building and ideas are pretty cool. Rose an Beck are not a toxic couple, despite their age gap. Which is a very refreshing sight in these kind of romance books.
It's more like a fantasy novel and not so heavy on the romance, which I personally appreciate far more than the other way around.
It's more like a fantasy novel and not so heavy on the romance, which I personally appreciate far more than the other way around.
June 18, 2020
I love this paranormal book and absolutely adore Rose and Beck. Their love for each other was so wonderful. Beck was Rose’s hero and mentor and her love and absolute loyalty for him felt so realistic. Beck definitely had a dark side. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 23, 2020
I am a huge fan of Lauren Gilley (I have read her Dartmoor series) so when this surprise release happened, I scooped it up! I went into this blind and loved the supernatural/dark, King Arthur theme in this book! That ending 😱😱...Can’t wait for Book 2!!
July 15, 2020
Loved it! The unique storyline is unlike anything I've ever read, it's a perfect blend of everything that ticks my boxes.
Got a cliffy here so consider yourself warned!
Now, I must wait....
Got a cliffy here so consider yourself warned!
Now, I must wait....
August 15, 2020
I. Love. This.
No, it won't be for every reader of Gilley's work, but damn, the woman can tell a story. And the blacker her characters are, the more complex they are, the more
dynamic the storytelling gets.
No, it won't be for every reader of Gilley's work, but damn, the woman can tell a story. And the blacker her characters are, the more complex they are, the more
dynamic the storytelling gets.
June 17, 2020
A total suprise
Yes was not expecting this book but is another great story and read. Hooked, and will be waiting for the next book in this new and exciting series. Thank you
Yes was not expecting this book but is another great story and read. Hooked, and will be waiting for the next book in this new and exciting series. Thank you
June 17, 2020
Weird....
Gothic atmosphere, touch of post apocalyptic setting, then came mythology and Mr. and Mrs. Dexter.
Gothic atmosphere, touch of post apocalyptic setting, then came mythology and Mr. and Mrs. Dexter.
June 21, 2020
Great Book
Another WINNER from Lauren Gilley. I have no patience to wait for book two. Please write faster Lauren, book one kept me riveted
Another WINNER from Lauren Gilley. I have no patience to wait for book two. Please write faster Lauren, book one kept me riveted
June 21, 2020
4.5 stars !
Oh my god , where is the rest of the book ??!?!?!
Ugh the wait !
Oh my god , where is the rest of the book ??!?!?!
Ugh the wait !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews