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A Bite Full of Death

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Poe has the misfortune of being half succubus, half reaper. She's torn between two worlds, a world where she battles a constant need to feed off pleasure, and another that makes her want to claim the life of those she feeds from. A being of both worlds, but with an affliction that makes her belong to neither. It's a lonely life that keeps her from being able to go after the one being she wants. The one whose photos decorate her walls and who takes up every inch of space in her mind. To claim him would be to kill him. Dex has been aware of the immortal woman who's been stalking him for years. She calls to him, makes him ache for the moment she finally lets herself be known. When she gets herself into a bit of trouble, he decides he's waited long enough. The last thing he expected when he finally came face to face with her was for her to deny him. Poe wants him more than she's wanted anything in the whole of her life. Dex wants to give himself to her. But can Dex survive the bite that has cost so many others their lives?

This is a dark monster romance.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2022

43 people are currently reading
473 people want to read

About the author

S.J. Stewart

13 books79 followers
SJ Stewart is a genre jumper who likes to write primarily in Fantasy and Horror. After writing stories for over a decade, she made the decision to finally publish her first novel: Hidden In Darkness, which will be the first in the Fantasy series Seven Realms Books.

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5 stars
64 (35%)
4 stars
53 (29%)
3 stars
44 (24%)
2 stars
14 (7%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for LaTosha Webber.
1,179 reviews73 followers
October 26, 2022
dark humor monster romance

I’ve enjoyed, liked, and loved FMCs before, but never the way I love Poe. She is my first girl book bae. She is a beautiful mix of Harley Quinn, Wednesday Addams, and Akasha and I’m in love and obsessed. Dex was a sweet decadent compliment to my sassy psycho. This fated mates monster romance is going to be a perfect edition to my reoccurring Halloween reads and dang was it spicy. I mean hello it’s listed as an erotica. If you like dark couples like Chucky and Tiffany, Harley and the Joker, then these two are going to rock your world!

This is a short, fun, read that while it’s about paranormal monster type creatures, it is really about how there is someone for everyone. Even the dark and twisted. Poe’s love quite literally restarts Dex dead undead heart. This is a wild, fast burn, slightly gory ride. With dark, dangerous, and deadly creatures who just want to be loved for how they are, and I do! I love them I really really love them!
Profile Image for Azalea Crowley.
Author 15 books133 followers
April 29, 2025
A wonderfully dark fun book. I really enjoyed this dark romance and the dynamic of following two monsters that you really root for. Be sure to check the author's content warnings as this book deals with morbid themes, in a tongue and cheek way, but still. I loved Poe and Dex, they are the best parts of this book. In fact, they were so enjoyable that I struggled when minor characters were introduced towards the end of the book.
Profile Image for Kassybetweenpages.
554 reviews60 followers
March 8, 2023

Poe and Dex are everything!
They are both unhinged and Poes so hilarious. Such a fun read!

😈tropes/book has😈
- pegging
- Stalking
- 🩸 play
- Biting
- Dark humor
Profile Image for Yasmine.
339 reviews16 followers
October 25, 2022
Soo....this was interesting. It's a black paranormal romance about Poe, a succubi/reaper hybrid and Dex, a Zombie....yes you read that right. Poe has been obsessed and infatuated with Dex for awhile now. Little does she know, he's been aware of her following him for awhile. Eventually, they meet and from there is a story about a chaotic, Joker/Harley, natural born killers esque couple. This book was a quick read. 189 pages. It was entertaining at times but overall I didn't love it. I felt like the plot was thin at best. Poe devours souls but because she's part reaper, her prey always end up dead. She is obsessed with Dex. Dex, who is a zombie (but not a regular one. More cursed undead??) eats dead people to survive also becomes obsessed with Poe. They have sex and kill. The plot part is one of Poe's victims being a mafia princess and her daddy sending all his henchmen after her to find out what happened to his daughter since she was the last one to be seen with her. Obviously because she's Immortal along with Dex, they offer up no challenge. It wouldve been nice if they had some supernatural enemies to fight. It wouldve gave the story some flair. Outside of that it just fell flat for me. Also, there was a pegging sex scene in this book. I'm not into that at all so I skimmed right past it. For a moment it did take me out of the story because I didn't see it coming and it's not a kink I care for. In real life or in romance books. The ending to this book was also abrupt. Almost like there might be more of Poe and Dex in the future. While I am always here for and will continue to advocate for more black paranormal romance(not IR but black) unfortunately this book was a miss for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ChanelReads.
59 reviews37 followers
January 9, 2023
Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Scale:🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Darkness Scale:🖤🖤/5
Burn:🔥🔥🔥 Fast

Series: No
Standalone: Yes
Ending: HEA
POV: Dual (3rd)
KU?: ✔️

“I’m a monster, Dex. Ravenous and unforgiving. Any love I have to offer is as tormented as I am. Depraved and final. You won’t survive me.”

🩸 MF
🩸 Demon Heroine
🩸 Gothic Romance

Tropes: Anti-Heroine, Tall-Heroine, Stalking, Touch-Her-and-You-Die, Partners-in-Crime, Protective-Hero, Burn-the-World-for-You

Kinks/Spice Details: Biting/Marking, FF, Pegging

Thoughts: This was a delightful and unique read filled with lively characters, dark humor, and steam. The writing in this was absolutely beautiful and I found myself highlighting on nearly every page. This author truly has a way with words and her descriptions painted colorful images in my mind.

Though I overall really enjoyed this read, I just wish I had a little more background on our mc’s. Both Poe and Dex are such interesting characters and I wanted to learn more about their pasts and how they came to be who they were.

If you love the macabre, kinky spice, and sinfully-hilarious dark comedy, this is a great read for you!


⛔️MY GOODREAD SHELVES MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS⛔️
Profile Image for Khe.
86 reviews7 followers
January 11, 2023
this was my first book by this author and it definitely will not be the last! one word to describe her writing: enchanting. i’m convinced that writers have superpowers though, why was i over here gushing over a zombie for the entirety of the book??? yes! a zombie. dex is more of a man than a lot of mortal men though.

poe, my sweet little succubus/reaper. her character was very interesting to read. she comes off simple but she is complex and embodies so so much strength and perseverance. her use of dark humor throughout this book had me laughing and highlighting almost every joke that she made. the year just started but she’s one of my favorite book girlie/immortal so far.

normally, i tend to lose focus while reading the third person point of view, but the writing style was so unreal and captivating. IT KEPT me from beginning to end! oh dear, don’t even get me started on the s£x scenes (fortunately for me, they were so vivid and my type of risqué)!
Profile Image for Lcve_seung.
55 reviews
May 7, 2025
okay so this was disappointing I actually dnfed this at 51% because I was so so so so bored of this book and it was under 200 pages but I genuinely couldn't be bothered to read this book. the idea for this book sounded so much fun stalker x stalker just like a music video I watched but the execution was not it. the female lead being a reaper and a succubus sounded so cool however her character was weird as hell we weren't really introduced to her properly learn more about who she was well I guess we did through large amount of poetry. its hard I think the author relied more on pretty sentences that do sound beautiful but they make no sense and they don't create a relationship with a character so while we got a general gist of her character it was very shallow. she truly was I am so different from everyone I am so quirky and weird I don't know something was off about her.
OH MY GOD THE MALE LEAD THE FACT THAT HE WAS A ZOMBIE AND WORKED PART TIME AT A MORGUE. like ewwwwwwwwwwwwww why is working at the morgue and why the hell is the male lead a zombie of all the things he could have been and hes a zombie this is a hot dude we are supposed to vibe for and hes a zombie I am sorry I can't get cartoonish zombies out of my head.
the romance was too quick like we get she was obsessed but they acted like they were in love on their first meeting like please give some emotional death and I dropped the book when it came to the angst it was just boring I did not believe in the romance at all came out of nowhere and the relationship problem was stupid he couldn't listen and the female lead like tried 5 times without properly explaining why him being a zombie is a good thing cause she was too busy talking in poetry.
again its sad because I truly believe the premise and the idea and setting of the book is sooo good but the actual book yeah it was disappointing I don't have it in me to finish the book at all
Profile Image for Toyah.
153 reviews6 followers
November 5, 2023
Ya'll, this book is just so freaking fun!! Poe is hands down one of my favourite fmc's, now she's absolutely psycho but in the absolute best way.

When I tell you some of her one liners had me absolutely cracking up.

My favourite scene was when she was getting tortured, and this what came to her mind when they said they'd cut her head off😭🤣

"She was suddenly curious about what she would look like without her head. The image of the Headless Horseman came to mind, and she smiled at the possibility of haunting a neighbourhood in the city. Likely this gated one with the Toronto Elites thinking they were safe behind their gates and walls. But where would she get a ghost horse? Did the headless horseman’s horse die too? Or… what was the story there?
She’d name him Figaro. Or Biscuits… she liked biscuits. Hmm, but that wasn’t very scary. Grimm, she decided. After her father."

Poe has no care in the world and genuinely enjoys any pain she can get, haha I can never get enough of her.

Dex was a little tortured sweet heart I feel like I didn't get enough of him in the book (as it is quite a quick read) I definitely wish the book was longer so we had moreeee!!

I loved Poes' unhinged obsession with Dex and how he he took it in stride and actually appreciated how obsessed she was with him, not that he was any better. They were practically made for each other, both absolutely psycho - Poe a little more than Dex, but he definitely loved that about her.

Favourite Quote
“Eat. Heal. Then create havoc with me, beautiful monster.”

4.5 STARSSS!!!
Profile Image for Sharonda Isadora.
201 reviews21 followers
October 29, 2022
this was a surprisingly good ass read.

here we have poe who is a succubi/reaper and currently finds herself desperately in love with dex, a sexy stranger who crosses her path. you see because of the way she feeds her hunger, poe fears harming her precious dex and resigns herself to stalking him. little does she knows that her feelings aren't one-sided as dex knows about his stalker; he is far from being concerned and from being a human. ya'll he's a zombie. plus poe's stalking ends up helping his feedings....

when one of poe's feedings puts her in the path of a ruthless crime family, both she and dex decide to handle them the only way that monsters such as themselves can....viscious and violently.

I so enjoyed this story. poe was un-apologetically crazy on page lmao. the author truly capitalized on her nuttiness; from her silently cussing her mother out to her twerking on her victims graves. poe knew who and what she was. she didn't wallow in misery. dex had his little sad boy zombie moments going on during this read but quickly snapped out of it when he realized he was about to lose poe. their mutual pining was cute and hilarious. also sj stewart adding humor to ABFUD only added to the uniqueness of the story.

there were some slow moments during ABFUD but bottom line, this was a great read. Black paranormal characters I want to see more of in this genre.

cw/tw: stalking, murder on page, violence on page.
Profile Image for Soulflower.
77 reviews13 followers
October 10, 2023
Poe and Dex offer the devourable Monster Romance that's perfect for the Spooky Szn!

Picture a captivating half-succubus, half-reaper female protagonist, a delightful blend of humor and allure, obsessively intrigued by a seemingly ordinary stranger, leading to a gripping stalker tale. While Poe harbors a fascination for death, she is full of life, which is a captivating juxtaposition that defines her character. This book was recommended to me because Poe reminded my bookish friend of my own personality. Her character does not disappoint, and the recommendation was a huge compliment.

A standout feature of this spicy paranormal romance is its unexpected emphasis on open and honest communication in relationships. The narrative encourages respecting and valuing partners' emotions and thoughts, adding depth to the storyline.

The author’s poetic style, a hallmark of her literary works, graces the pages of this book as well, adding an elegant layer to the already compelling narrative. It's a delicious blend of humor, gore, and unabashed sensuality, making it an enticing read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

SJ Stewart solidified her place as one of my all-time favorite authors long ago, and I wholeheartedly recommend her work to fellow readers seeking captivating storytelling and diverse narratives.
28 reviews
February 26, 2023
I personally would not read this book again. It got better after the main characters stopped stalking each other, but I wouldn't say it got better by much. I didn't find either of the 2 main characters likable Dex didn't really find Poe to be as strong as what she was and it got annoying when he would get upset that she got injured when 1. She's turned on by pain and 2. She's healing right before his fucking eyes. I also didn't find Poe very likable either, if something wasn't Dex she hated it. I was annoyed reading practically this entire thing. Not to mention that it felt like the plot took way too long half the time.
Profile Image for Lizzie Strong.
Author 32 books224 followers
October 30, 2022
This was fantastic! I loved every second of it. Poe is delightfully bonkers and hilarious. She's unhinged and unashamed and it was refreshing to have someone so batshit it's adorable. She's my special cinnamon roll who is also stabby and bitey and deliciously awful. Dex is adorable and baby and murderery. Like, I will rave about this because this is for all my girlies who want a delicious romance but dark plot. Perfection, 10/10, will read again, need others to read. yes she twerks on a grave, but the better part was she pegged him like a champ and he liked it. You're welcome, the end.
Profile Image for Weekend Reader_.
1,092 reviews92 followers
June 24, 2024
Friends I was not sure what erotic horror was but I learned something new. This was gory, creepy, with lots of sexy time. I'm not sure of the mechanics of a zombie and succubus reaper but SJ Stewart wrote a compelling story that even the scariest of monsters are deserving of love and companionship. Poe is so chaotic but the moments of clarity that her voice is valid and she has a purpose while it means someone has to die she will not be denied or silenced. She was somehow self aware but still reckless.

CN: gore, dub con, stalking, torture,
27 reviews
October 29, 2022
Can we talk about Poe? This girl had me CACKLING! From twerking on graves to her banter in the midst of being shot and intimidated, this book had me smiling. The spicy scenes are steamy, brutal, and the kind of smut you’d expect from monsters who are being monsters.

This was a great read, but I’ve read everything from her so far. I really hope she does a few more of these monster stories. I would love to read more Poe!
Profile Image for Areadingsunflower.
283 reviews4 followers
March 24, 2023
Poetic. Raw. Macabre. All things beautiful of you know what you are looking at. This was a beautiful story when you got to the bareness of it. I was completely obsessed with Poe and her chaotic beauty! I felt so connected to her and saw a bit of myself in her. Dex was a magnificent character and how he struggled with him own demons but found his way not against them but used them to his advantage. I highly recommend this monster romance novella! Check trigger warnings!
Profile Image for dark_romance_bookworm.
241 reviews5 followers
May 22, 2023
This is my first book from Canadian author @s.j.stewart and I really enjoyed it. I love finding new Canadian authors to follow that write dark books 🖤

The world created with Poe & Dex is great and I wasn’t expecting it to be funny in places but Poe’s unhinged ways did bring a smile to my face 😆 And Dex, what can I say … love how protective he is of Poe when they go on their soul devouring spree.

▪️Blood and gore … and lots of it!
▪️Death and murder
▪️Grave digging/robbing
▪️Cannibalism
Profile Image for Tierney Eddy.
36 reviews1 follower
November 4, 2022
I loved this book! Such a fun, spooky read, prefect for this time of year! A sexy little monster romance that reminds us love can be found in the darkest of places. We don’t have to change who we are. We just have fond those who see us for who we are and enjoy the fuck out of it! Thank you Shay! Loved this little banger!!!
Profile Image for Tina.
960 reviews157 followers
January 16, 2023
4.5 ⭐🔥🔥🔪🔪

I really enjoyed this story; I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

check CW

Trope: Black Love, monster, fated mates, grumpy/sunshine

Enjoyment: 5 ⭐

Character development: 3.5 ⭐

Romance: 3 ⭐

Heat\steam: 4 ⭐

Intrigue: 5 ⭐

Story\plot: 4 ⭐

World Building: 3 ⭐

Enjoy!!!
Profile Image for Viviana.
362 reviews
February 2, 2023
MUST READ

This was a great read. I love that poe isnt one who needs someone to save her but enjoy of the romantic of the idea of someone saves her. She give no F$$ks. And i love it pos has a crush on Dex but doesnt meet him and just stalks him from afar so she wont kill him because her bit is very deadly. And by god it is worth it. I cant wait to read more by this author
Profile Image for Shoshana Y.
379 reviews22 followers
March 7, 2023
This was a fun read. I was totally feeling the paranormal vibes. Poe and Dex were perfectly matched. The story picked up quickly in the beginning and completely had me but towards the end it started to drag on a bit. Overall it was enjoyable but a few parts fell flat for me but it was a cute story.
Profile Image for Casey.
446 reviews
March 13, 2023
This was the fluffiest dark romance I have ever read and I don’t know how else to describe it. Poe is confident and secure, she goes for what she wants (even if it means extended stalking), and she communicates her needs in a VERY empowering and inspiring way. Makes me wish I was as in touch with myself as this succubus/reaper…
Profile Image for Lucille R. Andreea.
134 reviews74 followers
December 25, 2023
3.5/5

Cons:
- story not fleshed out enough imo
- time jumps over scenes I would have loved to read
- the fingering scene/thank god she can't get yeast infections (i think???)
- cringy diaogue left and right

Pros:
- THEY STALK EACH OTHER YOU GUYS!!!
- most unhinged bat shit insane fmc I've read
- HOT!!!!
- FUN!!!!
- cringy diaogue left and right
86 reviews
June 28, 2024
I loved Poe

My girl gave me anxiety but I loved her lol as violent and scatterbrained as she was. She carved a spot out in my heart and I enjoyed her story, she and Dex were an odd but beautiful pair that found love in the loneliest of places. This was my first read by S.J. And I’m excited to have the monster love with Black characters. Onto the next read!
Profile Image for Briahna.
34 reviews
November 10, 2022
NOPE! I could not bring myself to finish this. It was painful to get through and I'm usually easily appeased when books or characters hail from my hometown of Toronto. I'm sorry, I tried... but it's so cringey, I had to stop.
Profile Image for Kylie Smith.
364 reviews
May 24, 2023
Took me a little bit longer to read then I would have liked but you know adult life stuff comes first any who I enjoyed this book it was a signed copy not sure how I felt about it though as it being a new author to me
Profile Image for Rani August.
Author 1 book1 follower
July 22, 2023
Great Read!

I enjoyed the difference and the originality of the characters. Poe was hilarious. Every time she would do something I pictured Dex face palming and hacking hi head. Great Work!
Profile Image for mo be readin.
110 reviews12 followers
May 26, 2024
This was so, so dark-sided and sick and I LOVED IT! Poe and Dex were so cute together and 🥵🥵🥵 (I would like to see it). I really hope I get to see them again! This was my first book by SJ and she got me hooked!
Profile Image for JazzReads .
1,089 reviews32 followers
June 16, 2024
Dark Monster Romance

I really enjoyed this dark monster romance and this is my second book by S.J Stewart. I really like Poe and Dexter. I need to read more books by S.J Stewart because this one was really good. I hope Poe and Dexter show up in other books I read by her.
19 reviews
July 31, 2024
SCREAMING OVER HOW GOOD THIS WAS

BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW! It's so deliciously dark and well written. Should be a best seller!! Poe and Dex might be two of my favorite characters of all time!
Profile Image for Bookish_Pixie.
45 reviews4 followers
October 4, 2024
Ravenous and Chaotic

Believe the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book!

I read this book in one night. I couldn't put it down. I love Poe and her Ghoulie! I could read a whole series on them. It was dark, twisted and magical.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

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