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Here Lies #1

Qui vive un cadavere

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La vita non promette altro che l'esistenza. Perdere Cass lo ha dimostrato.

Pensano tutti che io sia pazza.

Cadavere.

Pazza.

Vampiro.

Mi hanno affibbiato l’etichetta di quella che non si è mai fatta una ragione della morte di suo fratello, dell'emarginata, di quella meno destinata al successo. Ma che dire delle loro bugie?

È stato lui a buttarsi.

Voleva morire.

Si è ucciso.

Quando la pianteranno? Svelare i segreti sui quali hanno fondato questa città sembra impossibile.

Districarsi fra i legami di sangue che tessono l'essenza stessa di Arcadia Crest potrebbe davvero finire per uccidermi.

Dimenticare i piccoli dettagli che ho rimosso dalla mia memoria in nome dell'amore potrebbe essere il catalizzatore di tutta la mia storia.

La morte mi ha portato all’odio.

L'odio mi ha spinta verso di loro.

Mi hanno toccata, ma solo in segreto.

Tutte le storie finiscono nel sangue, ma un giuramento non era mai stato parte di quell'equazione.

“Qui vive un cadavere” è il primo libro della serie RH Dark NA Academia Romance “Qui giace.” Vanno letti secondo l’ordine d’uscita. Per le tematiche trattate, si consiglia la lettura a un pubblico adulto e consapevole.

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2020

428 people are currently reading
4075 people want to read

About the author

C.L. Matthews

49 books1,808 followers
C.L. Matthews is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author who lives in lala-landia with their husband and invisible friends. They're queer and Mexican-American, and love to write as many diverse characters as they can. They want to riot the lack of authentic Mexican food in their state but will settle for cooking their own dishes in the meantime. They enjoys tacos, Red Bull, and warm water, because they're crazy. They're an oddball and realize it’s been mentioned before, just go with it. Their joys in life consist of writing unconventional romances, making book covers, causing havoc to her reader’s hearts, and genre-hopping when they need a change of scenery. They're a special kind of weird and enjoy every moment of it.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
2,940 reviews2,674 followers
October 1, 2022
So wonderfully dark and twisty!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌎
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤

The setting: Arcadia Crest Boarding School

The heroine: Colton Hudson – Her brother Cassidy died under mysterious circumstances last year and she believes the guys from student government helped cover it up. When they didn’t show up at his funeral she wrote them off and fell into a deep depression, she was completely numb, and couldn’t function. Her two moms couldn’t bear to look at her because she looked so much like her brother, so she changed her look, going goth with died green hair, pink contacts, tattoos and piercings.

The Hero(s): The guys from Student Government.
Lennox Deleon (a.k.a. Lux) – President of Student Government. He looks and acts all clean cut like a politicians son, because he is, but underneath he is ruthless.
Tennison Delamore (a.k.a. Ten) – He is tall, muscular and Colton’s favorite, Ten was her brothers friend and she has known him her entire life.
Ross McAllister (a.k.a. Dare) – He can be a total jerk and smile at you with those pierced dimples while doing it, he is built with muscles on top of muscles and tattoos on top of those.
Bridger Clemente (a.k.a. Ridge) – an athlete and an admitted sociopath, he never shows emotion but can bring on the heat.
Jordan Winthrop (a.k.a. Walker) – The newest enforcer on Student Government, he seems like a nice guy, but is one of them.

The Love Story: Colton dated the four guys in Student Government last year and couldn’t decide between them, but when her brother died everything ended. Colton changed everything about her life and decided to go on without the guys. Though she still wants to find out what happened to her brother.



Though the title and blurb are pretty vague, it sounded to me like this would be a paranormal book. It isn’t. They call Colton a corpse, a vampire, and other names because of her new goth look and the fact that she lost so much weight when she went through a depression after her brother was killed.

This is a book about secrets and murder. The hero’s are not heroic in any sense of the word. It contains a lot of flashbacks to previous events. I hate flashbacks when there are so many of them. I know they are a plot device, but sometimes I wish they would just have the previous events first then the rest of the story. As the story goes along and more flashbacks happen, I get frustrated every time. It is always right when something good is about to happen then Bam! We are in a flashback instead of finding out what is going on currently. My frustration doesn’t lower my rating on this book, but I just want to put it out there anyway.

Either way the story was excellent, the surprises revealed were astounding and this was a perfect book to read for Halloween, because it was spooky at times. The ending was a wicked crazy cliffhanger. Overall there were some things I didn’t like and some I felt conflicted about but the story made up for all that and it definitely rates 5 stars!

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].
1,432 reviews3,759 followers
February 16, 2021
I swear, sometimes I've read a TOTALLY different book to the one 99% of the other reviewers did.

How has nobody else noticed that this is overwritten as hell, to the point of being almost unreadable? The purple prose and misused words are killing me. Here are just a few examples ONLY FROM PAGE ONE:

Woods encircle me, trees tall and voracious in structure imbuing the forest

How the hell can a 'structure' be 'voracious'? Also, this is totally not how the verb 'imbue' works. Trees do not 'imbue' forests.

My feet hit the fallen branches, cloying the universe

This is one is almost physically painful. What does it even mean to cloy the universe?

My heart pounds, a rapt noise hitting my bones

Setting aside the whole weird notion of noises hitting bones, 'rapt' is basically like a synonym of 'enthralled'. How can you use it to describe a noise???

The first chapter is bogged down with so much purple prose that I didn't even have the energy to continue. DNF.

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Profile Image for D.L. Howe.
Author 25 books601 followers
July 8, 2021
4.5 Stars

So, it took me a minute to get into this because I was so confused. But therein lies the beauty of this story. The writer sprinkles the ground with breadcrumbs you have to follow in order to put the puzzle pieces together.

Once understanding dawned I was sucked right into the world that is Arcadia. In the school but more importantly the student government and all it entails and what it’s hiding.

What happened to Colt’s brother and who the hell is responsible? But most importantly, why? And why won’t they leave her be?

So many questions that I’m sure will not be answered in this book.

This book has such a weird energy considering they were all once a thing, (barring Jordan) and now they’re enemies. Some of them (Lux & Ross) show more animosity towards her but she definitely shows plenty of animosity towards all of them. But then when a guy tries to get her attention they get all territorial, I especially loved it when Lux just picked her up. 🤣🙈

Lux is such a prick but I think he’s my favorite!

Jeez, I certainly wasn’t expecting that emotional interlude between her and Ross.

Holy smokes! The twins!!!

Goddam … she warned me about that cliffhanger but nothing could’ve prepared me for that!
Profile Image for Amanda Anderson (Beauty.and.the.bookies).
1,460 reviews72 followers
August 20, 2020
WOW. This is my favorite CL Matthews book!!! INCREDIBLE story. Incredible is an understatement.
I love reverse harems.
I love dark romance.
I love CL Matthews.
Throw all that into a salad bowl, toss it (hehe) and you got yourself ONE OF THE BEST REVERSE HAREMS YOU WILL READ. It was dark, suspenseful, SEXY+STEAMY+HOT!!!
Before you think "oh look, another reverse harem.", let me just tell you now... This is not like your normal everyday dark RH book. This book will have you forgetting about your families needs and ONLY wanting to READ READ READ. (That happened to me today. True story.)
Here Lives a Corpse is like the caviar of all the reverse harems. In a RH world full of Chihuahuas, this book is a pit bull. 5 stars is so miniscule for what I want to give.
Profile Image for C.L. Matthews.
Author 49 books1,808 followers
Read
October 13, 2020
description

HERE LIVES A CORPSE by C.L. Matthews is LIVE!

Series Release Dates:
Here Lives a Corpse - Oct 13th
Here Lies a Saint - Dec 8th
Here Loves a Sociopath - March 2nd
Here Prays a Sinner - April 20th
Here Saves a Killer - June 1st

BLURB:
Life doesn’t promise anything but existence.
Losing Cass proved that.
Everyone thinks I’m crazy.
Corpse.
Freak.
Vampire.
They called me the one who never overcame the loss of her brother, the outcast, the least likely to succeed.
But what about their lies?
He jumped. He wanted to die. He killed himself.
When will they stop?
Unraveling the secrets they founded this town with seems impossible.
Detangling the bloodlines that weave the very essence of Arcadia Crest might actually kill me.
Forgetting the little details I’ve erased from my memories as a result of love could be the catalyst of my entire story.
Death brought me hatred.
Hatred drove me to them.
They touched me only in secret.
All stories end in blood, but an oath was never part of that equation.


Available in Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/33B1rxv
Amazon Universal: mybook.to/HLaC
Profile Image for NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}.
1,554 reviews82 followers
November 2, 2020
***4,5 "Boy crazy!!!" stars***

AVAILABLE NOW



"When a corpse and a man without a heart kiss, does he die?
Or does she beat the odds and come back to life?"


I can really tell that this book was so much different and full of darkness than the previous books that I have read by C.L. Matthews.
It's not a secret that I'm a sucker for dark bully romances and lately... why not??? I like reverse harem genre too. And yes, the author in here took all these things and she made a wild and addictive ride that at the end will leave you craving for more...
I freakin' enjoyed this dark ride even though i was feeling like someone was punching me on the gut over and over again...

"I'm just a kid, my eyes say.
I haven't lived yet, my chest rises.
This isn't how my story is supposed to end, my tears offer."


Well, our green haired heroine with a boyish name, Colton, was a very totrured soul and that's because some months earlier she lost her brother, her best friend, her rock...
She felt lost and she just lost her desire to live...
Unfortunately, she is forced to start leaving again, but it's like she is empty... A shell of an once vibrant girl... A corpse... A vampire...
She is returning back to school, but she is determined to find out who was behind her brother's murder...

"That's what it did to me, took the naive girl and forced her to become dead in a living world. They aren't wrong when they call me a vampire. I let life suck me dry and, in turn, suck the happiness from everyone closest to me."

What it doesn't help her case at all is the constant presence of the four boys that had stolen a part of her heart and on which they stomped upon and broke it!!!
The four guys who were her brother's friends and who turned their backs to him...
The four boys who now are bullying her and mocking her...
The four boys who even with their cruel behaviors toward her, she can see flickers of desire in their eyes...
The four guys who are keeping a ton secrets from her and she is determined to unravel them in every way she can...

"My only stresses surrounded four guys who make my life hell but also made my life something more."

"They'd have no qualms in sacrificing my soul for their own twisted games."


Well, this was a very wild ride... Frustrating as hell, but charming as well...
I loved Colton very much and her bizarre behavior.
Well, this story is not for the weak hearts and judgemental people...
Colton is bound to these four person, now five, in many ways and the things are about to get uglier than before... for all of them!
Colton may be a corpse, but she is strong and determined, even though she is a sucker for these boys and she will have her revenge eventually...

"Yes, I want to find out what happened to Cass.
Yes, I want to hurt the guys like they hurt me.
But most of all, I'm fighting against all of them.
They're bound to destroy me."

"Why do my tormentors get this kind of power over me?"


As for the boys??? Well, in the beginning i was confused with all these boys, but slowly and steadily they grown on me... Especially Lux and Bridger....
Honestly, I don't understand why they are acting like that and what they are hiding, but I know that in their own fucked up way, they care about Colton... But they are acting like real assholes, and honestly, i don't know what to think anymore...
And the new addition, Jordan??? Well, he seems really shady and the worst of them all...
Well, I really don't know what's their endgame, but I'm looking forward to unravel all their secrets along with Colton...

"It's unfair how ugly dickholes can be the hottest guys on the outside while ruining me with their words and actions."

"That's the problem with these guys. Alone with me, like truly alone, they're themselves. Almost like they shuck their armors and come in here naked. Their souls bleed. They just don't intend it to."


The only sure thing is that everyone is playing a game in here and honestly, i don't know where that will lead us... Things are very complicated from every aspect and I desperately need answers to my endless questions... I really can not wait for the next book in the series!
I need more of Colton, Lux, Bridger, Ross, Ten, Jordan, Mel and the twins!!!
What a freakin' mess all of them had created!!! And how much I loved it!!!

"Not sure if I'm more scared of the secrets or the boys. Either way, it's not safe here."

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
Profile Image for ❤️Court - Villains Do It Better❤️.
1,088 reviews774 followers
February 10, 2021
Just okay. I think I was expecting a little too much, but so many things just felt unnatural and forced. I know it's a RH, but some of the interactions and sex with certain guys literally made no sense at all. Like it just came out of nowhere, and I guess I wasn't expecting those guys to be a part of the "harem" if they will still be in the following books. The heroine also annoyed me. She had that "Den of Vipers" feel where she would act overly tough and unfeeling and it was just too dramatic for me. The saving grace of this book is the author's writing, and some of the guys were pretty hot. Otherwise, the story just didn't do it for me, so I'm out✌
Profile Image for  Linathebookaddict  .
1,565 reviews407 followers
October 12, 2020
Okay, the author did such an amazing job with this book. She took the bully romance to a whole new level.
Colt was such a desperate, tortured, hurt young woman. Her story, her experiences broke me. She suffer a great loss and she has to deal with four men who used to be her brother's friends.
The story is full of twists and turns and it's certainly not for the faint of heart. The whole book was a punch to the stomach, filled with feels and darkness. I absolutely adored it and I cannot wait for more.
Profile Image for Keri Loves Books.
1,247 reviews203 followers
September 28, 2020
A steamy, reverse harem romance with intense suspense that will leave you questioning everything and everyone's motives.

Colton lost her brother and she was left devastated. They say it was a suicide, but she knows better. Now she's on a mission to find out the truth, no matter the cost.

So many players involved. The four boys she was with before her brother's death; Lennox, Tennison, Bridger, and Ross, won't leave her alone. They make it a point to keep popping up in her life. She knows they have secrets and they know something about her brother. She'll do what she needs to get answers.

The boys hide behind the title of Student Government. They are rich and powerful, so they control everything that happens at Arcadia Crest Academy. They know all, but they aren't what they seem.

Colton will uncover some of their secrets. No one can be trusted. She was just trying to learn to live without her brother, but now she's trying to survive and uncover the truth.

This was only the beginning to this complicated story. It will draw you in with these complex men and their relationships with Colton. I never knew what was coming. It's STEAMY! Things will get HOTTT! I never knew what was coming next. I am not quite sure of the roles each of them are playing. So many questions still to answer. The ending will leave you shook and you'll be dying for the next book.
Profile Image for Doug.
43 reviews36 followers
October 18, 2020
WTF is this book. I mean... I thought it would be a dark bully reverse harem romance with MM between the 4 guys, but then a 5th guy shows up out of nowhere and she also gets involved with two twins (I really think that was unnecessary and didn't contribute in nothing to the story. It actually killed a bit of the intensity between her and the 4 guys she should "supposedly" be exclusive to).

The whole secret society thing is silly and disappointing and this book would be SO much better if it was just her and the 4 guys dealing with their traumas and exploring their relationship, with an actually good secret surrounding her brother's killer. My point is: It would be better if it was more realistic. Without the 5th guy, without the twins, without the silly secret society.
Profile Image for Heather  Chaotic Creatives.
1,138 reviews51 followers
October 10, 2020
WARNING!!! Just a heads up you will not want to be disturbed while reading this book!! It is incredibly shocking, but in the best damn way. Be prepared for one hell of a book hangover for days to follow, and be prepared to swoon, drool, and possibly fall in love with some dark and twisted heroes.
What, WHAT, I mean What in the actual....... Ok I was so unprepared for this book. If you are looking for your next 5 star read look no further. I mean dark, depraved, twisted, vicious, and just a tiny bit villainous are just a few words to describe this book.
We get one kick A$$ heroine who you are just going to love. I mean she has the ability to have not 1 but multiple alpha-holes that are vying for her attention. I mean who wouldn't want that? You will find yourself wanting to thunder-punch all of them at some points, then wishing you were the object of their affection. I know it seems twisted, but let me tell you it is oh so delicious....
The twist and turns you will take while reading this will have you questioning did I really just read this? The amazing world this author created is a complex one, and she does an amazing job reeling you in completely captivating you with all of this dark and depraved world. I am so looking forward to the next book!! Hopefully my heart will beating back to normal by then...
Profile Image for The Romantic Rush Blog.
2,640 reviews965 followers
October 1, 2020
HOLY SHIT. Wait, I think I need to say it again- HOLY SHIT!! What did I just read?!! I don’t know if I need a cold shower, a good cry, to break things, or maybe even therapy, but I do know this- I LOVED THIS BOOK. CL Matthews has written something truly revolutionary- a captivating, fresh, and unrestrained take on the reverse harem bully trope. This is like nothing I’ve read before- it is complicated, unexpected, and bold, and I’m pretty much addicted to this story.

What happens when you are so broken, so hurt and hallowed that you are more dead than alive? When your world is so toxic, confusing, and agonizing that you are a self-proclaimed despaired zombie? Well, you destroy yourself. And that is how we meet our heroine Colt- a once plucky and happy popular teen now an emo, goth, green-haired loner. Not only is her appearance different, but her entire world is changed- her relationship with her family, her health and body, her goals, and especially her friends. Colt has been slowly dying every day since she lost her brother, Cass- in a mysterious situation at their elite school, Arcadia Crest Academy, that was ruled a suidice. But Colt knows better, Arcadia is a mysterious and swarmy haven for the powerful, rich, and unscrupulous, and she knows enough to know that something horrible happened to her brother. The prime suspects? The boys of student gov- the alluring, sexy, and menacing four men who were once her brother’s friends….and also were once her pseudo harem of potential beaus- the men who have also abandoned her. At first, she hid away, slowly destroying herself mentally and physically, but now she’s forced back to school, which means facing the boys she feels betrayed her, and who potentially harmed Cass, as well as returning to the land of the living.

That, my friends, is where this story begins- and from there, it is a WILD RIDE. To be honest, I’m not even sure I could summarize this plot for you if I wanted to- CL weaves a complicated and twisting web of secrets, deceit, corruption, and depravity. This is a tour de force of misdirection and plot twists. We are always on our toes- and just when we think we have it figured out, we learn something that reshapes the whole game. Our characters, too, keep us on our toes- our story is mostly told through Colt’s POV, and our snippets of the past are more like emotive vignettes- we FEEL how Colt, but they aren’t enough for us to grab the big picture. As such, we don’t trust ANYONE. And it is brilliant- every single character we second guess, we’re trying to figure out, we’re confused by- it makes for some really fascinating character arcs, helps us feel Colt’s isolation, and richly adds to the tone of melancholic suspense. Colt is basically playing a game of chess when the board, the players, hell, even the rules, are always changing- and IT IS ADDICTIVE. I could not stop turning the pages.

COLT broke my heart, and also stole it. She’s in so much pain- she’s lost and alone. Her new hair and make-up are not her only shield- she dons the mantle every day of a strong, angry, ball busting rebel- the kind of girl who is in so much pain that she’s reckless with it. But, underneath that, I could feel her fear, her grief, and her desperation to be loved. And how devastating it is to lose the one person that you know does love you, and then for the rest of your world to crumble. She’s lost her identity, her hope, her light. I hurt for her, and I love her. CL really lets this story be her journey- about her evolution as a character, her reconciliation of the “before” Colt and the “after.” What I love here is that Colt does in fact die in a way- she is a walking corpse- because the version of her that existed will never be again. But, this story is about her being reborn, reanimated- finding connection again, finding passion, finding purpose. She may still be in an incredible amount of emotional turmoil, and she’s certainly still lost, but Colt breathes the air for the first time as her new self in this book, and I feel so proud of her for her journey.

And this harem? Well, I’m not sure how I feel about them just yet. They are definitely magnetic, deviously charismatic- their darkness sucked me in. We don’t fully know them, as Colt is trying to reconcile the men she knew with who she sees now, but they are sexy, dangerous, and super alpha. And the chemistry?! MY GOD. There is a sizzling emotional tension between them all that is so thick I felt I might choke- an energy that permeates their character interactions that left me quite literally breathless a few times. The relationships feel dangerous, intimate, emotionally volatile, but VITAL. And this is some of the HOTTEST steamy stuffy I’ve read- it is carnal, kinky, and often totally unexpected.

This is like no other reverse harem you’ve ever read- truly an inspired and bold approach. Which isn’t surprising since CL is such an innovator when it comes to genres and tropes- this is outside of the box, this is different. In part because we don’t even know who the harem actually is at any given moment. In fact, it changes quite a bit throughout the story. Not only that, narratively CL is also bringing a new spin. We have the juxtaposition of the current reality with the bevy of interesting and intense men to the reality of the past harem- a story that we are only learning about in pieces that I greedily gobbled during Colt’s flashback moments. So, not only are we trying to figure out the individual characters in the past and present but we’re also trying to figure out their relationships with each other in the past and present. And in terms of the bully aspect- again CL is taking a fresh spin- because we can’t ever really figure out where the power lies, who is bullying whom- it’s a clusterF of powerplays and mindgames! Oh yes, it makes your head spin with the delicious mysterious and complicated web. The prose, and our plot, is turbulent, raw, and jarring- the kind of story you can’t stop thinking about, can’t stop reading, even though you’re scared about what new danger or emotional hurt awaits on the next page.

When it comes to CL books, I love her willingness to go somewhere others won’t- the taboo, dark pain, the more baser human instincts, the relationships or dynamics that might feel less mainstream. She explores what is most certainly uncomfortable, unusual, or challenging for her characters with unrestrained brashness and honesty- and in doing so, it pushes us as readers. And this book goes there- this is a manifesto of what makes CL Matthews a unique voice in a sea of romances. She takes the familiar and injects it with new energy- a darker, more twisted, more devious, and more daring one.


Our story ends with an epic, shocking, and heartbreaking cliffhanger- one that will change the game yet again. I NEED BOOK 2!!!!!!!
Profile Image for J.D. Fondry.
Author 10 books182 followers
January 29, 2021
I'll admit I went into this one blind (I had ZERO idea what it was about) and didnt even read the blurb. The cover alone had me obsessed and I was ready to dive in regardless. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised!

These boys are all so different and unique, yet the story wouldnt be the same without them all in it. I'm torn between Lux, Ten and the twins so I can't wait to keep reading and learn more about them all.

Overall I'm so happy I picked this up!
Profile Image for Natalie Bennett.
Author 111 books2,666 followers
September 14, 2020
Cassie's best book to date! The writing, the characters, the story-line? F*cking amazing. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but she had me from the first page. I'm so glad I popped my RH cherry with this book. I need more!
Profile Image for Aundi Living That Book Life.
794 reviews61 followers
October 1, 2020
4 Emerald Crowns

C.L Matthews has created a sinisterly dark and depraved RH romance that will leaving you breathless and wanting. The incredibly unique storyline and her poetic writing style will have you utterly captivated from the moment you open this book until the very last page. This is book 1 of a 5 book series so be prepared to be wrapped up in twists and turns that you couldn’t anticipate even if you tried, and so much heat your kindle might burst into flames.

Since this is book 1 you only got glimpses into who everyone is, so you don’t really know who they are or what parts they all played. I loved the intrigue that this elicits, you’re furiously blowing through page after page wondering “Is he involved?”, “Wait, I think he might be!”, “Hold up what’s that mean?” C.L gives you just enough to wet your whistle and keep you coming back for more. I’m dying to see where this story goes.

This book was so much more than I could have ever imagined. The characters, the connections, the intrigue and mystery. Everything about his story will have you anxiously waiting for the next book to find out more about what’s happening. C.L writes characters that make you invested in what’s happening to them. You are right there going through the same motions and feelings that they are. This book will have your heart rate increasing and your pulse erratic not just because of the suspense but also because of the next level heat interwoven throughout. Bravo C.L Matthews I can’t wait for what’s coming!!

Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy.
Profile Image for Rumi.
222 reviews9 followers
September 29, 2020
If you love reverse harem series that are dark, delicious and depraved… look no further, because this one hits ALL the spots.

Badass feisty heroine? Check.

Sexy, possessive alpha-hole heroes – that’s right, heroes – plural? MF’ing check.

Secret society? Check.

Teenage angst, tension and tons of steamy scenes that will have you constantly on the edge? Check, check, and check.

Here Lives a Corpse is the first instalment of an all-new reverse harem dark high school bully series by CL Matthews. The heroine is such a trip, you can’t help but want to be her – I mean, who doesn’t want to literally and figuratively bring several dicks to their knees. And the boys? I can’t even begin to choose my favourite.

I’ve got to admit, I had no idea what I was in for with this one, but CL Matthews had me speechless because this was not what I was expecting. At all. I was enraptured right from the beginning and didn’t want to come up for air even when I got to the end. I was left reeling, and I loved every minute of it.

Bring on the next book!! Eeeeek.
Profile Image for Safaereads.
170 reviews25 followers
July 14, 2020
This story, the characters, the sex, the drama.. This is one of my fav cl Matthews book!

Full review closer to release day

➖ Safaereads, Beta
Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,789 reviews400 followers
September 29, 2020
C.L. Matthews put her own devilish twists on reverse harem bully romance and we have this dark, edgy, hotter than hell and adrenaline filled story called Here Lives a Corpse. It played sick games with my heart , made my soul an emotional mess and left my mind in a delicious haze of passion and lust. This is something so different and fascinating from C.L. Matthews.

This story is set in the depraved and mysterious Arcadia Crest Academy- the playground of rich, powerful and corrupt kids. Colton Hudson may as well be dead since her twin brother Cassidy died in a freak accident. This green haired, dressed in black and drowning in pain girl is nowhere near the old Colton. But she has to get back to school and face her once lovers and now enemies. The boys who rule the school. The boys who abandoned and disappeared and betrayed when she needed them most. Can she handle them? Or will she die like her brother?


This is the first book in a five book series. So the complex storyline is just getting started and I am already obsessed. This is such a mindf**k world with secrets, lies, deception, danger and volatile moments. No one is really like they appear. Colton herself is a mass of contradictions. On one side she is fierce, sassy, reckless, impulsive and sometimes just angry. On other side she is breaking apart and getting her heart ripped out. And the boys. WHERE SHOULD I START WITH THE BOYS? What was the author thinking when she wrote so freaking many gorgeous aholes? I am dying from the epicness. DYING. Bridger. Ten. Lennox. Ross. (Even Colton's new best friend's brothers or the new guy in school.) EVERY SINGLE OF THEM IS JUST TOO MUCH and I am not choosing. And you can't even guess the level of debauchery and intricate power plays going on every where and that's all the fun. But these boys sure show the whole emotional and character spectrum. Arrogant. Ruthless. Cold. Dominating. Controlling.Protective. Caring. Tender. Vulnerable. Broken. Secretive. Dangerous. And a combination of all of these. Again I am not telling you who is like what. Trust me, you will love losing yourself in this chaos.


This story is one of the steamiest, dirtiest and filthiest one I have read in a long time. Like fanning myself, blushing and feeling my panties are a lost cause. The dynamics is beyond complex. You will be shocked by the revelations. You may be appalled with the level of depravity. I just wanted to tear everyone's mask till reality comes out. Because my head was reeling with so many twists and turns. The emotions are intense and confusing and brought me to my knees. My warning will be - TRUST NO ONE IN THIS STORY else you will get crushed.

Here Lives a Corpse by C.L. Matthews is so much more complicated and addictive than your regular dark reverse harem bully romance. I am utterly captivated by the chemistry, the connection and the execution of the story.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Profile Image for Vicky Sp.
1,814 reviews130 followers
April 22, 2023
Recensione sulla mia pagina Bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CrVpMHoIM...

Colton era stata definita folle e disadattata.
Nulla di tutto ciò era vero ma indubbiamente era più facile lasciarlo credere che ammettere i propri demoni.
Svelare i segreti che aleggiavano tra i corridoi di Arcadia Crest Academy, il prestigioso liceo privato frequentato da ricchi rampolli di famiglie facoltose e potenti, era fuori questione, soprattutto perché anche lei stessa aveva dei trascorsi che era meglio non far venire alla luce, ma avrebbe fatto il possibile per scoprire i retroscena circa la morte di suo fratello.

Glielo doveva.

Le ricerche furono accompagnate da una serie di incontri intriganti e passionali che la condussero in un vortice di pura lussuria.

🖋️In questo primo volume della serie Colton ci presenta e racconta di tanti personaggi maschili, dalla forte personalità, tutti prepotenti e sfrontati, seppur in misura diversa. L’approccio personale e fisico che avrà con ognuno di essi appare tanto adrenalinico quanto erotico.

Di misteri in questo romanzo ne troverete tanti. Segreti moltissimi. Macchinazioni e raggiri a non finire, ma bisogna aspettare il secondo volume per saperne di più. Si, perché in questo l’autrice ha soltanto voluto stuzzicare la fantasia del lettore, gettando le basi di una serie che si prospetta contorta e coinvolgente, e con tanto spicy.

*Ringrazio la CE per la copia digitale in Anteprima e la collaborazione
Profile Image for Book Maniac Forever.
1,144 reviews387 followers
October 13, 2020
⭐️ 3.5 "Secrets" Stars ⭐️
I was really intrigued by the Here Lies Series when it was first announced. It promised to be dark, mysterious and so filthy. I definitely found those elements in Here Lies A Corpse, but I personally didn’t feel any sparks between Colton and her guys. It made things difficult to buy the whole harem thing. The series being five book long, I’m sure there’s place for the dynamic between all of them to grow more on me.

That being said, I loved the suspense behind Cassidy’s death and all the mystery surrounding Arcadia’s secret society. It’s truly what kept me invested in this story even though I couldn’t connect with the protagonists as much as I wanted. The little information offered about the bloodlines of the town and how they control it as me fascinated.

Colton is fierce, badass and make no apology. This is really the kind of heroine I enjoy reading about with that strong attitude, but she is also so broken after her brother's death. She was so interesting and I needed to discover more about her past with Lennox, Tennison, Bridger and Ross. Those boys are still an enigma to me with very little revealed about their lives, and I’m so interested in discovering more. They’re all damaged in their own way and under their harshness they all hide deep scars.

As for the reverse harem aspect of the book, yes there’s a few very steamy scenes. Yes, they can be disturbingly hot for some. Sadly for me, I just felt disconnected from those moments without the connection I was talking about earlier missing between Colt and the guys. I hope to feel this lustful pull between them in the future books though.

C.L. Matthews has such a gorgeous prose. The way her words flow through the pages of this story is utterly remarkable. As I mentioned previously, this book wasn’t extraordinary to me, nonetheless I’m so excited for what’s next for all these characters because that ending nearly killed me!

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **
Profile Image for Puss'N'Books.
204 reviews274 followers
October 11, 2020
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Reviewed by PussnBooks.net



Review by Puss’n’Books. Reviewing the darkest, most erotic and taboo books we can find. Click HERE for your next disturbingly sexy read.


You have no idea how much I needed this book.
I had no idea how much I needed this book!

I needed a book that was going to consume me.
A book that was going to be on my mind when I wasn’t reading it.
A book that had the cogs of ma wee brain turning, trying to figure out what was gonny happen.
This was that book!

But be warned, it’s dark and intense as well.
I could practically feel Colton’s pain.

COLTON
This girl breaks my heart.
She’s returning to her boarding school for the first time since her brother died, five months ago.
They were extremely close and it shattered her world.

What makes it worse is that she is convinced it was murder but everyone else is trying to cover that up.
Teachers, parents and friends!

She used to be sweet and innocent.
Popular and kind.
Now...well let’s just say she’s changed.
When Cass died, I went catatonic to a point where I didn’t eat, went into a coma, and had to be tube-fed

Before her world crumbled things were just getting interesting when it came to her love life.
There were four hot AF dudes that were competing for her attention.

She loved it
She wanted them all.

They seemed to be considering sharing her, and she was all about the #WhyChoose.
I actually feel that we have a lot in common…lol!
I’ve watched enough porn to recognize pleasure. A male’s low growl makes my chest furl with lust. I think back to some of my favorite topics—men with men, dominance, breath play, knife play…I prefer the amateur clips the most. It’s more personable.

But they’re in on the cover-up...she thinks.

They disappeared when she needed them most and now they are playing games with her and being cruel.

THE DUDES
Grrr. I have a love/hate thing going with these guys.
I hate the way they bully and tease her...but at the same time I love the way they bully and tease her, ye ken?

There are four of them in the beginning, but hold on to yer knickers lassies, because there will be more!
God damn! These guys are hot.

They’re not your average guys though. They are the richest of the rich, everyone at this school is, and there is so much going on for each of them, it has you absolutely glued to the book.

Nothing is what it seems and no one is who they portray themselves to be.
These boys can be cruel, cold and dangerous but what else..?

SEX SCENES
Okay, so I had the hardest time trying to pick my favourite scenes for you, there were so many amazing ones!
Jordan’s mouth connecting with my clit has me groaning loudly. Lux smirks. “Since we don’t have time to tamper your slutty nature, seems we’ll need to fuck it out of you.” He saunters toward us while Jordan stays crouched between my thighs. His hands grip my lips, spreading them wide while his mouth tastes and teases. Lux towers over me, his height almost comical against mine. He pushes me backward, the back of my knees hitting the bed in the same breath. Jordan loses his grip and waits for Lux. “Condom,” he barks at Jordan. I watch as Jordan rifles through the drawers, finding a line of several. He tears two off and brings them over. Lux now hovers me, his face above my cunt, his hot breath teasing the wetness there. “Suit up, Walker.” I don’t say what I want to say. Why not you? Since we messed around, all I’ve wanted is him. To taste him, touch him, feel what would never be mine. Not watching Jordan, Lux sinks two fingers in me. “Eyes, Colt. Give me your eyes.” Our gazes connect, and the heat in his is addictive. “I’m going to let him fuck you now. Be a good slut and scream for me, okay?” I nod, and he kisses my clit before pulling his fingers out. While Jordan kneels, Lux rises, comes to the side of the bed, and pushes the same two fingers in my mouth. “Clean up your mess, little slut.” And I do, sucking them until he pulls free. Jordan harshly grips my knees, forcing my boot-clad feet on the bed, and then he’s thrusting into me. My eyes roll back as his thick cock drills inside. He’s huge, and it’s been a long ass time since I’ve had sex. “So tight, princess.” I groan as he rotates his hips, bucking into me, and my back arches. Lux comes onto the bed, suit and all, his knees on either side of my head. His palm grips my throat as he leans down. “I’m about to make a mess of you, Colton. Last chance. Use your safe word.” I can’t really speak with him holding my oxygen back, but I attempt at shaking my head. His rueful grin is enough to unnerve me. His hand unclenches around my throat, and he undoes his slacks, whipping out his cock. Fuck, it’s bigger than I remember. He spits into his palm then strokes himself above me. “I’m going to come,” Jordan hisses as his speed quickens. He grips my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh as he rams into me. My eyes close and he grunts out his release. When I open them again, Lux’s cock still stands proudly above me while he strokes with ease. “Need lube,” Lux commands so I start to move, but he stops me. “Not you.” “There was none,” Jordan bites out, zipping up his jeans. Lux growls then peers at Jordan. “Then get on your knees and suck my cock, Walker. I know you’re a fan.” Jordan says nothing, and when I look at him, the heat in his gaze doesn’t lie. Jordan stalks over as Lux adjusts. “Change of plans, Corpse. Looks like you’re riding my face.” “Thought you were going to fuck the life into me?” I taunt, disappointed that he took away my visual. He stares at me with a heated gaze. “Is that why you’re pouting? Sad you didn’t get two cocks?” I nod, hating the heat swarming me.


Final Thoughts on HERE LIVES A CORPSE by CL Matthews
This is an absolutely amazing mystery with one of the best reverse harem plots, stories and characters I have ever read. I am desperate for the next book!

GET IT FROM AMAZON HERE
Profile Image for Laura G/ _page.turner.
380 reviews
October 17, 2020
What? WHAT? I don’t even know what I just read! I totally need a minute to try to wrap my head around how blown away I am by this book.

HLAC is my first book from CL Matthews, but it will not be my last! My head is dizzy from everything I just read, but in the best way! Colt, that’s my girl. Much to her chagrin, I’m sure, I connected with her super easily. I could feel her pain and her despair as if it were my own. She’d disagree with me if she could, but even during her weakest moments, when she was the most vulnerable, I always still saw her as strong. She is sassy and stubborn. Gorgeous. She has fire in her soul.

And the harem? Hmm... jury is still out, I’m afraid. I want to like them, and I do at times, but they are keeping their cards close to their chest and that makes it hard to get a read on them. But the twins?! LORD, I WILL RIOT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE TWINS! DO NOT TEST MEEEEEEEEEEE!

There’s just so much waiting to be unpacked here. Secrets. Lies. Betrayal. And the chemistry! It is undeniable the pull between Colt and the guys. All of them. It’s insanity at its best. I NEED the rest of this series ASAP! I’m utterly hooked!
Profile Image for Giusy  Luca.
825 reviews5 followers
April 18, 2023
Colton dopo la morte del fratello Cassidy subisce un cambiamento radicale sia fisico che mentale, lo stress a cui ha sottoposto il suo fisico la costringono a seguire un regime controllato per poter riprendere i propri ritmi. 

È comunque determinata a scoprire come è morto e perché hanno insabbiato tutto come se non fosse mai esistito. 

Soprattutto vuole scoprire che ruolo hanno avuto i quattro ragazzi per cui ha sentito una speciale attrazione fin dal primo giorno che li ha incontrati alla "Arcadia Crest Academy" 

È delusa, arrabbiata con loro perché nel momento in cui ne ha avuto più bisogno l'hanno abbandonata a sé stessa. 

La sofferenza della protagonista si respira ad ogni pagina, i suoi desideri, le sue tentazioni, non fanno che aumentare i sensi di colpa per ciò che è accaduto al fratello, ma la voglia di vendetta è più forte di tutto e non si arrenderà fin quando non avrà scoperto ciò che nasconde la città di Arcadia e le generazioni che la dominano da sempre. 

“Non lo sei. Hai ragione, Colton. Sei una sopravvissuta. La mia ragazza forte.”

Tutti le hanno voltato le spalle, gli amici e la famiglia, adesso non può far altro che percorrere quei corridoi come se fosse un fantasma, rivivendo tutto ciò che ormai non esisteva più. Prima della tragedia, era felice, la vita era bella. Aveva popolarità, fama e quattro ragazzi che la facevano sentire viva. Adesso non le era rimasto più nulla, la depressione aveva preso il sopravvento e non riusciva più a riemergere da quel tunnel. 

La narrazione è tutta dal punto di vista di Colton, perciò conosceremo i ragazzi attraverso i suoi occhi purtroppo non ci darà molti spunti su cui lavorare e i punti di domanda saranno tanti, tutti senza risposta per il momento. 

Avremo un accenno su Lennox, il Presidente del Consiglio Studentesco il classico bad boy in un completo da bravo ragazzo, poi c'è Jordan il nuovo arrivato, Colton non sa nulla di lui, riconosce solo una grande inquietudine quando gli sta accanto, infine ci sono Bridger, il vicepreside. Ten, il segretario. Ross, l'esecutore. Oltre questo si sa poco o nulla, se non che fanno tutti parte del Consiglio Studentesco una società che nasconde molti segreti all'interno del collegio che frequentano. Ragazzi spezzati che si nascondono dietro una maschera di prepotenza e che pensano di governare l'Arcadia. 

Non mi sono mai sentita come mi fanno sentire loro. A differenza dei mostri dell’Arcadia, questi due non hanno paura di mostrare il loro apprezzamento per me senza al contempo dovermi sminuire.

 Per quanto mi riguarda alla fine entrano in scena altri due personaggi che mi hanno colpita non poco ribaltando tutti i film mentali che mi ero fatta fino a quel momento. Io già faccio il tifo per loro, lo dico! 😜😜 

In questo primo libro non si scoprirà nulla, anzi, i misteri e i segreti si infittiscono, e le tentazioni sono in agguato per la povera Colton che non sa più che pesci pigliare. 😅😅 Non ci resta che attendere per scoprirne di più.

Ringrazio la Virgibooks per la copia ARC 
Profile Image for Tanaka K.
898 reviews7 followers
October 20, 2020
Somebody, get me a drink!!!!

Nooo, somebody get me weed!!!

Ever been ruined by a book? Ever held your breath so long as you read a book that hits your heart over and over? Ever been crushed so deeply with words that seep into your soul and won’t let go of it? Ever had your heart tethering to the edge because of a book? Here Lives a Corpse by C.L. Matthews made me its slave. Here Lives a Corpse twisted my heart to its all consuming words filled with a powerful and mysterious story. Ohhh it was juicy. Ohhh, it was perfect. Ohh, it was utterly alluring.

Here Lives a Corpse is the heart turning first book in the Here Lies series written by C.L. Matthews that sets your soul into flames with a dark and messed up story that leaves you insane. Here Lives a Corpse is a complex book with a layer of story that wraps your heart tightly and takes you down a hole of sinful desires and twisted wickedness. C.L. Matthews hoodwinked me. C.L. Matthews made my head spin. C.L. Matthews made me utterly crazy in love over the plot, the characters and tantalizing words that turned my word in its axis..Sensual. Soul Sucking. Suspenseful. Here Lives a Corpse is a mind fucking dark bully reverse harem romance, delving deep into secrets, lies, sexiness and betrayal wrapped in a seductive story. The plot, unique. The characters, addictive, The chemistry, off the charts hot. The twists, insane. Here Lives a Corpse is dark bully reverse harem romance on steroids.

Here Lives a Corpse delivers on characters that will make you fall in love with them. You fall in love with their messed up minds. You fall in love with their darkness. You fall in love with one woman and 5 guys who will burn every single part of your heart. Be prepared because Colton and her five insane, dark and messed up alphaholes will wreck you.

I don’t read reverse harem romances but I was so consumed with Here Lives a Corpse. I want more. C.L. Matthews, give me more. If you love reverse harem romances, then this book is for you.

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for N.E. Henderson.
Author 18 books1,118 followers
October 4, 2020
Bully romances are my jam. Dark romance also my thing. RH.....usually not. I went into this story mostly blind. I’m a cover whore (that’s a real thing) and this cover totally and completely had me like...I need that, right the f*ck now.

So....what I’ve learned about C.L. Matthews—chick does not write inside the lines. Not. At. All. *swoon*

Also, can one got any tips on how I can get an advance copy of the advance copy before the advance copy is even available?! <—legit question. I need book two before December, so anyone???
Profile Image for Behind Closed Doors Book Review.
1,243 reviews175 followers
February 1, 2021
Amount of sex 3.5 / 5
How explicit is the sex 4.5 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5

Here Lives a Corpse is the first book in the Here Lives series written by author C.L. Matthews. I stumbled upon this epic dark bully romance, and I rearranged my whole schedule to fit it in. And let me tell you, I became so completely engrossed in this amazing story that I snarled at anyone who dared to disturb me!

Here Lives a Corpse tells the story of Colton Hudson, who is still morning the loss of her brother Cassidy. Colt believes that he was killed, and she’s now on a mission to find out who’s responsible. However, someone has covered it up, and she’s suspicious of everyone. Especially the five guys on the Student Government (Lennox “Lux” DeLeon, Tennison “Ten” Delamore, Ross “Dare” McAllister, Bridger “Ridge” Clemente, and Jordon “Walker” Winthrop).

The storyline was completely spellbinding, and I did not want to put it down! I’m dying to fill you in on what happened, but this is one book that you have to read for yourself! All I’ll tell you is to grab a drink and some snacks, find a quiet place, and prepare yourself for an epic ride!
Profile Image for Amara.
598 reviews68 followers
October 15, 2020
Invested in this RH!

I am completely ready for the next book. Looking forward to reading what happens next. Great cast of characters, great plot, full of suspense and unanswered questions, and holy hotness. I want more of those twins. Actually I want more everything.
Profile Image for lynn fraser.
24 reviews
March 5, 2021
I love with this book, can't wait to see where it leads. So many twists and turns and it's only book one!
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