Savage Blooms

De: S. T. Gibson

Narrado por: James Berkwood, Rebecca Storm

S. T. Gibson, the queen of erotic fantasy romance, returns with this ravishingly dark trilogy of gothic manors, faery magic, and forbidden desires set in the foreboding Highlands of Scotland.

For as long as Adam can remember, the legends passed down from his world-traveling grandfather have called him to a crumbling manor in the Highlands. His closest friend Nicola longs for the same adventure, as well as for Adam himself. She'll follow him just about anywhere - even to the remote wilds of Scotland - if it pushes the pair to surrender to their shared attraction.

But when a storm strikes and strands them unexpectedly, Adam and Nicola find themselves at the mercy of the eccentric owner of the infamous house, Eileen, as well as her brooding groundskeeper, Finley.

Trapped by the weather, and bound by ancient faery magic, Nicola and Adam get more than they bargained for as they become entangled in Eileen and Finley's world of mind games, deceit and forbidden desire. As ancestral sins are unearthed, Adam and Nicola will have to reckon with the spell Eileen and Finley have cast over them - and whether or not they even want to be free.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A drizzly, moody, and lustrously carnal rendition of a storybook tale, Savage Blooms is the holy grail for lovers of dark academia and faery magic alike. By the time I got to the epilogue, I was ready to bite into the pages like they were made of faery fruit, just so I'd never have to leave."

—Sierra Simone, author of Priest

"An Education in Malice is an ode to girlhood; ribbons, blood, poetry, and rage. Gibson’s fang-sharp prose and unflinching honesty create a delicate and fearless exploration of loneliness, love, and—as the bridge between those two absolutes—longing."—Sydney J. Shields, author of The Honey Witch, on An Education In Malice

“An isolated women’s college, a Gothic aesthetic that would make the Brontë sisters proud, an all-consuming passion between sapphic academic rivals…what’s not to like here? Light a candle to maximize the moody vibes and dive in.”—People on An Education In Malice

“From sinful all-night salons to hedonistic Halloween parties, Laura’s world thrums with dark pleasures that will leave you wanting more.”—Kirkus on An Education in Malice

"A Dowry of Blood is an intoxicating perfume that lingers—an undying love story where beauty and horror clasp hands."—Rachel Gillig, New York Times bestselling author, on A Dowry of Blood

"A dizzying nightmare of a romance that will leave you aching, angry and ultimately hopeful."—Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author, on A Dowry of Blood

"With Savage Blooms, Gibson cements herself as one of the strongest and most unique voices in gothic romance. This dangerous and decadent subversion of a found family is fresh, unabashedly queer, and gripping from the very first rain-soaked page. Gibson is a ferociously talented writer at the top of her game."

—Sydney J. Shields, author of An Arcane Study of Stars

"A thrilling and seductive Gothic rife with spine-tingling tension and dark romance. A Dowry of Blood left me breathless."—Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching, on A Dowry of Blood

"Stunningly gorgeous and devastatingly romantic, you won't want to miss this one!"—Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author, on A Dowry of Blood

"Dark, seductive...A messy, in-depth portrait of emotional abuse that nails Constanta’s complex intermingling of love, pain, fear, and anger in mesmerizing prose. Thorny, fast-paced, and unabashedly queer, this is sure to draw readers in."—Publishers Weekly on A Dowry of Blood

"Dark, lush and heartrendingly romantic."—Lyndall Clipstone, author of Lakesedge, on A Dowry of Blood

"A powerful take of possession and liberation. This is a Dracula retelling unlike any other—undeniable and unforgettable."—Rose Szabo, author of What Big Teeth, on A Dowry of Blood

Gothic, toxic polyamorous romance with fae lore

I'm leaving this review immediately upon finishing it so, there's a chance my rating could change once I've had more time to ruminate on it.

♡ Gothic Setting
♡ Scottish Faerie Lore
♡ Toxic relationships
♡ Polyamorous
♡ Primal/Pain Play
♡ Mysterious Family History

This book is a whirlwind of toxic relationships, unhealthy family dynamics, strategic manipulation, lustful encounters, and the looming threat of malevolent faeries seeking the downfall of an ancient bloodline.

And you know what? I was sat for every unhinged moment of it.

Each of the characters are complex in their own way. Half of the time I couldn't stand any of them, the other half I was really rooting for them all to say "to hell with it" and become one big, dysfunctional polycule. Communication is clearly NONE of these people's strong suits, and they absolutely use sex as means to get out of uncomfortable situations.

FAERIES. I am a HUGE fan of traditional fae folklore. Make them eerie, make them menacing, make them terrifyingly unsettling. Am so over the beautiful, misunderstood fae trope. Give me uncanny, horrific faeries that steal away children in the night and pull fatal pranks on mortals.

While the faeries are more of a looming, background presence in this book, I love what ST Gibson is setting us up for.

I am hesitant to actually label this book as a romance (for now), however, I revel in a truly toxic situationship that has the potential for something more grounding. I am so excited to see where this series takes us. That cliffhanger!

The dual narration was nice. Both narrators did a lovely job with the Scottish accents.

Absolutely take the time to check the content warnings before diving in.

Unbelievable

Where do I begin..... Its a slow burn, and slow unraveling of an intricate story, that is somehow familiar, but completely different than what I am used to in a romance. I'm not even sure romance is the right word for this aching, horrifying, hauntingly beautiful and twisted story. Somehow I knew what would happen, but was shocked when it did. The slightly toxic polycule situationship that unfurled is hot and beautifully tender, and vicious in its authenticity. The narrators were incredible, although there were a couple of moments when Nicola's performance seemed a little flat and a little forced, but it didnt detract from the story for me. Some moments I was hoping for things to move along, but most of the time I was very aware of how much book was left and hoping it wouldn't end. A fitting allegory to Eileen's situation. Read the TW's, then read them again, and if you are good with it, dive in. I don't think you will regret it.