Since this is the Lesbrary, I’ll start by saying this has a M/F/M/F, bisexual, polyamorous, why choose relationship. That’s six different pairings, and the F/F relationship doesn’t get a lot of page time in this, though it’s the first book in a trilogy. I look forward to it being explored more in the next two books. If you don’t want to read any M/F sex scenes, skip this one. But if you’re up for a kinky bisexual gothic, read on!
Since he was a child, Adam’s grandfather has been telling him stories of an estate in Scotland. Sometimes they sound like fairy tales. But they are always exciting, and they’re about a time in his grandfather’s life that he was never able to let go of. When his grandfather dies, Adam decides to find this estate, to learn more about his life. Together with his friend Nicola, they go in search of this legendary manor.
That’s when they meet Finley, the taciturn groundskeeper of the estate, who invites them in. Eileen is the cold and imposing lord of the estate, who offers to help search their records for any mentions of Adam’s grandfather. Then, a storm rolls in, trapping them inside. And it becomes obvious that Eileen and Adam are hiding something—a secret that could ruin Adam’s life.
Nicola is a researcher of folklore, and she begins to suspect Eileen is hiding something. She sees a strange figure watching in the woods. And when Eileen leads them to the mouth of a cave, carrying milk and bread offerings, she knows what this is: the presence of the fae.
Faeries are a staple of romantasy novels right now, but these are the older version of fae: deadly threats, not love interests. Still, this is a gothic, so the tension builds slowly. Most of the time, the fae are out of sight, not an immediate danger. Instead, it’s the tangled and sometimes toxic relationship between the four of them that takes center stage.
Each of them has a unique kind of chemistry with the others. There’s the friends-to-lovers aspect of Adam and Nicola, who have been denying their attraction to each other for years. There’s the twisted relationship between Eileen and Finley, who are entirely codependent and have a strange power dynamic. Adam and Finley are competitive, especially when they both show interest in Nicola. Nicola reveals a new, softer side to Eileen.
There are a lot of steamy scenes, but there are just as many research scenes. The house seems to inspire dark desires, and the longer they stay there together, the more tense and dangerous it feels. There’s only so long that Eileen can keep the secret of what she really wants from Adam—a deal that will free her and trap him. And always, there’s the threat of the fae creeping in on all sides.
I love S.T. Gibson’s books because she is so good at establishing a mood. The vibes are perfect. It’s a dark, sexy, folkloric, gothic fantasy that slowly builds up the tension. I can’t wait for the sequel.
I will say that this starts with a lengthy list of content warnings, and I definitely recommend reading those thoroughly. There will be dealbreakers for some readers. The Kirkus review calls this a “magical bacchanalian soap opera…a toxic polyamorous romance that revels in dark eroticism.”
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