Monster Romance | Dark Fantasy | Spicy Elements Included
Here is my A Soul to Keep Review:
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When you’ve been branded the bad omen of your village and shunned since childhood, it’s almost inevitable you’ll end up on the altar when a sacrifice is demanded. For Reia, our FMC, this is reality. Orphaned and unwanted, she becomes the chosen offering to appease the Duskwalker who protects the village from demons.
After a decade, Orpheus, the Duskwalker in question, returns to claim his sacrifice. Time has made him lonely, perhaps even driving him to search. To his surprise, Reia isn’t trembling or begging for her life. Instead, she offers something far more dangerous: curiosity, and the deep, aching need for genuine companionship.
If you ever thought Beauty and the Beast would have been better if the Beast had stayed monstrous, A Soul to Keep answers that craving.
Dark forests, unnatural rains, a far-off city, and lurking terrors that stalk the edges of the night — Reyne’s world is pure gothic mood. The Duskwalker’s home feels equal parts eerie and oddly safe, with prose that plays like a shadow-drenched film reel in your head.
Characters & Chemistry
- Reia: resilient, empathetic, quietly strong — a gothic heroine who refuses to wither.
- Orpheus: terrifying to outsiders, tender in unexpected ways, and undeniably lonely.
Their connection unfolds slowly, a careful shift from fear to trust to something far deeper.
Spice Factor
Let’s just say the phrase “It’ll fit” takes on a whole new meaning here. The intimacy scenes are layered, physical, emotional, psychological, never tossed in for shock value. They’re woven seamlessly into the narrative, avoiding cringe or melodrama, and instead heightening the bond between Reia and Orpheus.
A Soul to Keep was my gateway into monster romance, and I devoured the series from this starting point. It’s dark yet tender, eerie yet hopeful, and proof that monster romance can be beautifully written. If you’ve never dipped a toe into the genre, this is where to start.
Verdict: Cozy goths, romantics, and anyone who likes their fairy tales with fangs, add this to your shelf.
You can find A Soul to Keep – Here at Books-A-Million or Here on Amazon
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I might earn a small commission — no extra cost to you, but it does help keep the shadows lit..